Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

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POLL : Who are the worst drivers in Europe?
Thursday, July 4, 2013 @ 1:19 PM

British holiday makers believe Italians to be the worst drivers in Europe, according to a survey commissioned by leading car hire comparison site carhiremarket.com. With 34% of the votes for worst Europeans behind the wheel, the Italians topped the table, followed by the French (20%) and the Spanish (8%).

The confident driving style of the Italians, who undergo much stricter driver training than the rest of Europe, could be contributing to our reticence to driving abroad. This was also highlighted through the same survey of 2000 British adults, which found that 49% of us don’t like driving abroad, with 62% of women in particular admitting to feeling scared or uncomfortable in the driver’s seat when overseas.However, not all the votes for worst drivers went to our European cousins. Interestingly, 5% of Britons surveyed by carhiremarket.com thought we were in fact the most reckless driving nation, putting Britain in fourth position.

With the recent news that 75% of all Spanish drivers still have all their points on their license or zero points if we look at it from a british perspective, I found this data quite surprising and thought it would be interesting to get the member's of EOS to share their opinion. So is this a good result? Does it coincide with reality or your experience? Or is it more due to the fact that in Spain there are far less camaras than in the UK and they get away with more?

In your opinon who are the worst drivers in Europe ? Please cast your vote .

[I have added a new functionality to the poll which allows you to add your own answer option. Please limit it to one word, in this case the name of a country that isn't listed. Also on this poll you will be able to vote multiple times incase you can't make your mind up!... although I'm not sure that was such a good idea . No rage voting please! ]

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23 Comments

David said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 5:34 AM

Until the Spanish grasp the concept of white lines on roads and they also learn how to use a roundabout correctly, then there is simply no hope.

The correct use of indicators would also be an advantage.

SonofSyd said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 6:19 AM

I live in Czech Republic and we have our share of bad drivers here. As to the worst, I think the Italians are in a class of their own with their hair raising exploits on the road. They are however usually very skillful and don't waste time with berating other drivers for 'mistakes'. The phrase that I have coined is, "Italians will forgive you for anything, as long as you do it quickly".

I have found Germans to be the best, as they are with everything else, the rest of Europe I've found to be much of a muchness. In my experience the French are OK and my Spanish visits have been without incident. There are very few cars in Denmark so that is the best place to drive and of course the Danes obey all the laws that they create (I love them).

The English are a nation of 'driving instructors' When I go back I am amazed at the way that my every mistake and hesitatation is rewarded by someone tooting their horn or waving a fist or making that other kind gesture, yes that one. It could be that my CZ plate that is invoking the reaction though, couldn't be my driving. Or could it?

Annie said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 6:27 AM

A note to SonofSyd - I agree that the Germans are good drivers technically but they do not exhibit much courtesy on the road. I've lost count of the number of times I've been forced to give way by their aggression.

I think you'll find that British drivers, by and large, are far more thoughtful on the roads than most other Europeans. We are not driving instructors but we do take offense when other drivers are not polite. We give way to those coming up a hill, for example, and if a road is reduced to one lane, then those travelling in the blocked lane do not have right of way and would give way to the other traffic.

It costs nothing to be considerate to other drivers - technical skill is not all-important.

midasgold said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 6:28 AM

If the car in front is using his indicators you know he must be a tourist. But we must remember, it was only a few decades ago that Pedro was on a donkey.

Chris said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 6:42 AM

One of the worst drivers in Europe are Polish. They are not visible yet outside Poland because they do not use car rentals very often on holidays but once you drive in Poland you know that even Spanish drivers are safer than Poles.

adimapamida said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 7:38 AM

As an american i was forced to go through the spanish licencing system and what a joke. Practice classes are prohibitively expensive so you are encouraged to practice as little as possible and in 6 months the instructor never once mentioned the blind spot to anyone and i was TAUGHT to go through roundabouts incorrectly. I

SonofSyd said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 9:01 AM

A note to Annie - I agree with what you say about consideration to other drivers being important. This was the point that I was making about Italians, they are skillful but that is not enough if they terrorise other motorists while displaying their skills.

