Millions fear turning right

Everyday driving involves a lot of tasks, but many Brits are scared of the most mundane driving actions. Research from car insurer Churchill shows that millions of British drivers avoid certain routes so that they will not have to turn right. During busy periods, 34 per cent of women and 29 per cent of men will bypass some routes to avoid turning right across traffic.

Turning right is not the only experience to make drivers fearful. Driving at night, parking, cyclists and roundabouts all make some drivers fearful. Some 43 per cent of motorists are not confident enough to park wherever they want and 13 per cent prefer a long walk to a tight parking spot. Some eight per cent avoid multi storey car parks while six per cent will only park in a space that they can drive into. Eight per cent are afraid to embarrass themselves by parking on the high street and seven per cent will not parallel park.

Churchill’s research also shows that many people are afraid of motorways, with 11 per cent avoiding them altogether. Twenty per cent of people say that joining a motorway scares the, and two per cent of drivers drive only in the left hand lane once on the motorway. Some 49 per cent of people avoid driving at night because of poor visibility, fear of being followed by a stranger and panic.

Frances Browning of Churchill Car Insurance said: ‘When motorists pass their driving tests, it doesn’t necessarily qualify them as a confident driver. As our research shows, there are those who actively avoid certain driving manoeuvres, sometimes to the extent that they don’t drive on specific roads or at specific times. It may be worth undertaking a refresher course now and again to increase driver confidence and make the roads safer for everyone.’