Survey finds many motorists regularly break rules of road

A significant number of Irish motorists regularly break the rules of the road, according to a survey commissioned by FBD Insurance and Advance Pitstop.

More than 1,100 motorists were questioned as part of the survey and 27% admitted to knowingly driving through red lights, while 72% admitted to using mobile phones while driving.

Twenty-four per cent of respondents also admitted to driving in bus lanes during restricted periods and 38% to driving on a hard shoulder in non-emergency situations.

Sixty-one per cent said they had experienced fatigue while driving in the previous 12 months, while 13% admitted to nodding off at the wheel.

However, a significant majority said they always wore a seat-belt and insisted on their passengers doing the same.

Elsewhere, the survey found that Irish people relied heavily on private transport, with just one-fifth of motorists ever using public transport.

Forty-five per cent of respondents said they spent between one and two hours every day travelling to and from work, while 38% said they believed it was cheaper to use a car than to avail of public transport.

In addition, 61% said they had experienced road rage.