TV and film characters influence reckless driving

Over a million UK motorists claim to have picked up their bad driving habits from TV and film characters, according to the latest research from Confused.com – UK car insurance price comparison site.

A shocking 1 in 4 (23%) of 17-24 year olds, claim that they have picked up bad driving habits from films, such as Casino Royale and the Italian Job - an admission which is supported by the fact that 3 in 4 young drivers claim to drive with one hand on the wheel, and more than 1 in 2 (55%) frequently drive over the speed limit.

Londoners are the worst in the country for trying to emulate their TV and film heroes, with nearly 1 in 5 (18%) claiming that watching films has a direct impact on their driving styles. This becomes even more significant when taking into consideration the fact that only 2% of drivers from other regions in the UK claim to be influenced by film and TV characters.

Will Thomas, head of car insurance at Confused.com, says: "It is very concerning that so many drivers admit to being influenced by film and television stars. While some motorists dream about emulating the driving styles of James Bond and Knightrider, the reality is that driving erratically and dangerously is far from astute - especially for people who live in regions which are as built-up as London.

"Driving dangerously not only has serious safety implications, but it can also have a huge impact on drivers' premiums. Young drivers and Londoners can already suffer from initially higher premiums than their driving counterparts which makes their self-confessed recklessness even more inexplicable."