Bus drivers are the safest professional drivers, according to a survey by Continental Tyres.
Carried out by One Poll on behalf of Continental Tyres, the study asked 3,500 road users including pedestrians, car drivers, cyclists and commercial vehicle drivers from across the UK and Ireland for their opinions on other groups that they share road space with.
Bus drivers received the most praise, with cyclists and car drivers judging them as the safest commercial vehicle drivers, while 21 percent of car drivers also saying they felt most safe around truck drivers.
Of the truck drivers polled, 41 percent felt that cyclists were the least safe group of road users, 33 percent thought that taxi drivers were the least considerate drivers on the road, while 80 percent cited harsh braking and late indication were the most annoying habits of other road users. 75 percent of all commercial vehicle drivers also said mobile phone use was the biggest irritation on the road. Three out of five car drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and nearly 8 out of 10 lorry drivers also believe that training for road users should include more on awareness and consideration for other types of road users.
Mark Griffiths, safety expert at Continental Tyres, said, “It is clear that poor communication is at the root of much of the animosity we see on the road. Failing to signal and using mobile phones while on the road makes journeys more difficult for everyone and breeds contempt when we should all be working together for a safer road network.”
