Slow Drivers Increase The Risk Of A Car Accident
Published: 20 July 2011 By MoneyHighStreet Staff Leave a Comment
Slow drivers cause other drivers irritation and result on risk taking to overtake, increasing the risk of an accident.
Research from Confused.com shows that dawdling drivers are the top cause of irritation for UK drivers with some 60% of motorists experiencing an increase in stress levels and irritability when there’s a vehicle driving slower than the rest of the traffic.
In response to slow drivers, almost half of motorists risk overtaking, thus increasing the chances of an accident.
In fact, according to information from the Department for Transport , over 140 accidents a year are caused directly by slow drivers or “Sunday drivers,” as they are known.
Nearly a third of motorists have had an incident or ‘near miss’ on the roads caused by a slow driver.
A fact not known by some is that in 2011 the government introduced a scheme which allows for £100 on-the-spot fine for careless driving-including those that drive too slow
Is it time to introduce a ‘slow speed camera’? Apparently half of British motorists support the idea of such cameras to catch slow motorists so that they be fined for driving slower than the minimum designated speed limit.
Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com says,”We support the introduction of a programme of measures to eliminate this hazard as our research has highlighted that excessively slow driving is a real problem – the government introduced speed cameras and now even a super speed camera so should also consider the same rigour to combat slow driving as it could make a difference and help reduce motorists putting themselves or others at risk.”
Other suggestions for dealing with slow drivers include imposing a minimum speed limit on ALL British roads, introducing a slow lane, allocating dedicated times for slow drivers to be on the road and a warning badge system to be displayed by offending motorists.
What names are given to slow drivers, do you know?
Turtle chaser: A slow driver in the right lane on a motorway, being constantly undertaken – an action that is nevertheless illegal
Slow Charles: A person in front, driving extremely slowly under the speed limit when there is no other traffic
Lane Hanger: A driver that stays in the passing lane without moving over to let faster cars pass by
Gramps Champ: An overly slow and cautious driver, often elderly, who seems to forever stay in front of you in traffic – turning where you want to turn, exiting where you want to exit, and going into the same car park as you etc.
Feather foot: Someone who takes forever to get up to speed.
MoneyHighStreet says: “Clearly driving dangerously in any way is a major risk, not only to yourself but to others on the road.
And do remember that if you drive without due care and attention and get caught, you face the prospect of a rise in your car insurance premiums - along with 3 points on your driving licence and a £60 fine.