Most drivers blame others for incidents

MOST drivers blame others for incidents on the roads, research shows.

But those who receive coaching to improve their driving skills are more likely to take responsibility for avoiding and responding to incidents.

Details of the study will be presented today to a road safety conference in Dublin. The theme of the conference is Education, Enforcement and Engineering, and it is being opened by Transport Minister Martin Cullen.

A keynote speaker is Professor Neville Stanton of Brunel University in London, where the latest study on driver behaviour was conducted.

He said: “We were commissioned to conduct a rigorous study into whether ‘practice makes perfect’ in terms of ability, or, whether people need further coaching to improve how they drive. This is the first research of its kind and the results are telling. The performance of those who did not receive coaching was erratic, but those who were coached showed marked improvements in the three main areas of driving: skills, knowledge and attitude.”

Mike Kavanagh, director of Irish Advanced Motorists (IAM), which organised the conference, said: “This research shows that motorists who think that simply accumulating years of experience on the road is enough to improve their driving are wrong.”

Road Safety Authority chief executive, Noel Brett, will present an overview of the new authority. Hibernian Insurance’s Brian Huston will explain how insurers can offer incentives for safer driving.

Advanced driving test information: [phone], www.irishadvancedmotorists.ie and www.iamfleet.ie