New Survey Suggests That Hell is Other Drivers in the UK

SURREY, ENGLAND, January 27, 2011 (Press-News.org) - Half of drivers are scared to drive because of the other UK drivers
- Almost one in three had been in an incident of road rage
- 75% of UK drivers get angered and stressed at the way others drive
- 75% think harsher convictions should be passed for driving dangerously

Half of all drivers are scared to drive on the UK's roads, despite numerous attempts by the government's campaigns for road safety. Two thousand drivers were questioned and the survey found that 33% had been a road rage victim.

Car hire comparator Carrentals.co.uk performed the survey, which asked people in the UK of their driving experiences and it found that 75% of people got angry and stressed at other drivers' hazardous actions on the roads.

50% of people had seen another driver going the wrong way up a one-way street and 17% had witnessed on a motorway another driver reversing, showing the potential dangerous that are on the roads today.

The survey also found that drivers were going over the 70-mile an hour speed limit and tailgating at that speed; to get ahead on a motorway 80% of people had seen drivers weaving to get passed; and 92% of people had seen people going over the 30-mile an hour speed limit around towns and cities.

Dangerous driving isn't the only thing the survey found; aggressive driving, intimidation, verbal abuse, physical violence and been forced off the road are just some things that occur. Some drivers were even bullied, punched or kicked, even in public! Also, 6% drivers themselves or someone they knew had been car jacked.

Managing director for Carrentals.co.uk, Mr Gareth Robinson commented on the survey: "Britain's roads are potentially dangerous even just due to the volume of traffic but to hear of the unbelievable actions of other drivers such as intimidation or violence is terrible to hear and wasn't even heard of not long ago."

Dangerous driving goes further as people who are distracted are just as a dangers to other road users, despite government campaigns of safe driving. Those who were asked 93% said they had seen people eating food; adjusting the radio or sat nav; looking at attractive women or men going by; drinking coffee; talking on a mobile or stopping their kids arguing, all while being behind the wheel.

The result was that three out of four people thought that harsher penalties should be introduced for dangerous driving to ensure people are more responsible when driving.

"People are continuing to put their own and other drivers' lives at risk with their actions, despite the countless campaigns for safe driving," added Gareth. "People don't consider their actions and the potential dangers, such as reversing on the motorway or being violent to another driver.

"Drivers need to be shown that their actions are dangerous and with the help of those operating on the roads, road safety campaigns and the government they can highlight these problems to ensure our safety."

The 'Hell is Other Drivers' road safety campaign 2010/2011 from Carrentals.co.uk (as seen at www.carrentals.co.uk/roadsense2010) is designed to help drivers be more safe and there are exclusive offers to be had.

The car hire comparison site, Carrentals.co.uk, is the UK's leading site which compares deals from Auto Europe, Alamo, Sixt, Holiday Autos and Budget.

Details of the discounts can be seen at www.carrentals.co.uk/roadsense2010.

* Note to editors - case studies available

About Carrentals.co.uk
Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK's leading online car hire companies by 2006.

In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. Using the latest technology the Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 50 different car hire websites, providing an impartial comparison of the best prices available in over 10,000 locations.

Websites searched include Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty, with the Carrentals.co.uk site quickly comparing prices and allowing customers to refine their search by car type.

The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.

In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards, and in 2010 it was Highly Commended in the Best Meta-search/Price Comparison category. To book or for further information visit www.carrentals.co.uk

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