Drivers Perception

Which car drivers are the best on UK roads,

and which are the worst?

From altercations with speeding BMWs to hold-ups behind slow Fiat 500s, we all have our own thoughts about the people behind the wheels of particular car makes and models.

But, while a driver’s competency and road etiquette are not dictated solely by the manufacturer of their vehicle, questions remain about whether there’s a relationship between the two.

This year, we’re taking a fresh look at the data to find out which car brands Brits see as having the most meddlesome motorists in 2023. Then, to see how driver perceptions have changed since our 2021 survey, we’ll compare the results from then and now.

Will Britain’s best and worst drivers retain their titles? Or will new car manufacturers claim first place? Hop in and buckle up because we’re revealing all.

So, do you fall into one of these categories of drivers? And would the perceptions of your fellow road users be enough to sway your choice of vehicle the next time you’re looking for car finance? Get the answers to these all-important questions here.

The nation’s least favourite drivers

Which vehicles do the public think have the worst drivers?

1

Van

0.56

Drivers score out of 10

Almost 19% of our survey respondents said that those in vans are the worst drivers. Van drivers were also voted as the least considerate (just 1.50% marked them as most considerate) and were dubbed amongst the rudest on the road (17.90% of total votes).

White van drivers have built up quite a reputation, with many tradespeople being branded with the ‘White Van Man’ name over the years. To test the public’s hatred for those driving vans, a quick Google search of the term “why are van drivers…” reveals Google suggests results such as “so aggressive” and “so stupid”.

The public’s opinion has changed over the years when in 2021, van drivers were not the worst but instead placed third behind BMW drivers and second-placed Audi. It begs the question, are there more reckless vans on the road in 2023?

2

Land Rover

landrover_uk

2.22

Drivers score out of 10

In second place are Land Rover drivers, scoring 2.22 out of 10 across six driver perception factors. Land Rover drivers were identified as the worst by just 5.80% of our respondents but scored poorly for their patience (1.70%) and being considerate drivers (2.40%).

In 2018, insurance figures revealed that Land Rover owners were the worst drivers in Britain. According to the data, more than one in ten owners made an at-fault claim in the five years prior, significantly more than other manufacturers!

3

BMW

bmwuk

2.59

Drivers score out of 10

BMW placed third in the ranking for the worst drivers in Britain, with a score of 2.59 out of 10. Almost 16% of people in our survey said that BMW drivers are the worst, but they scored even higher for their rudeness (23.60%). The saying goes that BMWs don’t come with indicators, which highlights why the public seems to have such a strong opinion on Beemer owners.

Compared to our 2021 data, BMW drivers seem to have gotten slightly better at this, as in our prior research, BMW drivers were officially titled the worst drivers on UK roads

Key - % of total votes: Best drivers Most patient Most considerate Rudest drivers Most aggressive Worst drivers Best drivers' score /10

Percentage of total votes

Car make

The best drivers in the UK - As voted by the public

Which vehicles do the public think have the best drivers?

1

Volvo

volvocaruk

8.15

Drivers score out of 10

Volvo drivers placed first in the running of the best drivers, scoring 8.15 out of 10. Volvo owners achieved a low score for all of our ‘bad driver’ factors, including rudest drivers (just 1.70% of votes), most aggressive (just 1.80%), and worst drivers (just 1.80%). Instead, Volvo drivers scored high for being patient drivers (7.70%) and being considerate to others on the road (6.40%).

2

Volkswagen

volkswagen_uk

7.60

Drivers score out of 10

Volkswagen drivers placed second, scoring 7.60 out of 10. An ideal car make for both older and younger drivers due to their extensive range of cars, Volkswagen drivers received 7.20% of votes for the best drivers and are among the most considerate (7% of total votes).

3

Ford

forduk

7.59

Drivers score out of 10

Ford has been a firm favourite car make for many young drivers, particularly the Ford Fiesta and Ka models, and both are recognised in the industry for their cost and quality. Ford scored 7.59 out of 10, and Ford drivers were voted the best drivers overall (12.80% of votes). Ford drivers also scored highly for their patience (10.80%) and bagged the top spot in the most considerate drivers category (10.80%).

Key - % of total votes: Best drivers Most patient Most considerate Rudest drivers Most aggressive Worst drivers Best drivers' score /10

Percentage of total votes

Car make

The best drivers by region, voted by the public

Which UK regions have the best drivers, according to public opinion?

Car make

Central England

Northern England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

South East England

South West England

Wales

KEY: Best drivers Worst drivers

Central England

Ford

13.60%

of overall votes

Van

1.50%

of overall votes

Ford drivers in Central England are the best drivers according to our survey responses, with almost 14% of voters saying so. Van drivers in Central England were voted the worst, collecting just 1.50% of votes for the best drivers.

Northern England

Ford

13.20%

of overall votes

Van

1.50%

of overall votes

Ford drivers were also popular in Northern England, carrying 13.20% of overall votes for the best drivers. Van drivers are no better at driving in this region, with just 1.50% of votes describing them as the best drivers.

Northern Ireland

Audi

18.20%

of overall votes

BMW, Mercedes, Mini, Land Rover & Van

3.00%

of overall votes

In Northern Ireland the best drivers, according to the public, are those driving an Audi, winning 18.20% of overall votes. There were five car makes dubbed the worst drivers in this region: BMW, Mercedes, Mini, Land Rover and Van drivers.

Scotland

Ford

12.90%

of overall votes

Land Rover & Van

1.40%

of overall votes

In Scotland, Ford drivers were voted the best, carrying 12.90% of overall votes. The worst drivers are Van and Land Rover drivers, with just 1.40% of total votes. Driving routes in Scotland are some of the world's most breathtaking, with scenic drives through Edinburgh and Glencoe and quieter roads making the experience much more enjoyable for drivers.

South East England

Ford

12.80%

of overall votes

Van

1.40%

of overall votes

South East English voters were also fans of Ford drivers, placing them as the best drivers with 12.80% of overall votes. The worst drivers were Van drivers scoring just 1.40% of votes for the best drivers.

South West England

Ford

9.60%

of overall votes

Van

1.90%

of overall votes

Similarly to the west side of South England, Ford drivers were voted the best with 9.60% of votes. Audi were closely behind, scoring 8.30% of overall votes, and the worst drivers were Van drivers (1.90%).

Wales

Ford

12.60%

of overall votes

Tesla & Mini

1.10%

of overall votes

Ford drivers were the best in Wales, carrying 12.60% of overall votes. At the other end of the spectrum, tied in last place, were Tesla and Mini drivers (1.10% of overall votes).

Brands Map

Select car make to view regional perception

Audi

BMW

Ford

Land Rover

Mercedes

Mini

Tesla

Van

Volkswagen

Volvo

Audi BMW Ford Mercedes Mini Tesla Van Volkswagen Volvo

Methodology

We surveyed over 4,000 people, asking a variety of questions about the best drivers in the UK, including who do you think are the best drivers, most patient drivers, and most considerate drivers? Additional information on Land Rover drivers was sourced from Car Keys.

To achieve a Best Drivers Score, the percentage of votes for the above factors was normalised to achieve a score out of ten for each factor. We then took an average of these to create an overall score out of 10.