24 per cent of drivers say they would be more patient to improve road safety

When asked what they would do to improve road safety, almost a quarter of drivers say they would drive more patiently, while a fifth would give themselves more time to complete their journeys. Giving cyclists more room when overtaking attracted just one per cent of the vote.

The findings come from a survey carried out by Gorkana for Venson Automotive Solutions to mark BRAKE Road Safety Week.

Driving slower in bad weather was third highest answer (15 per cent), while sticking to the speed limit came in fourth (13 per cent).

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Other possible answers included staying further back from other vehicles and paying more attention to other road users – each of which received 12 per cent of motorists’ votes.

The survey also found that 75 per cent of people would occasionally leave their car at home to cut pollution.

Set up in 1997, Road Safety Week aims to encourage grassroots action on road safety and raise awareness of the part we can all play to make roads safer.

This year’s BRAKE Road Safety Week has been asking people to ‘drive less, live more’ with the aim of encouraging people to walk, cycle or use public transport instead of always jumping in the car. “Work out how much money you'll save, calories you'll burn, and pollution you won't create, and build it into your routine,” says BRAKE.

Samantha Roff, Managing Director for Venson Automotive Solutions, said:

“BRAKE Road Safety Week offers motorists and other road users a time to reflect on the small changes they can make to boost safety for everyone. It’s clear that people are willing to make some changes to help make the roads safer and cut pollution. Sometimes it’s the little things we do that make the biggest difference.”

During last year’s Road Safety Week, BRAKE urged motorists to cut their speed. Highlighting statistics which showed that nearly a million drivers received fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for either speeding or careless driving during 2013, the organsiation emphasised that such behaviour not only results in vulnerable road users being killed or seriously injured, but also deters many from travelling by foot or bike.