26 September 2014
5 Mins read

Motorists ‘tyre-d’ of passengers’ behavior

British motorists prefer driving alone to carrying passengers, according to new research from Admiral.

The UK’s motorists are at the end of their tether with their passengers, according to research from insurance firm Admiral.

A poll of more than 2,000 drivers revealed that over a third had fallen out with a passenger during a journey, while one is seven have shown them the door and left them on the side of the road.

The annual Survey of Motorists found that many British drivers find passengers irritating at best, with some describing encountering danger because of the other person in the car.

Three-quarters of those polled said carrying a passenger made them feel nervous and one in nine said their life had been put at risk because of the actions of the person they were carrying in the car.

The survey also revealed the most irritating things a passenger can do while the motorist is driving, with 35 per cent of motorists citing critiquing their driving skills and ten per cent shouting at other drivers.

A further nine per cent reported becoming irritated when passengers put their feet on the dashboard and an additional nine per cent cited changing the radio station without asking as the most maddening thing.

Commenting on the results, Sue Longthorn, managing director of Admiral, said: “You have a situation with two people in the confined space of a car, with the driver having to concentrate and be in control while the passenger can be a distraction. So it’s not surprising this sometimes causes conflict.

“Whether it’s a backseat driver, an inebriated friend or a work colleague changing the radio station without asking, there are lot of ways a passenger can upset you. For many people a passenger has tipped them over the edge with 15 per cent of motorists admitting they ended up kicking a passenger out of their car.”

Ms Longthorn added that irritating the driver is one thing, but putting someone at risk of crashing a car is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. It doesn’t matter if it is by accident or intentional, causing a driver to become distracted is dangerous and potentially fatal, the managing director warned.

When asked if they preferred to drive with company or on their own, only a quarter said they favoured travelling with passengers, while 43 per cent confessed to preferring driving alone.

Posted by George Davis