A poll revealed more than half of Brits have a least one thing they won’t do while driving – with some motorists even refusing to reverse or turn left or right
Nearly five million British motorists refuse to drive in the dark.
Researchers at Direct Line quizzed 2,000 drivers about any ‘quirky habits’ they had when it came to driving. They found that 11% of those polled said they never drove after the sun has set, which these days is around 4.30pm.
With just over 44m drivers in the UK, that works out at 4.8m drivers who never get behind the wheel when it’s dark outside. Among the celebs who have in the past confessed of ‘fear of the dark’ – nyctophobia – include singer Katy Perry, tennis ace Rafael Nadal, and Hollywood stars Megan Fox and Keanu Reeves.
Incredibly, some drivers said they refused to turn right or left while out and about in their motor – while others said they never used reverse gear.
In 11th spot was those who said they wouldn’t drive if they had to turn left at any point, which 1% – around 440,000 folk – said.
Alison Broadbank, 41, of Derby, said she avoided going out in the dark or on a motorway.
She said: “I hate driving in the dark and I’ve never driven on a motorway – it’s just too fast for me.”
A spokesman for Direct Line Motor Insurance said the research found that 56% of those polled said there was at least one thing they would avoid doing while driving.
He said: “We found that 3% of those polled said they won’t turn right, with 1% saying they won’t turn left. A further 2% said they refused to reverse.
“Road features are also polarising, with 4% of drivers who won’t drive through tunnels, and 3% saying they avoid going over bridges and another 3% avoiding roundabouts.
“At the same time, driving conditions are important for many motorists, as 6% say they won’t drive if it is windy outside and 11% won’t drive in the dark.”
Matt Pernet, Head of Direct Line Motor Insurance, said: “Most drivers will know what it’s like: trying to drive on a busy motorway, in the dark, while the radio is on too loud, or the kids are squabbling in the back seats.
“It is no wonder so many drivers prefer specific conditions to feel safe when driving, whether that means complete silence on a journey or simply avoiding rural roads, the dark or difficult weather conditions.
“Having no distractions whilst driving can allow drivers to feel more confident and, in turn, safer on their journeys.”
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