71% 81% 79%
MORE than half of motorists are nervous encountering cyclists on the road, it has been revealed.
The research by 123.ie, which quizzed nearly 3,500 drivers in Ireland, found 59% were uneasy when they saw someone on a bike.
The Great Irish Car Review examined the relationship between motorists and cyclists and identified the habits that most annoy drivers.
The national survey revealed the overwhelming majority (71%) believe cyclists do not obey the rules of the road and regularly commit offences on our roads.
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Around 81% said cyclists regularly break lights and 84% felt bike riders weave in and out of traffic.
Around 79% believe they head the wrong way up one way streets, while 71% responded that they cycle at night without lights.
When asked to rate their own driving skills when encountering cyclists, more than half of drivers (57%) felt they were mindful of cyclists on the road.
123.ie’s head of marketing Padraig O’neill said: “It’s clear many motorists are frustrated by some of the bad cycling habits they see on our roads and the results of the survey indicate that the relationship between drivers and cyclists is not as positive as it could be. However, the recent calls to ensure roads are safer for cyclists is a welcome development and the survey results also show the majority of motorists (88%) want more cycle lanes introduced.
“Perhaps the fractious relationship is down to the lack of safe infrastructure for cyclists, as much as it is about the way in which some people cycle.”
In the battle of the sexes, male drivers were voted better at
reversing (76%), parking (78%) and three-point turns (66%), while women topped the poll for better driving skills such as indicating when turning (76%) and driving etiquette in general (72%).
When asked which gender has the worst driving habits, men were perceived by respondents of both sexes to be the greatest offenders. A huge 93% felt speeding was the preserve of men, while 88% voted male were most likely not to wear a seatbelt while driving. Around 82% felt fellas honk the horn too much and 93% felt men were prone to road rage.
Respondents deemed that 85% of males versus 15% of females are red light breakers.
The survey results also revealed the biggest bad habit women have is blocking the overtaking lane on a motorway or dual carriageway, by driving slowly – 64% agreed this was the case.
Female drivers were also voted as more likely to use their mobile phone while driving, receiving 54% the vote as opposed to 46% of their male counterparts.
Meanwhile, tailgating was voted the most annoying habit, with three quarters of respondents stating this irked them while driving.
Not indicating and driving while speaking on a mobile phone were the annoying habits that took second and third place, receiving 67% and 63%.
And 30% of respondents said they were “slightly annoyed” by a driver and passenger kissing at a red light, compared to 27% who deemed themselves “strongly annoyed” by the same.
When it came to assessing their own driving habits in the past year, the majority of motorists said they had never used social media while driving (91%), driven without a seatbelt (89%) or texted while driving (74%).
Around 13% admitted to occasionally taking a call while behind the wheel and just over one in 10 (11%) had read a text while driving.
Mr O’neill added: “Not surprisingly, the things that most annoy us about other drivers are the habits which put other road users in danger, such as failing to indicate or seeing another driver on their mobile phone.
“Obviously these offences come with a fine and penalty points but this does not seem to be a significant deterrent for some motorists.”
The study was carried out online in December 2017 amongst 3,461 car owners in Ireland.
Many are frustrated by some of the cycling habits they see PADRAIG O’NEIILL
Amount of drivers who think cyclists don’t follow road rules
Number of motorists who think people on bikes jump lights
Think cyclists go the wrong direction on one-way streets