Eight in 10 drivers admit they would fail their test

Motorists confess to bad habits and forgetting what they were taught

As many as nine in 10 British motorists admit there are things they were taught during their lessons they have either completely forgotten or simply no longer do.

In fact, according to the study, by dash cam and car tech experts Cobra, 80 per cent of the drivers surveyed said they would undoubtedly fail their test if they had to retake it now.

A total of 39 per cent of the 2,000 UK motorists polled admit to steering onehanded, 34 per cent confess to routinely driving too fast, while 26 per cent fiddle with the radio while they should be concentrating on the road.

A quarter say they never check their mirrors, while 15 per cent do not indicate when turning left or right.

Worryingly, 82 per cent admitted they have given themselves a recent scare by making a mistake which could have been dangerous while on the road.

One in four (24 per cent) of the drivers quizzed admitted they can’t parallel park, while 19 per cent get into a pickle when they try to reverse into a space.

Almost one in 10 (9 per cent) find it impossible to do a three-point turn and 12 per cent said they struggle to park within the lines of a standard parking bay.

And when it comes to everyday road signs it does not get any better for the nation’s motorists.

Researchers showed drivers a series of standard road signs, but a third (29 per cent) were unable to identify a no waiting sign (red outline, blue background and red diagonal line) while 12 per cent were baffled by the national speed limit marker (white circle with black diagonal line).

A further 13 per cent struggled when faced with a no-overtaking sign (red circle, white background, and black and red car).

One in four (24 per cent) believe that a dash cam would make them feel like a safer driver, with a further third (31 per cent) saying that dash cams should be mandatory for all drivers.