More than half of passengers in the United Kingdom have felt unsafe as a result of their drivers' actions, according to new research from Aviva.
The insurer reported that its study of more than 2,000 adults found that 53 percent of passengers had felt unsafe while being driven, with younger passengers feeling most on edge. The proportion of panicky passengers rose to six out of 10 for those aged 16-34.
According to the Aviva research, the most likely culprits, for 21 percent of anxious travelers, were spouses or partners. Women were considerably more likely to complain about their partner (26 percent) than men (16 percent).
In general, people were more likely to say they had been scared when being driven by male drivers than female motorists. Male friends were more likely to worry their passengers than female friends (19 percent versus nine percent), and dad drivers were marginally more likely to make passengers nervous than mothers (nine percent versus eight percent).
Aviva found that “driving too fast” was by far the most common reason passengers gave for feeling unsafe in a motor vehicle (61 percent), twice as likely as the second and third causes for concern – that the driver was driving aggressively (31 percent) or the motorist did not seem to be concentrating (30 percent).
It would appear, however, that people did not always feel able to confront their driver when they felt unsafe. According to the Aviva survey, of the passengers who felt uneasy on the move, more than a quarter (26 percent) did not tell their driver.
This was because more than a third (35 percent) did not want to upset their driver, 29 percent thought the motorist might think they were overreacting, and 22 percent were relying on the driver to get them to their destination.
When people did challenge their driver, responses from the motorist were mixed, according to the survey. The most common reaction from drivers was to say that there was nothing wrong with their driving (36 percent) and 28 percent told the passenger that they should stop overreacting. One in four passengers (25 percent) were told to stop being back-seat drivers, while 17 percent said their driver just ignored them.
Aviva reported, however, that 25 percent said that their driver did drive more sensibly after they had confronted them and 22 percent said their “chauffeur” had apologized. Nearly three quarters (72 percent) said they would not necessarily challenge their driver in the future if they felt unsafe.
Peter Markey, brand and marketing communications director for Aviva, said, “We've been on a mission to help make Britain's roads safer for some time now and this latest research backs up what we already know – that most of us think we're good drivers, but others may not necessarily agree!
“If a passenger feels uncomfortable we'd encourage them to have a polite word with their driver, just so they're aware.”
The reasons passengers gave for feeling unsafe in a motor vehicle were as follows:
- Driver was driving too fast – 61 percent
- Driver was driving aggressively – 31 percent
- Driver did not seem to be concentrating – 30 percent
- Driver was fiddling with in-car tech, radio, navigation, etc. – 17 percent
- Driver was making a phone call (not hands-free) – 15 percent
- Driver was texting – 14 percent
- Driver was nearly involved in a collision – 13 percent
- Thought driver might have taken drugs / alcohol – 12 percent
- Driver was falling asleep at the wheel – six percent
- Driver was trying to do something else while driving – six percent
- Driver actually was involved in a collision – six percent
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].