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Motorists' biggest annoyances revealed



A poll of Scottish motorists has revealed what annoys drivers most – tailgating.

The survey of 731 Scots who drive a car found 85 per cent cite tailgating by other motorists their biggest annoyance on the roads, followed by potholes (81 per cent) and drivers not indicating when turning or changing lane (78 per cent).

 

But just two in five Scots drivers are bothered if other motorists break the speed limit, according to the survey of more than 700 drivers commissioned by Glasgow-based personal injury lawyers Dallas McMillan .

 The biggest annoyances were:

  • Tailgating by other drivers: 85%.
  • Potholes in roads: 81%.
  • Drivers not indicating when turning/changing lane: 78%.
  • Drivers using mobile phones: 75%.
  • Drivers using full beam headlights: 71%.
  • Slower drivers staying in middle/outside lanes on motorways: 66%.
  • Drivers jumping the queue at roadworks: 63%.
  • Being cut up by overtaking drivers: 60%.
  • Drivers braking at the last minute: 51%.
  • Drivers who break the speed limit: 40%.

As part of the same research, 1,025 Scottish adults were asked a series of true/false questions by pollsters YouGov.

 

They found:

  • * One in eight thinks drivers can legally handle their mobile phone while sitting in their car at traffic lights.
  • 61 per cent believe that if you drive into the back of someone, the accident is  always  your fault.
  • ** Two thirds believe that if you agree to be a passenger in a car driven by someone you know is under the influence of alcohol, you  can’t  claim compensation from the driver if they crash the car and you’re injured.

Dallas McMillan published the poll results to mark the launch of its RTA Assistance app on Apple appstore and Google Play , which gives anyone involved in a road accident access to immediate legal advice and help free of charge – fault or no fault. Where the accident has caused injury, a solicitor will pursue the injury claim against the insurers of the driver who caused the accident, charging the client no legal fees if they win.

Partner and head of litigation Gordon Bell said: “As one of Scotland’s leading personal injury lawyers, we handle large numbers of motoring accident claims – so we’re not surprised by some of the survey findings.

“However, when it comes to the law on car accidents, sometimes it’s not quite as simple as you first think. Although in most cases it will be your fault if you drive into the back of the car in front, it’s not always so.

 

“For example, if you have a blackout due to an unknown medical condition or the driver in front is driving recklessly you may not be liable. And if you are distracted at the wheel by a sudden life-threatening incident, which leads you to crash into a vehicle braking in front of you, then you may not be held to blame.

“That’s why it’s always worth recording what happens contemporaneously and never admitting liability at the scene of an accident.”



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