As advocates of safe driving, car preservation and personalisation, CarMats.co.uk has commissioned this report to explore the mindset of drivers and bring to light Brits’ experiences on the open road.

For the Behind the Wheel study, we surveyed 1,366 UK drivers aged 17-55+ using research consultants, Censuswide, and looked into the nation’s driving traits and preferences. This included insights such as, how many commit offences behind the wheel, which violations are the most common, and the temptation to check screens. Along with the most annoying and ‘icky’ driving habits, what cars say about our personality, and even how cars influence our love lives.

A few of the primary findings include:

As 4 in 5 Brits admit to committing an illegal offence, is driving confidence the reason for our negligence? While car brands, it seems, are associated with personality types – as 90% of Brits believe that their chosen vehicle is a reflection of who they are. 

Drivers’ car preferences could affect their life off the road too, as a third of Brits think a car has helped their love life. 

Driving Habits

On the road: Brits admit their most common road offences 

4 in 5 say they’ve committed an illegal driving offence 

The Behind the Wheel study has revealed that 4 out of 5 Brits confess to having committed at least one illegal driving offence. 

Although some of the offences seem minor, these statistics highlight a nationwide issue, Brits could be caught out by driving offences they didn't know were illegal. Common behaviours like undertaking, driving in inappropriate footwear and using a phone irresponsibly while driving are widespread across the nation.

Top 20 most common driving offences Brits admit to:

Almost 2 in 5 say they commit lesser known offence of flashing to give way 

Flashing headlights as a way to say "thank you" while driving is a common practice in the UK as almost 2 in 5 Brits say they flash a driver to give way. This practice is born out of a desire to show appreciation and maintain a smoother flow of traffic.

However, rule 110 of the Highway Code states: You should "only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users." If caught doing this gesture, drivers can be fined up to £1,000.

Top 10 most serious driving offences 

Although an offence, flashing your lights to say thank you, is arguably one of the least offensive misdemeanours. At the other end of the spectrum, there are road users who commit more serious offences. Although less common, nearly 1 in 10 admit to committing one of these more dangerous unlawful driving acts and as expected, the consequences of these are much starker. 

The most common of these worse offences was driving under the influence of alcohol, as almost 1 in 10 said they had done this previously. Not only can this land Brits with an unlimited fine, six months' custody and a 12-month loss of licence, but it could also cause a car accident, or worse, the death of a driver, passenger or pedestrian. 

Driving under the influence of drugs was less common, with fewer than 1 in 33 admitting to this offence, but it is still a high number of Brits and could amount to six months in prison if caught. 

Other less dangerous, but morally wrong offences include parking in a disabled space without a disability/blue badge which could land drivers with a £100 fine, but more seriously, it prevents a disabled driver from accessing their destination and complicates their outing. 

As tempting as it is to drive through a puddle by the side of the road, those that splash a pedestrian, either purposefully or accidentally, could land themselves in deep water. Drivers could get a fine of up to £5,000 if found to be driving irresponsibly and aggressively. 

While parents need to be cautious when leaving their children unattended in the car. Although there are no specific laws about this offence, if a child is considered to be put in harm’s way then it could lead to prosecution.

Brits’ screen time is impacting their driving 

Of the more irresponsible driving offences, four of the 10 included using your phone while driving. The most common driving offence featuring a phone was driving while texting, which 1 in 12 admitted to doing. 

But the allure of mobile phones while driving remains a concerning trend, with over a third of Brits admitting to feeling the urge to use their phones behind the wheel. 

It was more common among Gen Zs who have been raised on smartphones, as over 1 in 4 admit they have the urge to reach for their phones in just under 15 minutes of driving. 

The temptation to use your phone while driving isn't just risky – it's also a costly affair. Brits could end up with a hefty fine of up to £1000 and six penalty points on their licence if caught. 

What do Brits get most annoyed about on the road

Failing to indicate and tailgating are the worst things you can do on the road 

The frustrations that Brits experience on the road have been laid bare by the study, which showed the 20 most annoying driving habits committed by UK road users. 

