It may not come as huge surprise to many, but it seems the cliche is true. The worst drivers in the UK are reported to be BMW, Mercedes and Audi owners.
Apparently, the worst of the bunch are BMW drivers, with BMW 420D drivers being the most likely to speed, run a red light and make an ‘at fault’ insurance claim. And Mercedes and Audi motorists aren’t far behind.
This is all according to GoCompare Car Insurance who have recently released some research into the drivers that are most likely to be a liability behind the wheel.
In addition to being the most likely to run a red light, speed and make an ‘at fault’ insurance claim, BMW 420D drivers are also the most likely to be convicted of a driving offence and cause a collision on the road, too.
It is reported that more than one in six BMW 4 series drivers (17.1%) have at least one driving conviction, which is more than double the average across all models (8.5%), whilst one in five (21.3%)
BMW 4 series drivers have also made an ‘at fault’ insurance claim.
It is seemingly no coincidence that those driving flashy cars are also the most dangerous behind the wheel, with research indicating that those driving luxury car brands are the most likely to cause a collision or be convicted of an offence on the road.
Matt Oliver, spokesperson for GoCompare Car Insurance , commented on the findings: “While it may be no surprise that higher-powered, luxury cars are the marques of choice for some of the more dangerous drivers on the road, it’s not true of all owners of these makes.
“What is more worrying is the large number of these cars on the road right now. According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), BMW, Mercedes and Audi all feature among the top ten most popular cars of 2018.
“Typically, many of the cars listed in our top ten lists will be driven by those commuting or driving for longer periods on the motorway, at peak times in highly built-up areas, increasing the risk of an accident or motoring conviction.
“Claiming on insurance when you’re at-fault is likely to result in the cost of your car insurance rocketing, more so than other claims, as you will be deemed a higher-risk driver.”
Along with BMW drivers, Audi A5 (15.5%), Mercedes Benz C220 (14.8%), Mercedes Benz E220 (14.8%), Jaguar XF (14.3%), Mercedes Benz CLA (14.3%) and Mercedes Benz GLC (14.0%) all feature in the top-ten car models
whose drivers are most likely to be convicted of an offence on the road.
The motorists least likely to have convictions or make ‘at fault’ claims included Vauxhall Agila and Ford Ka drivers.
While BMW drivers were most likely to have a motoring conviction or to have made an at-fault claim, Mercedes drivers also appeared heavily in both top ten lists, with E220, GLC and C220 models all ranking.
Arguably the most important message from this research is that those in fast cars, are likely to drive too fast. This is one of the reasons why it is important to properly school the next generation of drivers in the dangers of driving irresponsibly – this is where Driving Instructors come in. The role of a Driving Instructor is about more than simply getting a learner driver through their test; it is about educating new drivers on as many aspects of vehicle and road safety as practicable.
Are you up for the challenge?
If you are looking for job satisfaction, flexible working hours and the opportunity to be your own boss then a career as a Driving Instructor might just be for you. To find out more about how to make this career a change a reality, head over to myfourwheels.co.uk today and take your first steps on the road to becoming a driving instructor!
