8 Most Annoying Driving Habits

We all like to think we’re a good driver. But latest research has shown that 'not indicating' is at the top of the list. Here's a look at the other bad habits that drives us mad when out on the road. How many are you guilty of?

1. Lane merging

No one likes sitting in a traffic jam caused by one or even two lanes being closed up ahead. And then you spot someone merrily sailing down the soon to be closed lane hoping to budge their way in at the last minute. Will you let them in, or will selective blindness kick in as you stare forward pretending not to notice?

2. Not indicating

Believe it or not, the little stick next to your steering wheel is actually quite important and shouldn’t really be seen as an ‘optional’ part of driving. Let other drivers (and pedestrians) know what you are doing and where you are planning to go, and use your indicator, every time.

3. Last minute motorway exits

The turn off has been indicated for at least the last few miles. Not to mention the constant Sat Nav reminders, yet with 200 yards to go there’s a car trying to cross three, or even four, lanes of traffic as they make a last-ditch effort to take the slip road from the inside lane.

4. Taking it slow

Speed kills so surely it can’t be wrong to go slow, can it? It all depends. Going too slow can cause a long queue of cars who may eventually lose patience and overtake when it might not be safe to do so. You could even cause an accident if a driver behind fails to realise you are going much slower than they might expect.

5. Bad parking

As you drive around the car park one last time searching for that all-elusive space you see one car straddling two spaces. In your heart of hearts you know that there were probably other cars badly parked that forced them into this, but it does stop your blood pressure rising and a ‘would you look at that’ expression of despair.

6. Middle Lane drivers

Driving on the left has been mandatory since 1835, so you would think that we would all have the hang of it by now. And we do, until we get to the motorway and then, for some inexplicable reason, we just pick any lane. We don’t want to go in the fast lane with all the speeders and the slow lane means letting people in from the slip road, so we just sit there in the middle at 68mph. Come on, we know how it works, keep to the left unless you are passing!

7. Sudden breaking

It could be the sight of an upcoming speed camera, even though it’s an average speed one and sudden breaking won’t do any good, or the sight of a police car driving in the other direction 3 lanes away, or perhaps you thought you could make the lights, but have just realised it’s not going to happen. Either way, you hit the breaks hard, but it’s not your fault. At least, that’s what you tell yourself, even if your passengers and the cars behind don’t agree.

8. Taking up more space than you need

If you’re driving a vehicle, then you’ve passed your driving test (we hope!) and this means you were taught all about lane positioning at a roundabout. Remember the rule lanes before 12pm stay in the left lane, lanes after 12pm is the right. But then there’s the drivers that will make their mind up when it’s their turn to go and wait in both lanes whilst they decide.

Let’s face it, we all just want to get to where we want to go, so next time you’re driving, think about other road users and your own driving style and what you can do to help keep harmony on the roads.

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