It takes motorists in Scotland just one week for bad driving habits to start after passing their test, according to a recent survey carried out by Accident Advice Helpline.
A study of 2,000 motorists across the UK, found the average driver in Scotland started letting bad habits creep in after less than two months on the road. Just over nine per cent admitted they started developing dodgy driving habits just one week after removing their L plates, and 59 per cent of adults in Scotland passed their driving test on their first attempt. The majority of respondents, 93 per cent, felt that this didn’t make them a bad driver.
David Carter, spokesman for Accident Advice Helpline said: “Passing your driving test is, for many people, one of the hardest things they’ll ever have to do. For many of us, that testing day could have come years or even decades ago – plenty of time for bad habits to creep in. Our study found lots of drivers are happy to admit to bad practices when behind the wheel and sadly we often have to deal with the unforeseen consequences.”
Before the first six months of driving are complete, many drivers in Scotland will have stopped holding the wheel in the ‘ten and two’ position and are unlikely to check their mirrors every time they make a manoeuvre. On average it takes just four months for drivers in Scotland to become a ‘middle-lane hog’ on the motorway – sitting in the central lane rather than moving over to the left.
Drivers will further put their safety at risk by driving without a seatbelt after less than four months of having their full licence.
The average driver will have run a red light and completed an illegal U-turn within six months of passing their test.
“Bad driving habits can compromise safety and the research suggests it’s all too easy to let our driving standard slip”, commented David Carter.
In fact, a tenth of those surveyed admitted to having had an accident due to getting slack with following the rules of the road.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE DRIVERS IN SCOTLAND TO DEVELOP BAD DRIVING HABITS?
- Holding the wheel with just one hand – 4 months
- Giving up on the ‘ten and two’ position entirely – 3 months
- Stopping checking your mirrors when manoeuvring – 3 months
- Turning a corner without indicating – 5 months
- Tailgating someone – 4 months
- Sitting in the middle of a motorway because you can’t be bothered to move over – 4 months
- Completing an overtake in a dangerous situation – 5 months
- Running a red light – 5 months
- Driving without a seatbelt – 3 months
- Doing an illegal U-turn – 6 months
- Throwing litter out of the car window – 4 months
- Fumbling in your bag for something while driving – 4 months
- Parking on double yellow lines – 5 months
- Pulling out in front of someone, cutting them up – 5 months
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