Driving confidence, shaped by experience and knowledge, supports safer driving by helping motorists make timely decisions, stay calm under pressure and navigate challenging situations.
Uswitch recently surveyed 2,000 UK motorists to explore the situations that put their confidence to the test and the on-road experiences that most undermine it.
Around a quarter of motorists find everyday situations challenging
Certain everyday driving scenarios undermine motorists’ confidence, including unfamiliar roads (27%), bad weather (25%) and driving in the dark (23%). Other top confidence-shaking situations flagged include driving abroad (on the right-hand side of the road) as well as operating a vehicle that isn’t their own.
Bad weather prevents many drivers from getting behind the wheel
In terms of the specific weather conditions motorists find daunting, over half reported not feeling confident driving on flooded roads (57%) as well as in icy conditions (52%) and snow (51%). Over two-fifths (44%) of survey respondents reported avoiding driving altogether during bad weather.
Negative experiences on the road reduce confidence
Among the drivers who lack confidence, almost two thirds (65%) say specific negative encounters on the road have shaken it. These setbacks vary by age, but overall the most common is feeling pressured by other road users (e.g. tailgating). This was also the top response for drivers aged 45 and over. Meanwhile, young drivers aged 18-24 are most impacted by being shouted at or honked at, and for those aged 25-44 the top setback is having a near miss while driving.
Drivers say more practice could help
Encouragingly, over half (56%) of drivers with wavering confidence believe it could be improved. Over one in five (21%) said more driving practice could help, followed by mindfulness and relaxation techniques (19%) and refresher lessons or better knowledge of the vehicle they are driving (18%).
