UK Motorists own up to Dangerous Bad Habits

LONDON, September 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• 20% of 18-24 year olds use their phone to text and email while driving
• One in six motorists smoke at the wheel
• One in five male motorists admit to displaying road rage behind the wheel
• 25% of motorists eat and drink while driving
• 30% of drivers break the speed limit in built up areas

Up to 20% of 18-24 year olds admit to using their phones to email and text while driving and 23% make and receive calls on their mobiles when they're behind the wheel - despite the potentially lethal consequences, new figures released today reveal. Among the population as a whole, 12% of motorists admit to texting and emailing while driving, despite the Government's crackdown on mobile phone usage amongst motorists.

The survey, commissioned by http://www.carloan4u.co.uk, the UK's largest online car finance specialists, also reveals that a quarter of motorists eat and drink at the wheel, one in six motorists smoke while driving and 5% of male motorists admit to using their cars as 'lovemobiles' to indulge in passion with partners.  

A further one in five male drivers admit to shouting and gesticulating when they're behind the wheel and over a third of motorists use their sat navs while driving.  When it comes to obeying the speed limits, UK motorists display very bad habits with a third admitting to driving over the speed limit in built up areas, as well as slowing down just before speed cameras and then speeding up afterwards.

As many as 72% rated their driving as good and over 12% rated it as excellent.

Young drivers appear to have more bad habits than any other age group, with 10% visiting social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and nearly half using their sat navs behind the wheel.  A further and one in ten young drivers admit to flirting with other drivers and pedestrians and 53% eat and drink while they are driving.

Car Loan 4U Co-Director Ryan Dignan comments: "Many of us don't think anything of eating and smoking behind the wheel, but a momentary distraction can cause serious accidents. Driving distractions are a major contributor to fatal road accidents, many of which are caused by motorists having a sneaky cigarette or bite to eat whilst driving."

For further information please visit http://www.carloan4u.co.uk.