Passengers’ pestering proves distracting for drivers

A survey of drivers carried out in the UK reveals that a significant portion believe their spouse to be their most annoying passenger. This could pose a serious risk too since annoying passengers can provide a major distraction to drivers. The survey, carried out by car leasing firm OSV said that 43% of male drivers and 41% of female drivers found their spouse to be the most annoying passenger. The survey also found that around 65% of motorists admit to regularly arguing in their car. Other annoying passeng
January 4, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
A survey of drivers carried out in the UK reveals that a significant portion believe their spouse to be their most annoying passenger. This could pose a serious risk too since annoying passengers can provide a major distraction to drivers. The survey, carried out by car leasing firm OSV said that 43% of male drivers and 41% of female drivers found their spouse to be the most annoying passenger. The survey also found that around 65% of motorists admit to regularly arguing in their car. Other annoying passengers include children (16%) and siblings (11%).

Almost one in seven UK drivers admitted that passengers eating gets on their nerves, although being a backseat driver is considered the most common irritating characteristic. Other passenger gripes include; playing with the radio, asking for toilet breaks and not wearing a seatbelt.

Co-Founder of OSV Ltd, Debbie Kirkley said: “If a driver becomes annoyed or stressed out because of a passenger, they may become distracted. As we are all aware, being distracted increases our chances of being involved in an accident and in order to prevent this, we suggest you tell a passenger how you feel before setting off on a car journey.”

Related Content

  • UNCIEF promoting safer commutes for children to education
    June 4, 2015
    Children should have the right of a safe journey to and from school, as part of a wider strategy to build safe, healthy and liveable communities, recommends a new report from UNICEF and the FIA Foundation. The report, ‘Safe to Learn’, was published to mark the 3rd United Nations Global Road Safety Week, which has a theme of child safety. The report was launched at an event at the World Bank in Washington DC by Zoleka Mandela, a global road safety activist, bereaved mother of a road traffic victim, and gran
    Read More
  • Zipping up road lanes
    September 28, 2018
    QMB has a Lindsay Road Zipper on duty near Montreal. World Highways deputy editor David Arminas climbed aboard As vice president of Canadian barrier specialist QMB, based in Laval, Quebec, Marc-Andre Seguin is sanguine about the future for moveable barriers. On the one hand, it looks good. The oft-stated advantage of moveable barriers is that the systems are cheaper to install than adding a lane or two to a highway or bridge. Directional changes to lanes can boost volume on a road without disrupting tra
    Read More
  • UK’s M6 tolled motorway for sale
    June 21, 2016
    For sale: one UK toll motorway along with operating business. Well maintained. Price negotiable. David Arminas looks at what is on offer As if right on cue, a French articulated truck starts to back up along the hard shoulder at an exit area of M6toll. The manoeuvring is watched from an office inside the nearby M6toll headquarters. Inside, Andy Pearson, chief executive of M6toll, glances over his shoulder and interrupts his presentation to World Highways. “He’s probably missed the dedicated wide-load
    Read More
  • More driver licence screening for UK?
    April 25, 2012
    Anomalies regarding the return of driving licenses to people found guilty of serious driving offences have been uncovered in the UK. In a number of instances, these drivers have then gone on to commit more driving offences and in at least two cases, causing fatalities.
    Read More

Highlighted Content