Poll finds road standards worsening as tailgating and phone use top drivers’ grievances

Nearly seven in ten motorists think road standards have worsened on the roads over the last five years, a Which? poll of more than 1,100 drivers found. Tailgating was voted the most hated habit, with about eight in ten saying they frequently witness the dangerous behaviour, which is linked to an estimated 147 deaths in England each year.

Using a mobile phone at the wheel and failing to indicate are among the nation’s most irritating driving habits. Sixty percent of motorists said they have often seen other road users on their phone while driving, which remains illegal even if the device is in a cradle. Late or no indication, though not mandatory, was spotted on every journey made by 35 percent of drivers.

Sixty-nine percent believe driving standards have worsened in the last five years, while three percent think they have improved. Which? cars expert Michael Passingham said that tailgating or using a mobile phone while driving aren’t just irritating and irresponsible, they’re often dangerous, and urged drivers to give space and keep an escape route in mind, especially on busier roads.

Other dangerous habits cited include speeding and dazzling headlights, which are illegal. Less obvious behaviors include middle lane hogging, which can prompt frustrated drivers to overtake unsafely out of impatience. Police can issue fines for occupying the middle lane, but Which? notes that many motorists may never see those consequences. The consumer group advised drivers to never undertake a vehicle hogging the middle lane, as the offender may be about to switch back to the left without indicating, and to instead drop back or wait for an opening in the lane to the right. Or, if you’re feeling patient, drop into the left lane and wait for the problem to resolve itself.

As to dazzling headlights, Which? urged drivers to slow down safely until visibility improves.

The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show the number of motoring prosecutions has hit a ten-year high. Last year saw 753,000 motoring prosecutions, up 3% on 2023. Speeding and causing serious injury by dangerous driving appear to be getting worse. Speed-limit breaches increased by 58,000 last year compared with a decade earlier, and 1,426 more drivers caused serious injuries from driving dangerously in the same period. And Department for Transport data from autumn 2023 show that vans and heavy goods vehicle drivers account for a disproportionate share of mobile-phone use behind the wheel, compared with other vehicle types.

Taken together, the poll and official data underscore growing concerns about road safety and the challenges of changing driver behavior amid rising enforcement figures.