I count myself a careful and considerate driver with over 50 accident free years. I have driven nearly 60,000 kms in Europe in the last two and half years and have not seen this German aggression that you talk about. I have driven perhaps 500 miles in England and I have seen plenty of the 'driving instuctor' mentality displayed. I don't think that it is polite to have all these gestures and honking of horns.

We are good drivers but it doesn't make us superior.

Roy Stanhope said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 9:24 AM

Having regularly driven over western Europe I have seen far more accidents in Germany. In Spain the Germans are incredibly thoughtless slowing to a crawl to find their way or admire the landscape. Spanish drive without thought of the road surface hence dozens of cars in the ditch when it rains the Italians appear mad but they are at least paying all their attention to driving the French are very disciplined the British just want to have a row.

BigBrenda said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 9:27 AM

David & midasgold - you've hit the nail on the head. I always tell our visitors that if you see someone indicating then they are unlikely to be Spanish.

I've lost count of the times I've been "cut up" on roundabouts by a Spanish drive who goes from my outside to turn right!

The other aspect of the Spanish driver I find frustrating is their ability to park perfectly at an angle so they use 2 spaces in the supermarket car park. Our local Mercadona only has a very small car park and if everyone parked in just one space then you would get at least 30% more cars in there!

Brian said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 10:34 AM

The perception of lanes, lines and the use of indicators for reasons other than to work others brakes are bad enough.
The use of roundabouts for the game of guess where I'm going is a bit dodgy.
I've tried to join in the method but cant seem to get the hang of it.

james ensor said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 11:03 AM

Portuguese drivers are not aggressive as a few German and British drivers can be. But they like to tailgate for miles and miles along their twisting country roads. They drive at quite reckless speeds in the mountains when fog has reduced visibility to less than 50 metres, sometimes without even having lights on. They will invariably pull out of parking spaces without looking, forcing oncoming traffic tio brake violently. And few of them see the point of having an indicator.

They have Europe`s worst accident record which I would put down to carelessness rather than aggression.

Garry said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 12:25 PM

Judging by some of your comments a lot of you haven't driven in England for a few years. The standard of driving in England has dropped dramatically over the last 20 years. I would much rather drive in Spain or any of the other Western European countries than drive here in England. nobody signals anymore, no one gives way, roundabouts are a game of Russian roulette. I followed an Eddie Stobart truck the other day doing nearly 50 in a 30 zone. Not surprising maybe but the car behind him was a police car. Did he pull him up NO. Followed him fro half a mile then the police car turned of right in front of me and guess what........he didn't indicate

PJ said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 12:39 PM

Isn´t it also about which country they are driving in ? The Dutch for example, are exellent drivers, but outside of the Netherlands they can be quite aggressive.

Spanish are reckless and bad drivers, but there never is any aggression. Yet, it is still one of the things that bother me nearly every day after living here for over 5 years. Indicators, anyone ?

The French are absolutely a**holes, creating dangerous situations for other drivers. they are very aggressive.

I admit I have not driven in England for a while, but the English are by far the most polite.By far. Not saying they are good drivers, but at least they give way etc and they salute you.

Us Belgians are a bit of a mix - bad drivers, a bit aggressive like the French, but we have a level of politeness.

Angell said:
Saturday, July 6, 2013 @ 6:08 PM

I don't think it is the Spanish drivers who are bad in Spain, it is all the other nationalalities, I have always found 'Spanish' drivers most courteous. I think females are the most selfish and inconsiderate drivers.

Nels said:
Sunday, July 7, 2013 @ 8:12 AM

How can you tell the nationality of the drivers unless they are stopped by the police, after say an accident ? Most of us experience the reckless drivers who are not, under any circumstances going to adhere to the speed limits, but they exist in ALL countries!
One thing that does need a re think is the law affecting cyclists, most see no problem with cycling 3 or 4 abreast up hill, with no apparent thought for other motorists following.

