Four wheeled drives still unpopular
A car insurance firm has revealed some interesting insights when motorists have filed a road accident claim.
Research from the group showed that four wheel drive vehicles or commonly known as ‘Chelsea Tractors’ are still the most despised form of transport, according to other road users.
Such drivers received 21% of unpopularity votes, followed by van drivers at 16% and taxi drivers screeching in at 13%.
Shockingly, one in five of the respondents admitted that they would flee if they hit a car they didn’t like. Therefore, the insurer noted that car accident claims are most likely to occur when prejudice towards another vehicle can affect a motorists’ behaviour.
The survey
While ‘Chelsea tractor’ drivers have been the subject of negativity for years, commercial drivers make up four of the top five most disliked motorists on UK roads. It seems that time constraints and long periods behind the wheel can lead van, truck and taxi drivers to drive in a way which vexes other road users.
Alarmingly, motorist’s attitudes to the type of car someone drives affects their own behaviour. More than one-in-seven (15%) claim they are less polite to someone driving a car they do not like, while 60% of drivers allow extra distance between themselves and those who they perceive to be ‘one of the worst types of driver’ as judged by the car they drive.
One-in-five (19%) motorists would be ‘less likely’ to leave their details if they damaged a car they don’t like in a car-park, with men 50% more likely to ‘do a runner’ than women.
In more shocking detail, one-in-twenty (5%) respondents said they dislike drivers of particular cars because they are wealthy, demonstrating that jealousy may be a reason for disliking particular motorists. Surprisingly, 7% of van drivers said that van drivers are the worst motorists.
Maggie Game, Head of Car Insurance for the group, stated: “This research shows how attitudes to other motorists can have a significant impact on driver behaviour. Motorists should consider both their own safety and that of other road users before changing their driving behaviour simply because of the car someone drives.
“With time literally being money for many commercial drivers, it is not surprising that they have some of the worst habits on the roads. It is important that commercial drivers remind themselves that the cost of an accident can far outweigh the savings associated with arriving a few minutes earlier.
“Motorists should remember that no matter how minor an accident is, drivers are required by law to exchange details with third parties. Just because someone drives a particular type of car does not mean they deserve an expensive crash repair bill,” she said.
Injury lawyers have reminded drivers that a car accident victim may be entitled to compensation, if the crash was through no fault of their own.
Updated on 11/26/2009