If you’ve found yourself honking your horn or shouting at other drivers recently, you’re not alone. A recent poll shows nearly seven in ten motorists think driving standards have declined over the past five years.
Tailgating tops the list of most hated habits. Eight in ten drivers report seeing it frequently - a dangerous behaviour linked to an estimated 147 deaths in England each year. Using a mobile phone while driving and failing to signal are also major irritants. Six in ten drivers have spotted someone on their phone at the wheel, which remains illegal even if the device is in a cradle.
Surprisingly, failing to indicate is not legally mandatory, only advised in the Highway Code - but over a third of drivers (35%) notice it on almost every journey. Overall, 69% of drivers believe standards are worsening, while just 3% think they’ve improved, according to a survey of 1,100 motorists for consumer group Which?.
Most disliked driving habits:
| Driving habit | % ranking in top 3 | % witnessing frequently |
| Tailgating | 56% | 81% |
| Using a phone while driving | 43% | 60% |
| Late/no indication | 38% | 90% |
| Middle land hogging | 38% | 77% |
| Driving with dazzling headlights | 25% | 63% |
| Speeding | 24% | 96% |
| Running red lights | 19% | 33% |
| Driving too slowly/not keeping up | 18% | 63% |
| Undertaking on motorways | 14% | 62% |
| Not merging in turn | 14% | 63% |
| Failing to give way | 9% | 59% |
| Not stopping for pedestrians | 7% | 45% |
Michael Passingham, Which? cars expert, said:
“Tailgating or using a phone while driving isn’t just irritating - it’s dangerous. If you see someone on their phone or a tailgater behind you, keep a safe distance and make sure you have an escape route, particularly on faster, busy roads.”
Other risky habits include speeding and dazzling headlights, both illegal. Less obvious but still dangerous behaviours include middle lane hogging, which can frustrate other drivers and lead to unsafe overtaking. Police can issue fines for this, though most drivers never see the consequences. Which? advises:
“Don’t undertake a middle-lane hogger - they may cut back unexpectedly. Instead, drop back and wait for a safe opportunity to pass, or move into the left lane and wait it out.”
egarding dazzling headlights, the advice is: “Slow down safely until visibility returns. Flashing your own lights can make the situation worse and dazzle others.”
The problem is growing: motoring offences hit a ten-year high last year, with 753,000 prosecutions - a 3% increase on 2023. Speeding and causing serious injury through dangerous driving are particularly rising.
Speeding offences are up by 58,000 compared to ten years ago, and 1,426 more drivers caused serious injuries over the same period.
Alarmingly, drivers of vans and HGVs top the list for using mobile phones behind the wheel, according to the latest Department for Transport figures from autumn 2023.
