The majority of UK drivers believe that breaking road traffic laws is justified if they judge it to be an emergency situation.
More than two thirds (68 percent) of motorists said it was acceptable to park on double yellow lines, break the speed limit or use a bus lane if needed.
Some 17 percent of those surveyed said they had broken a motoring rule in an emergency: a figure that equates to around seven million drivers in the UK.
Almost a quarter (24 percent) said they would be willing to contravene the law if they believed they could do so without being caught.
Despite this, most of those questioned (86 percent) admitted to feeling annoyed when other road users broke the law.
Temporary car insurance provider Tempcover, which conducted the research, asked what situations UK drivers would most likely deem an emergency.
A medical crisis, such a passenger experiencing a heart attack or stroke, was considered sufficiently urgent by more than half (55 percent) of those surveyed. Someone suffering a serious injury would be acceptable to a similar proportion (52 percent).
However, others took a broader view of what an emergency situation might be.
Pet emergencies were deemed an acceptable reason to break the law for 14 percent, whilst four percent even believed that needing the toilet was justification enough.
If stopped by the police in a genuine emergency, almost a third (32 percent) would expect an officer to escort them to their destination. Some 14 percent believed they could just ‘get away with it’ instead.
Of the 12 percent who have borrowed someone else’s car during an emergency, less than half (41 percent) checked whether they were insured to drive it.
In fact, 36 percent admitted they were unaware that driving without insurance could see a car seized and potentially crushed.
Adam Craddock, car insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “In the heat of an emergency situation, the end goal is often at the front of mind. However, it is vital to remember that breaking road laws – like speeding or running red lights – can inadvertently create a second emergency by putting yourself and other road users at risk.
“The last thing anyone needs in a crisis is the legal and safety repercussions to make an already difficult situation much harder to manage.
“Driving without valid insurance, even in an emergency, remains a criminal offence. If caught driving uninsured, you could be subject to fines, points on your licence, and the vehicle could be seized and destroyed.”
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