Brits keen to see reckless drivers face consequences, poll shows

8 May 2019

We all want the roads to be safe places - no one wants to experience having their car damaged or something worse when they go out for a drive.

However, new research has shown the extent people would go to protect themselves and perhaps their spanking new cars from other motorists.

According to the poll, eight out of ten Britons feel reckless motorists should have their licences revoked and be made to retake both their practical and theory driving tests in order to get it back.

When asked what they feel is the worst and most dangerous behaviour on the roads, a quarter said they hate speeding, while 12 per cent reported being especially concerned about others using mobile phones and eating at the wheel.

Currently, heavy fines, immediate disqualifications and imprisonment are typically applied only in the most serious of driving offences, such as those that have resulted in injury or even death.

Most of the time, reckless drivers tend to receive points on their licence or have to go on speeding awareness courses.

However, 81 per cent of those surveyed said they want to see immediate licence bans for recklessness, 80 per cent wanted harsher fines and 64 per cent said they wanted compulsory classes introduced for those that break the law.

Alison Bell from Venson Automotive Solutions, which carried out the poll, commented: "It's clear from our survey that the British public would like to see more leadership from the government as well as greater responsibility by private companies, with many calling for harsher penalties for reckless driving."

Meanwhile, another survey by automotive data experts HPI found that 39 per cent of drivers put their poor behaviour at the wheel down to them having a bad day - and, worryingly, three per cent said they are 'always furious' when they hit the road.

That could lead to a lot of potentially risky situations and volatile motorists, which is not a good situation for anyone.

More than a quarter of those questioned for this research said they get frustrated by other people overtaking them dangerously, with a fifth highlighting tailgaters as their biggest bugbear.