A major variety of drivers don’t present satisfactory house when following learner drivers, based on latest analysis carried out by the AA Driving Faculty. The survey revealed that 13% of drivers admitted to not leaving ample house in entrance of them when trailing a automotive displaying L plates, with 2% confessing to tailgating learners.
The findings spotlight that youthful drivers usually tend to interact on this dangerous habits in comparison with their older counterparts. Particularly, fewer younger drivers report leaving further house when following a learner, and they’re extra vulnerable to tailgating.
Moreover, the analysis confirmed that 25% of respondents are extra inclined to overhaul a learner driver, with this tendency being extra prevalent amongst youthful drivers. In Northern Eire, nearly half (49%) of drivers admitted they’d be prone to overtake a learner, making it the area with the best incidence of this habits.
The AA Driving Faculty additionally explored driver attitudes in the direction of newly certified drivers displaying P plates. Practically a 3rd (28%) of drivers admitted to not leaving further house or tailgating these with P plates. Moreover, 14% of drivers confessed to getting impatient when following a learner driver, and 18% admitted to altering routes to keep away from them.
| Displaying L Plate % | Displaying P Plate % | |
| I’d be extra prone to tailgate somebody | 2 | 1 |
| I’d be extra doubtless to provide solution to somebody | 67 | 45 |
| I’d be extra prone to change path to keep away from somebody | 18 | 6 |
| I’m extra prone to drive slower if behind somebody | 17 | 12 |
| I go away extra space in entrance if following somebody | 89 | 72 |
| I get impatient following somebody | 14 | 7 |
| I’d be extra prone to overtake somebody | 25 | 15 |
| I’d be much less doubtless to provide solution to somebody | 10 | 7 |
Camilla Benitz, Managing Director of AA Driving Faculty, expressed concern over the findings: “It’s alarming that so many drivers don’t give learners the respect they deserve once they meet them on the roads. Particularly worrying is that the age group most responsible of this are those who’ve just lately handed their exams.”
Benitz emphasised the significance of endurance and understanding from different highway customers, noting that “a bit of additional room can assist ease the strain on a brand new or learner driver, in addition to giving you extra space and time to react ought to they do one thing sudden.”
Regardless of these considerations, the survey additionally highlighted optimistic behaviors, with two-thirds of drivers indicating they’d give solution to learner drivers.
The AA Driving Faculty’s findings echo an identical survey carried out 5 years in the past, indicating that attitudes in the direction of learner drivers haven’t considerably improved over time. The analysis serves as a reminder of the necessity for continued consciousness and training round secure driving practices, significantly in relation to inexperienced drivers.
In accordance with Rule 217 of the Freeway Code, drivers are suggested to be significantly affected person with learner and inexperienced drivers, as they might not be as adept at anticipating and responding to occasions on the highway (see ‘Security code for brand spanking new drivers’).
