Have you noticed an upturn in bad driving post lockdown?

A survey conducted by a UK-based comparison website has found that three-quarters of drivers are worried about the competence and bad driving of other road-users now lockdown has ended.

With more recreational activities allowed now more than any other time in the last year and a half, it’s no surprise to see a spike in traffic on the UK’s roads. The trouble is, for many of those drivers it could have been a significant number of months since they last sat behind the wheel of a car.

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Review 2021

The study, by Compare the Market, reached out to more than 2,000 drivers and found that a worrying 58 percent had been using their car less between January and April 2021. It also found that 42 percent were now claiming to be using their car more often now restrictions have been eased. That’s really no surprise, with the good weather we are now enjoying, people will obviously want to get out and enjoy it with staycations and days out.

The trouble is, even those questioned in the study admitted that their own skills behind the wheels had waned over the course of the lockdown through lack of practice. A scary 36 percent of drivers claimed to have noticed a deterioration in their ability.

The study also found that 75 percent of those questioned admitted that they were worried about other driver’s ability, with younger drivers causing concern for 55 percent of those questioned.

While most motorcyclists take maintenance seriously – it’s part of the hobby after all! – it seems that our four-wheeled counterparts do not take home maintenance so seriously. 31 percent are worried about the health of their car, and 16 percent have admitted to neglecting the servicing and checking of their vehicle during the lockdown! Only 39 percent of drivers checked their brakes, and just 36 percent checked the battery. The most commonly checked item was tyres, monitored by 62 percent of respondents.

Could refresher courses prevent bad driving?

As motorcycling is more of a way of life than driving a car – which is much more of a necessity than a passion – the survey does draw into focus the need for extra training and education for drivers who may have been off the road for long periods. But is that down to the government to impose, or should common sense prevail!?