Dangers of bad driving habits

In 2006 there were an estimated 189,161 accidents on Britain’s roads, and looking at new research from Sainsbury’s Car Insurance, this is perhaps not surprising. The findings reveal that 68% (projected to over 18.5 million motorists) have engaged in some form of potentially dangerous activity whilst driving in the last month.

Eating and drinking whilst driving is the most frequent dangerous driving habit, with 41% of motorists admitting to having done it during July. This is followed by driving whilst feeling tired (34%), driving wearing flip flops/no shoes (20%) and excessive speeding (17%).

Despite it now being illegal to use a non hands-free mobile phone whilst driving, 14% of motorists said that they did this last month and 8% admitted to sending text messages whilst driving. Over 500,000 motorists admitted to driving their car without their contact lenses or prescription glasses.

Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury's Car Insurance Manager said: “It can be easy to become complacent behind the wheel of a car especially when driving regular routes but our advice is to stay alert and safe and don't allow yourself to be distracted. Just one mistake could have terrible consequences.

“Unfortunately, many motorists may not have considered the dangers behind some of their actions. For example, 627,000 motorists have admitted to using a second hand child car seat in the past month and 574,000 have driven a child under the age of seven when they were not in an appropriate car seat.”

Sainsbury’s Car Insurance cover is one of only a few insurers to offer new-for-old replacement child seats after an accident as a standard feature of its car insurance policy, even when there is no perceived damage.

On a gender basis, the findings reveal that 10.7 million male drivers have embarked on some form of dangerous activity whilst driving over the last month. This compares with 8.5 million female drivers.

Wales and the West saw 80% of its motorists engaging in a possibly dangerous act whilst at the wheel in the last month, which was the highest in the country. The corresponding figure for the north-west was 59%, which was the lowest in Britain. Sainsbury’s Car Insurance offers competitive premiums and could save motorists up to £124.

Sainsbury’s also offers motorists an extensive range of cover and benefits. This includes a courtesy car when using one of its recommended repairers (comprehensive cover only) and a no claim discount of 70% if you have not made a claim in the past five years, rising to 75% after a further five years’ claim free driving with Sainsbury’s Car Insurance. It is also one of only a few providers to offer new for old replacement child car seats after an accident as a standard feature of its comprehensive policy, even when there is no perceived damage, as well as support and compensation if you’re a victim of car jacking or road rage.