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Nearly a quarter of British drivers feel anxious driving on motorways, study claims

Motorway driving is the skill British people say they lack confidence in after fear of parking, according to survey 

Adrian Hearn
Wednesday 22 August 2018 17:49 BST
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The survey found 39 per cent of drivers feel scared, nervous, uneasy or uncertain behind the wheel in general
The survey found 39 per cent of drivers feel scared, nervous, uneasy or uncertain behind the wheel in general

Millions of British people feel anxious when driving on motorways, new research suggests.

With a busy bank holiday weekend approaching, UK roads are set to be packed with families leaving for their end-of-summer getaway.

But a poll of 2,000 drivers by Nissan has found that 23 per cent of drivers were uncomfortable on multi-lane roads.

More than half of drivers said they were nervous when hemmed in between cars and lorries on motorways, while 43 per cent cited a dislike of overtaking lorries or other large vehicles.

The survey also found 39 per cent of drivers felt eel scared, nervous, uneasy or uncertain behind the wheel in general.

Alex Smith, managing director of Nissan Motor Ltd, said: “As we head towards a busy weekend for the UK’s motorway network, it’s concerning that many drivers feel they lack confidence in the everyday aspects of multi-lane driving.”

Nissan conducted the study to highlight ProPILOT, the car giant’s advanced driver assistance technology.

Motorway driving was the second biggest skill British people felt they lacked confidence in - 21 per cent of drivers - beaten only by the fear of parking harboured by 27 per cent of drivers.

About half of drivers, or 47 per cent, also admitted they had taken a smaller road to avoid larger, busier routes.

One in 20 were so nervous they said they had taken a detour of as much as 26 miles.

Almost one in two drivers surveyed believed that driver assistance technologies, such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings and intelligent cruise control, could help them feel more confident.

SWNS

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