UK Motorists are Paranoid Passengers

Only 18% of UK Motorists are completely happy with being driven by another driver, a poll from car insurance experts www.bewiser.co.uk concludes. Motorists in the study are proving themselves to be increasingly concerned that they are not in control of the vehicle with some exhibiting worrying “backseat driver” tendencies.

Whilst some passengers express their worries in silence - 21% do so by moving their braking foot while they are in the passenger seat towards an imaginary brake pedal. Equally, some 18% of passengers cannot sleep in a car which is being driven by someone else for fear of not being aware or in control of what is going on around them.

Mark Bower-Dyke, Chairman of Be Wiser Insurance commented:

“Whilst we all know how we should behave in a car, some of us occasionally have issues with not being in control.”

While many express their concern as a passenger through quiet and passive means there is another type of backseat driver which can cause problems for motorists.

Some passengers try to cover up their concerns by “being helpful,” and pointing out potential hazards to the driver (21%) – while this may be intended to be helpful it is also likely to distract the driver and break their concentration.

Up to 12% of those respondents convinced they “know a better way” are likely to be offered the “pedestrian option” by the driver in the course of a year. 3% of passengers sometimes operate controls such as indicators if the driver has not done so.

Mark Bower-Dyke continues: 

“Although back-seat drivers believe they are helping, most are doing more harm than good. A distracted driver cannot drive to the best of their ability.”

Fortunately only 9% of passengers would grab the wheel away from a driver, and only then when they are concerned for their safety.