A new study has found the biggest pet peeves that annoy thousands of Brits each time they get behind the wheel, with many sharing the same frustrations. With the Easter weekend rapidly approaching, many families are set to make long journeys to another part of the country, with the AA predicting more than 19 million vehicles on the road on Good Friday alone.
According to Vauxhall's survey of 2,000 Brits, the biggest pet peeve on the road is currently congestion, which 34% of drivers claim is a major frustration of theirs. Something often inevitable on long road trips, particularly during a public holiday, few motorists like having to add additional minutes or hours to their journey sitting stationary as traffic stops and starts.
One of the best ways to avoid getting caught out in a long queue of cars is by planning a route before getting behind the wheel and listening to traffic reports on the radio or checking a monitoring service, such as Google Maps, before setting off.
Another particularly prominent pet peeve amongst UK motorists is roadworks, with 27% of drivers admitting to being angered by it.
A problem particularly encountered on A-roads and motorways, roadworks can slow traffic to a standstill or add valuable time to the journey, particularly if drivers are forced to leave the road they intended using in order to follow a diverted route.
Once again, drivers who plan their route are less likely to encounter unexpected roadworks and can often speed up their journey by avoiding affected areas which are likely to be more congested.
Finally, Vauxhall also claimed that 18% of motorists called other road users who hog the middle and fast lane of a motorway another pet peeve of theirs.
The Highway Code urges all drivers to keep in the left-most lane wherever possible when travelling on motorways or dual carriages, only using the middle and fast lanes to overtake slower-moving vehicles.
Whilst lane-hogging in its own right is not an offence, those caught doing it can increase the build-up of traffic behind them and receive a fine for careless driving.
Whilst Eurig Druce, managing director of Vauxhall, noted that there is little that motorists can do about most pet peeves, the company's latest range of models offer features that take the stress out of driving.
He said: "At Vauxhall, we recognise the everyday frustrations that British drivers face, from congestion and roadworks to the irritation of lane-hogging on motorways. That’s why we’ve equipped the Grandland with our most advanced Intelli-Drive 2.0 technology, designed to make driving safer and smoother.
"Features like Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go help manage stop-start traffic, while Semi-Automated Lane Change and Lane Change Assist help drivers move safely and efficiently on motorways. With advanced technology and a focus on affordability, we’re committed to making driving as safe and pleasurable as possible for British motorists."
Facebook Conversations