Autumn 2008

Extra police put the brakes on young drivers

INCREASED police patrols on the country’s roads do make a difference to young motorists’ driving habits.

More than a quarter of drivers interviewed in a nationwide survey - by one of the country’s leading breakdown services - say any increased police presence results in more careful driving.

In the latest new survey for Autonational Rescue, 40% of younger drivers said that they drove more carefully as a result but 10% regarded any increased activity as persecution.

For a significant proportion of all motorists, however, extra patrols make no difference at all, especially among the more experienced drivers.

Half of those in the 45-54 age bracket and 47% of 35-44 year-olds stated they were not affected by any increase in police activity.

Neither did motorists generally feel significantly safer as a result of the extra attention with only 20% saying they felt more secure as a result.

Said Autonational’s marketing manager Ronan Hart: “Any improvement in driving habits has to be welcomed however it is achieved.

“Unfortunately it sometimes needs the sight of a police patrol vehicle to jog motorists’ memories and make people drive with more care and attention.”

The independent survey was carried out across the UK by CAPI Omnibus based on a representative sample of around 1,000 adults at 72 sampling points.

Autonational Rescue is the car breakdown service with the no claims bonus, for more information visit www.autonational.co.uk or call 08459 100 345.

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Issued by: CPR Works Ltd
Contact: Roger Eversley/Jenny Carr
Tel: 01902 680068
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