Motorists want a lot more visitors officers

25/6/14

By Bob Taylor

As several as 60% of motorists believe there are not adequate police officers on the road to enforce driving laws, according to an RAC survey.

Much more than half (51%) of drivers consider it is unlikely that motorists will ever get picked up for texting whilst stopped in visitors.

And 40 per cent reckon they stand tiny possibility of getting stopped by police for aggressive driving, the poll of 1,526 drivers identified.

The analysis also showed that only 29% believe drivers will get into difficulty for texting on the move although 42% feel it is unlikely.

24% think tailgaters will be pulled over

For the new offences of tailgating and middle lane-hogging only 24% and 22% respectively think motorists are most likely to be pulled up by a site visitors officer.

The only offences motorists believe are dealt with successfully are the ones that are enforced by way of cameras such as speeding and targeted traffic light violations.

A total of 45% reckon drivers are most likely to get caught for speeding, while 46% believe those operating red lights will get caught.

Of those motorists questioned who have speeding points on their licences, 49% said they have been trapped by a speed camera, even though only 24% have been caught by a police officer.

67% break 70mph motorway limit

The survey, the 26th annual poll of its type by the RAC, also showed that 34% are concerned about other drivers speaking on hand-held mobile phones and 22% are worried about other motorists breaking traffic laws normally.

In addition, 75% of motorists reported regularly seeing other men and women talking on mobile phones, with 44% saying they see this taking place during most of their vehicle journeys. However only 8% of drivers admit to employing a hand-held phone on most journeys.

On speeding, around 40% admitted breaking the speed limit on non-motorway routes, even though as many as 67% owned up to exceeding the 70mph limit on motorways. A total of 70% of drivers supported raising the motorway limit to 80mph.

Potholes have been a be concerned for 41% of motorists in this year’;s survey, compared with 36 per cent final year, even though 47% place the price of fuel as their principal motoring concern despite reductions in rates at the pumps of late.

31% worried young children could be distracted by smartphones

As several as 69% reckoned young children have been as protected, if not safer, on the roads than when they were young but 31% had been worried that kids could get distracted by smartphones although utilizing roads.

4 in 5 motorists felt uncomfortable driving on icy roads, with almost all (96%) avoiding driving in the snow if at all attainable. Younger drivers have been more concerned about driving in wintry conditions than older ones.

RAC technical director David Bizley mentioned: “Our analysis shows that millions of law-abiding motorists are frustrated with the reduction of site visitors police and believe that the possibilities of drivers becoming pulled up for breaking the law are now minimal.

“Motorists are tired of continually seeing other drivers breaking the law and obtaining away with it so it is hardly surprising that they want to see a greater police presence on our roads to enforce motoring legislation much more successfully, which would also act as a genuine deterrent.”

Motorists want a lot more visitors officers