80% wound up by partner's driving

11 April 2011

Four in five motorists get annoyed by their partner's in-car behaviour, a new poll has shown.

The survey of 2,000 adults by Kwik Fit found that characteristics of motorists that especially irritated their partners include poor performance behind the wheel, impatience with other road users, tailgating and the speed of driving.

The findings revealed that 15% of those surveyed said they were unhappy with their partner's driving performance.A lack of patience with other road users emerged as the main complaint from women, with more than one in five (21%) saying they were upset about this.

In contrast, just 7% of men said they were aggravated by the way their partner treated other drivers.

According to the poll, 15% of women complained about their partner driving too fast, while one in seven (14%) said their man tailgated.

However, just 6% of men said their partner drove too fast while only 8% reckoned she got too close to the car in front.

Men complained that their partner's map-reading skills wound them up the most, with 14% of male motorists saying so compared with 6% of female drivers.

A total of 7% men also said that their partner drove too slowly.

Ian Fraser, chief executive, Kwik Fit, said: "Although everyone has differences of opinion, it's important to remember that we all drive a lot more safely when we're relaxed than when we are annoyed or frustrated.

"And we suggest that men listen carefully. The large number of women saying their partner drives too fast, too close and is too impatient suggests that male drivers should be heeding the advice of their passenger to be safer on the roads."

Copyright © Press Association 2011