Topping the list of pet peeves is the failure to indicate properly, which not only confuses other drivers but also disrupts the flow of traffic. Tailgating, closely following behind another vehicle, was the second most annoying driving habit exhibited by drivers. This aggressive behaviour not only increases the risk of rear-end collisions but also creates an environment of anxiety for those on the receiving end. 

Top 20 most annoying driving habits

Eco-conscious Gen Z think littering from a car is the most annoying driving habit

For arguably the most eco-conscious generation, Gen Z, who are deeply invested in the health of our planet, find littering from cars to be the most annoying driving habit. 

Personalities: How similar are Brits’ to their cars?

The study revealed the close connection between Brits and their cars, revealing how personal traits often mirror the vehicles they drive. The findings show that nearly 9 out of 10 drivers believe their car reflects their personality. This alternated depending on the vehicle make in question. 

For instance, Rolls Royce drivers said their car was ‘charming’ like them while Aston Martin drivers described themselves and their motor as ‘loud’. 

Fiat drivers believed they were ‘fun’ like their Italian cars, while Citroen drivers said their car was ‘safe’ like them. Interestingly, over 1 in 20 respondents admit to feeling ‘worn out’, a sentiment that they believe mirrors their vehicle. With time and energy on their side, 26% of Gen Z participants said their cars were fun, in line with their personality traits.

These are the rudest car drivers according to Brits:

Lane hogging, tailgating and speeding are just some of the offences that annoy Brits on the road, but do we associate rude behaviour with certain car models? Apparently we do, as the study reveals BMW drivers top the list as the most commonly identified culprits of rude behaviour on the road, with 13% of respondents pointing to them. Luxury brands Rolls Royce and Land Rover drivers follow closely, each taking 11% and 10% of the votes, respectively.

Toyota drivers named UK’s most polite road users:

At the other end of the road etiquette spectrum, the survey revealed Brits believe Toyota drivers are the most polite on the road. Over 1 in 5 (21%) of respondents singled out Toyota drivers for their courteous behaviour behind the wheel. Following closely behind for most polite road users are Kia, Volvo, and Ford drivers, all sharing 20% of the votes.

Fiat drivers named most ‘inexperienced’ by Brits:

Driving experience isn’t usually measured by what type of car a person drives, but the study revealed that many Brits have perceptions about their fellow road users. Brits labelled Fiat drivers the most inexperienced, with 9% of respondents labelling them the most inadequate. Vauxhall, Peugeot, Kia, Citroen, and Suzuki drivers followed closely with 7% each, suggesting a similar perception.

Interestingly, many of these vehicles are used by first-time drivers because they are cheaper to insure. Parkers listed the Fiat 500 and Kia Picanto as two of the best first cars for new drivers in 2023

Wheel Love: How a car impacts Brits’ love life

Nearly a third of Brits think a car has helped their dating life, but 1 in 5 Gen Z say it’s hindered

In the UK, opinions about cars' impact on their love life are divided. Nearly a third of Brits believe that having a car has improved their dating lives, with 35% of men finding their cars beneficial for their romantic pursuits.

Of all the car makes, Aston Martin drivers were most confident of their car’s impact on their love life, with over 3 in 5 (67%) believing their luxury sports car helped. By contrast, just 11% of Vauxhall drivers thought their car had aided their romantic life - revealing the differing perceptions linked to car brands.

1 in 5 Gen Z say their car has hindered their love life

Credit: Channel 4 

Of all the generations, Gen Z was the age group with the highest number of people who thought it had hindered them from getting dates. One in 5 of 17 to 24-year-olds said they feel that owning a car has actually made their dating experiences worse. This could be because of the stereotypes and judgements around certain models. 

Although women found littering to be the biggest ick, the act of putting a car in a dating profile is also a major turn off for 1 in 5 women, and they were more likely than men to swipe ‘no’ to a dating profile with a car in it. 

Despite only having a few years between each other, Gen Z were most likely to swipe no to a car in a dating profile (34%), while Millennials would most likely swipe yes (37%).

CARMA SUTRA:  1 in 5 Brits have had car sex 

Whether it's the thrill, convenience, or just the fun of changing environments, many Brits admit to having sex in their car - with 1 in 5 saying they have been intimate in a vehicle.

