‘Tailgating’ tops list of irritating driving

DRIVING too close to the car in front is the most annoying habit on the road, a survey of motorists revealed yesterday.

Yet shockingly one in five drivers admits they do it.

The study by TeamSport Indoor Karting found 58 per cent of Britons get hot under the collar over tailgating – putting it in pole position for top 10 bad motoring habits.

It was followed by drivers not indicating (50 per cent) and people leaving their full beam headlights on, despite oncoming traffic (43 per cent).

Cutting in just in front of someone came fourth, while braking late, hogging the middle lane and “undertaking” were also on the list.

Making the top 10 were parking across two spaces, not letting other drivers out and not thanking other drivers for being let out.

Interestingly, those who tailgate find the habit more annoying than the average driver.

The poll also found younger drivers are the most annoying – and that bad habits become less common with age.

In the battle of the sexes, men and women are equally annoying when driving, with 77 per cent of each admitting to being guilty of at least one of the habits.

Dominic Gaynor, managing director at TeamSport Karting, said: “We’re all guilty of getting a little hot under the collar while driving. It’s interesting to see exactly what it is that’s causing the most irritation.”