PRESS RELEASE: Hyundai
Written: Wednesday 15th April, 2009
BEHIND THE WHEEL
NEWS COPY
Britain's safest drivers are housewives in their 40s from Portsmouth with brown hair and blue eyes, a study revealed yesterday (Tues).
Researchers found ladies from the famous naval port are more likely to adhere to speed limits, are good parkers and rarely have accidents.
They also don't park illegally, never jump red lights or use bus lanes when they shouldn't and are less likely to have points on their license.
The poll, conducted by Hyundai, asked 2,000 drivers probing questions about their driving habits and history.
The worst drivers are men in their 30s who live in London.
Tom Barnard of Hyundai said: ''We were keen to find out which drivers in the UK were the most intelligent, by looking at the things people do regularly behind the wheel.
''Given that most adults spend a good hour a day in the car, it is perfectly understandable that motorists will endure the odd scrape and bump and altercations with other people on the road.
''But we wanted to find the people who are the most careful and considerate drivers, those who take their time making driving decisions and most importantly, those who follow the Highway Code.
''These are the sorts of people who make intelligent choices about what and how to drive on the road.''
The study, carried out to mark the launch of the Hyundai i30, found while the average driver exceeds the speed limit around 14 times a week, women in their 40s break the limit just once a week.
And despite never having had an accident in their car, the best drivers have had two near misses and bumped two obstacles.
They have misplaced their cars twice in a car park and have got lost twice when travelling somewhere new.
Women from Portsmouth are also more courteous on the roads and only get angry once a week at actions by other motorists.
Only one in ten women from the Hampshire town said they had jumped a red light compared to seven out of ten nationwide.
And one in 20 said they had used a bus lane when they shouldn't have. The national average is one in five.
Male drivers in London emerged as more aggressive and more likely to lose control and get involved in a road rage incident.
PROFILE OF BRITAIN'S SAFEST DRIVER
Housewife
Brown hair
Blue eyes
Lives in Portsmouth
Age 43
ENDS
Research conducted by global market research company www.onepoll.com
