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What makes UK drivers angry?

22nd October 2018

Tailgating, using a mobile phone and not using indicators are the top three red flags to ‘wind up’ British drivers…

UK drivers are an angry bunch, according to a new survey on what makes drivers see red when they are on the road.

Over 1700 UK drivers told InsuretheGap.com, a specialist provider of GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection) insurance, what angers them with men twice as likely as women to feel ‘always’ angered by other drivers (66% men v 34% women).

The top three activities most riling drivers are:

  • Tailgating (49%)
  • Using a mobile phone (45%)
  • Pulling in or turning without using indicators (38%)

However, over a third (34%) admit that they, too, are guilty of some of these driving behaviours that makes them so angry when other drivers are doing them.

Other questionable-driving activities making drivers angry include: Pulling out in front of you without warning (35%); cutting in a queue of traffic (33%); and hogging the outside lane (30%).

Men’s pet hate is persistent or random braking, while women’s is another driver taking a parking space they were waiting for.

When asked how they respond when ‘angry’, drivers said they:

  • Beeped car horn (82%)
  • Flashed lights (76%)
  • Gestured at another driver (48%)
  • Swore at another driver (35%)
  • Combination of swearing and gesturing (28%)

Only 2% had physically confronted another driver, with 10% verbally confronting another driver and 4% had blocked the other driver in using their car. An additional 5% leave an angry note and 4% make-do with a rant on social media.

Ben Wooltorton, Chief Operating Officer at InsuretheGap.com, said: “It’s easy to think that we’re all perfect drivers, but what’s interesting here is that people are honest enough to admit that a lot of the things that rile them on the road they’re guilty of too. There aren’t many of us that can say we never forget to put our indicators on or might drive too close to the car ahead so perhaps we shouldn’t get quite so wound up when other drivers do it!”

*1726 UK drivers surveyed by InsuretheGap.com. The drivers are customers of Halo Insurance Services Ltd.

Notes:

InsuretheGap.com is a new independent provider of GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection) insurance. It was launched in 2016 by award-winning and FCA regulated, Halo Insurance Services Limited, the team behind provider of standalone car hire excess insurance, iCarhireinsurance.com.

A GAP insurance policy bridges the gap between what a car cost new and the money received from the insurer if a claim is made because a car is stolen or written off. InsuretheGap.com sells GAP policies from just £54.55. Cover is available for vehicles worth up to £150,000, covering gaps up to £50,000. The starting price for InsuretheGap.com policies is £54.55 (Return to invoice for a car worth £9,999).

Halo Insurance Services Limited was founded in 2009 by Ernesto Suarez, a leading insurance expert specialising in non-standard motor insurance. Its products include car hire insurance, van hire insurance, car club excess insurance and now Gap Insurance, all of which have been designed to offer more cover for a better price than the policies offered at the rental desk or by car dealerships.

Halo operates the retail brands iCarhireinsurance.com in the UK, iCarhireinsurance.ie in Ireland, leihwagenversicherung.de in Germany, Aseguramicochedealquiler.es in Spain, Huurautoverzekering.com  in the Netherlands, Assurancelocationvoiture.fr in France, Insuremyrentalcar.com in the USA and now Insurethegap.com. Halo also provides insurance solutions to a number of commercial partners involved in the provision of software and booking services to car hire operators around the world.

Awards won:

  • 2016 National Champion for the UK, The European Business Awards.
  • FINALIST – 2016 Insurance Times Tech and Innovation Awards – Best Use of Technology to Improve Customer Experience
  • FINALIST – 2016 Insurance Times Tech and Innovation Awards – Insurance App of the Year
  • FINALIST – 2016 British Insurance Awards – Digital Innovation Award
  • FINALIST – 2014 British Insurance Awards – Personal Lines Broker of the Year Award
  • WINNER – 2013 British Insurance Awards – Insurance Start-Up Award
  • FINALIST – 2012 British Insurance Awards – The E-Business Award
  • WINNER – 2011 Insurance Times Awards – Broker Innovation of the Year

Halo Insurance Services Limited is registered in England number 6929208.  Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Register No. 504629 for the sale and administration of general insurance products in the United Kingdom and throughout the European Economic Area (EEA).

 

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