It’s not surprising that we’ve all seen some terrible driving on UK roads, and although Britain’s roads have become safer over recent years, it doesn’t stop a handful of drivers who carelessly and recklessly drive. This kind of driving can cause severe accidents and add points to your licence, so it’s not worth the risk.
With many surveys and studies being conducted over the last ten years, it’s pretty telling that patterns form based on drivers with specific makes or models and where they live. For instance, a quarter of the UK thinks Greater London has the worst drivers, according to research from findandfundmycar.com. Other studies match stereotypical views that BMW, Audi, and Mercedes drivers aren’t the best drivers either!
Click4Reg, a private number plate supplier, has viewed the data to provide the insightful findings below! So, let’s look at the worst drivers in the UK based on location, vehicle make and model, age and gender.
Worst Drivers Based On Vehicle Make & Model
In 2018, GoCompare studied drivers most likely to be a liability behind the wheel. It found that BMW drivers are most likely to run a red light, speed and make an ‘at fault’ insurance claim. Their research also showed that Audi and Mercedes’ drivers were not far behind.
In 2019, The Express and The Sun reported on the most disliked drivers in the UK based on the type of car. These statistics aren’t just based on accidents but on road etiquette, which is the unspoken rule of the road. We all experience road rage to a degree, but some drivers can take it to another level, which impacts how they drive.
Here are the top 5 drivers based on the vehicle make and model.
- Audi
- BMW
- Mercedes
- Range Rover
- VW
Worst Drivers Based On Location
Money Supermarket revealed that the London Borough of Sutton has the worst drivers in the UK for a second year based on drivers making a claim.
Following closely, we have:
- Croydon
- Hemel Hempstead
- Huddersfield
- Slough
- Enfield
- Romford
- Stevenage
- Birmingham
- Dartford
The City of London has been highlighted as the worst driving place. It doesn’t offer a pleasing driving experience, with congestion charges, high levels of traffic and high car park prices. It’s also been recorded that London has a staggering 305 casualties per square mile.
Unless you drive in or around London, it might be best to find a less congested city or town and get the train or underground tube to your desired location!
Worst Drivers Based On Age
The consensus for the worst drivers, based on age group, is young drivers aged between 18 – 25. This is because younger drivers don’t have enough experience on the road, and they tend to be more careless. On the other hand, it can be said that older drivers are more likely to cause accidents because of their physical or mental limitations. Either way, just because a specific age group is responsible for poor driving doesn’t mean everyone in that age group is!
Who are the worst drivers based on age?
Many studies from Forbes, the AAA and The Guardian provide similar data – that drivers aged 17 – 19 are the most dangerous.
Half a million young drivers aged 17 to 19 hold a full driving licence, accounting for 1.6% of the total number of drivers with a full licence. The data shows that 2 out of every 100 are involved in a road traffic accident.
For older drivers, over 4 million hold a full driving licence, but many of these individuals may not be on the road driving due to their age or other conditions that make them unable to drive. This means that 10% of all individuals have a driving licence, and 6% are involved in road accidents.
Worst Drivers Based On Gender
The debate on which gender is the best driver is a continuous one. Studies have shown that men are 10% more likely to be caught speeding, whereas women are more likely to drive without insurance.
2016 data supports that women are better drivers, highlighting that men were in double the number of incidents to women, with a total of 87,407 car incidents compared to 38,757 incidents.
It’s an unfair myth that women are worse drivers than men when both genders are responsible for all driving offences, from speeding to driving without a licence or insurance.
It can also be said that because men drive more miles than women (taxi drivers, lorry drivers, for example), it accounts for some of the difference, but it still means that most men are involved in more accidents and offences on the road.
In conclusion, it doesn’t necessarily matter what make or model of the car you drive, how old you are or what gender you are, but it’s about being safe on the road and taking care behind the wheel. If you wish to be more cautious when driving from BMW drivers or younger drivers, then feel free to do so, but focus on the safety of your driving rather than others.