While there are no specific UK laws against having sex inside a vehicle, if people are caught in the act in public view, they can be charged with public indecency. 

Brits reveal the biggest icks you can commit on the road

Drivers reveal ‘road rage’ and ‘littering’ give them the ick

The term ‘ick’ has quickly been coined as one of the most common phrases of 2023. Although the term has been around for decades, it has made a revival due to TikTok, especially among Gen Z.  

The label is used to describe the second-hand embarrassment felt when someone does something cringe or when an action turns another off. Now, the study revealed the biggest ‘icks’ drivers commit on the road. It found 1 in 3 thought littering from a car was the biggest ‘ick’ drivers commit, more so than bolder actions like wolf whistling or engine revving. 

Despite the majority being donned by women, it was women that found fake eyelashes on headlights a greater ‘ick’ than men. Women also shared their dislike of wolf-whistling (30%), loud music (23%), and revving an exhaust (25%). While men are irked by nosy behaviour around car accidents (18%), middle-lane driving (21%), and improper parking (17%). 

Gen Z’s biggest icks were the actions of wolf-whistling (26%) and smoking while driving (27%). 

The 20 Biggest Driving Icks

Men think they’re the best drivers they know

The study found many British men were uber-confident in their driving skills, with over half (54%) of them considering themselves the best drivers they know. By contrast, a surprising 1 in 5 men believes that their partner holds the title of the worst driver. 

Many Brits weren’t confident in their own driving skills either, as 1 in 20 said they were the worst driver of everyone they knew. 

Car Turn Ons & Offs

Over half of men are turned on by Aston Martin models and almost half were turned off by a Fiat.  4 in 10 women most turned on by Mercedes-Benz & Lamborghini, while over a third are turned off by Fiat and Skoda models

Although 1 in 5 Brits admit to getting intimate in a car, there are some makes and models that are more likely to turn them on and off. The study reveals 4 out of 10 women find Mercedes-Benz and Lamborghini cars to be the biggest turn-ons. While over a third of women are turned off by more pocket-friendly vehicles like the Fiat and Skoda models. 

These are Brits’ biggest car turn-ons and offs 

Top 10 Turn Ons

Top 10 Turn Offs

It’s common knowledge that flash cars can act as a status symbol and in many cases, the car you drive will influence the perceptions you receive. Luxury cars are often the symbol of prestige and success, and that might be why these vehicles, with their stylish aesthetics and cutting-edge designs, can leave a lasting impression on women, who said they were most turned on by a Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz.

007: Men most turned on by Aston Martin & Fiats are the biggest turn-offs

Classic cars hold a magnetic appeal for many men, and this allure can be attributed to years of appeal and nostalgic charm. This could be why over half (55%) of men said classic luxury car models by Aston Martin were their biggest ‘turn on’. Its association with the sophisticated yet typically masculine character, James Bond, could be another reason for its appeal to men. 

By contrast, modern European cars like Fiats might not carry the same appeal for men, as the study revealed Brits found Fiat drivers the most inexperienced. The perceived lack of experience could undermine the confident image often associated with classic cars and the characters that embody them, leading to a decreased attraction to smaller, contemporary vehicles like Fiats.

Conclusion

The Behind the Wheel study shows that when it comes to cars, it's not just about getting from A to B. Whether it's the appeal of classic and luxury cars, or how certain models can light up a romantic spark, cars carry a whole lot of weight.

Brits’ driving habits and preferences reveal personality types are closer aligned with our vehicles than expected, while our behaviours on the road show we might not be as polite as the rest of the world thinks. These insights remind us that cars are more than machines; they can mirror our persona and be used as symbols of style, adventure, and even attraction.

Methodology

Research conducted by CarMats.co.uk team utilising the sources below. Information correct as of Monday 4th September. 

We surveyed 1,366 UK drivers using Censuswide, to find out about their opinions of cars and their experiences of driving. The sample included women, men, transgender, non-binary and gender-fluid people (and an ‘other’ option to specify a different gender not listed). They ranged between 17 and 55+ from across the UK.

Fair use statement 

If you want to share our study, any findings or images from the study, please credit with a link to this page.