Londoners reckon they are the best drivers in the UK – believing they are the most careful in bad weather and in built-up areas.
A poll of 2,000 motorists – including private hire, food delivery, public transport, and other “everyday” drivers – were scored on their driving technique and experience, to determine which region thinks they are the safest drivers.
Categories included their tendency to speed, accidents for which they felt they were to blame, and how often they check their mirrors.
And motorists residing in the capital came top overall – believing they drive most safely near schools, take corners most smoothly, and, on average, rarely make a claim on their insurance.
Yorkshire and the Humber, and the West Midlands, secured second and third place respectively in the study, commissioned by insurtech company Zego.
However, motorists in the North West got the fewest points – with many confessing to failing to check their mirrors, speeding, and accelerating too hard.
It also emerged 60% of all drivers believe they pay too much for their motor insurance, as they believe they are good drivers.
Sten Saar, CEO of Zego, said: “Brits are proud of their driving habits, and it is great to see so many regions scoring highly when it comes to their perceived road safety.
“It is so important to be careful on the roads, and to put into practice everything we learn in our driving lessons.
“That said, it can also be such a shame that so many have to pay over the odds for insurance – especially when they don’t have penalties against them or any claims.
“We’re a nation that loves to be rewarded for achieving, and it’s about time good drivers were rewarded for their excellent behaviour on our roads.”
The South East came out on top for trying not to speed, while the East Midlands was the worst when it came to being at fault for accidents.
However, they also believe they are the least likely to brake harshly, and always stick to the 10-to-2 position on the steering wheel.
Those in Wales are said to have had the least accidents over the past five years, averaging just two – compared to the South West, who have had four in the same timeframe.
Drivers were also quizzed on how smoothly they take corners, checking their blind spot, and if they’re cautious when driving in bad weather conditions.
London took top marks for six out of the eleven questions asked – and, despite coming out as the worst drivers, the North West scored a nine for rarely being at fault in accidents.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, found 57% of motorists have never been caught speeding, and more than a third (36%) don’t have any points on their driving licence.
As a result, over half of road users (53%) believe their insurance cover should be fairer, and priced based on driving behaviour.
A third already use a telematics-based insurance product to get a better price, while 53% would use an app to measure their driving if it rewarded them for safer driving.
It also found one in three (32%) believe bus drivers are the safest type of motorists – while 22% said taxi drivers, and 19% believe delivery drivers are number one.
But despite emerging as the self-perceived best drivers, London motorists actually have more points on their licence on average than anywhere else – a total of three.
And 33% were punished with points for drink driving.
Sten Saar of Zego, which rewards safe drivers who use their vehicle for work – such as private hire, delivery drivers and couriers – with its “Sense” policy, added: “It is clear from the poll that Britain is a nation of drivers who really value safe driving, and it is no surprise that many people would prefer that their insurance is based on how they actually drive.
“People haven’t forgotten all the basic rules they learnt through their theory and driving test, which you think would naturally fade over time.
“But safer driving means fewer accidents and, in turn, cheaper insurance in the long run.”
OVERALL SCORES SHOWING WHO THINKS THEY ARE BEST TO WORST DRIVERS ACROSS THE UK:
- London – scored 96 out of 100
- Yorkshire and the Humber – scored 79 out of 100
- West Midlands – scored 74 out of 100
- East Midlands – scored 71 out of 100
- North East – scored 69 out of 100
- Scotland – scored 66 out of 100
- South East – scored 64 out of 100
- East of England – scored 56 out of 100
- Wales – scored 53 out of 100
- South West – scored 52 out of 100
- North West – scored 46 out of 100
