Scots among UK's fastest drivers 17 | 06 | 2011
SCOTS DRIVERS are the second worst for speeding in the UK, but ironically they are also the most conscientious at ensuring they fasten their seatbelts.
According to a new survey compiled by the AA, only drivers in the West Midlands are worse than Scots for speeding, but the 4.2% of drivers on Scottish roads who don't use their seatbelts is below the UK average.
The most recent survey by the AA focused on the extent of British drivers' sloppy habits and the motoring organisation claimed its research, which highlighted poor driving at junctions and roundabouts, was the biggest street survey of motorists' behaviour in the UK.
One in three drivers were observed failing to indicate, one in 10 were seen going too fast and nearly one in 20 were spotted not wearing a seatbelt.
Across the UK, faulty brake lights were spotted among 3.6% of motorists, while just 0.23% cent were seen illegally using handheld phones.
The AA's Streetwatch survey, which was carried out over April and May, was compiled by 400 volunteers who observed 40,000 vehicles.
"AA Streetwatch observations show that 5% of drivers are still not wearing seatbelts despite this contributing to 30% of road deaths," AA president Edmund King said.
In support of the findings, Philip Gomm, a spokesman for the Royal Automobile Club Foundation, said: "Some drivers are getting too comfortable in their modern cars.
"Shut away in their own quiet, air-conditioned worlds, there is perhaps a minority of motorists who feel immune to the hazards and dangers beyond the windscreen — and oblivious also to the problems they might cause to others by their own careless behaviour.
"Bad behaviour amongst a minority of drivers could be caused by the frustration associated with so many modern journeys: traffic jams, roadworks, delays, diversions. Some people will always be tempted to gain an advantage at the expense of others' safety and convenience."
And Neil Greig, policy and research director of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), believes the findings of the survey highlight the need for a review o the current driving test.
"These findings underline the need for a better basic driving test," he said, "combined with more encouragement for post-test training that addresses the human errors that cause most deaths and injuries on our roads."
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Jim McGill