Pat Dean said:
Sunday, July 7, 2013 @ 5:14 PM

The only drivers that have frightened me are the Italians. They are fearless and they frighten me when I see them driving in Rome and other Italian cities.

I have driven in Greece and it's islands, Spain and it's islands, France, Portugal, Ireland and Italy and I believe the British drivers are the most considerate. I wonder if that is because I know the rules and the road system well and there is less need for someone to beep or signal to me when I drive there.

Ralph said:
Friday, July 12, 2013 @ 1:50 PM

Looking at the comments you have posted about indicators, roudabouts, etc., it is clear that you are talking about the Andalusian (southern) driver in Spain, and not the "Spanish Driver". The profile of the "Spanish Drive" changes as you move across regions within the country.

magnum44 said:
Saturday, September 21, 2013 @ 10:47 AM

I live in Catalonia and whilst the indicator thing is rife around here, the worst thing is the roundabouts. Five years ago when they were fisrst introduced here (three on a three mile by pass) the majority of drivers drove srtaight over them - mostly because (as many contineltals do) they are always talking and looking at the passenger as they do, not at the road. By the time they had seen the roundabout it was too late. I am astonished (perhaps not) that before introducing roundabouts, the authorities did not put out a series of 'educational' clips on TV telling people how roundabouts are (supposed) to work. T'was ever thus.

ivor said:
Sunday, December 29, 2013 @ 2:42 AM

Ive just come back from Vietnam,nothing of European drivers would scare me after that experience, but i have to agree Italians come close with the Spanish second

Richard said:
Sunday, March 2, 2014 @ 11:03 AM

I've never been to Italy, so I can't comment, but I've been to Spain many times, and up until my recent trip to Portugal (Azores), I thought that they were the worst drivers.

During a week in the Azores I saw more examples of reckless, dangerous driving, than I would expect to see during an entire year of driving in the UK. We're talking about people overtaking on blind bends, charging through narrow streets with pedestrians at silly speeds - only to suddenly stop and chat to a friend who've they've spotted. During a transfer to the airport we saw a new Mini which had been flipped onto its roof.

Very strange considering that as soon as drivers get out of their vehicles over there they don't to appear to be in any sort of rush whatsoever. The driving is so bad that it would definitely put me off living there, which is a shame, as the Azores is one of the most beautiful places on the face of the planet.

trev said:
Saturday, October 1, 2016 @ 1:27 PM

The main reason Portuguese drivers are so bad is because they have been catapulted into the 21st century and don't have respect for others, nor do they know how to control machines. Let's face it, when one visited this country just 25 years ago, most Portuguese in western algarve were still riding Donkey's, same applies to eastern Europe & Spain. This has all been too much development for the poor people who cannot adapt so quickly to technology developed outside their poor countries by educated people from the industrialized world who manufacture these powerful machines &should have taught Portuguese people (& other under developed countries) how to handle a 200 HP motor as opposed to 1 hp of a donkey (which is what they had before) before letting these poor people sell us their over expensive land and properties that allowed them to buy the machines they kill themselves in. In addition, they need to be taught 21st century respect or go back to riding donkeys. This sounds harsh I know but it's true and fact.

midasgold said:
Saturday, October 1, 2016 @ 3:31 PM

When being directed by "Spanish business lady " - I was driving
along a minor road and on entering the main highway, she asked why I slowed to allowed for a safe convergence - (as a 100 mph Merc coming very close). Her reply was - he has good brakes !

Nels said:
Sunday, October 2, 2016 @ 10:06 AM

I have been driving in Spain for 14 yrs, therefore cannot compare with say, the present day UK, but most Spanish, drive too fast, do not respect the speed limits, park on round a bouts, corners, and pedestrian crossings. But it must also be noted that road junction design can be dangerous, and legal parking up to pedestrian crossings can block driver views of people about to cross the road!,
When on motorways, drivers joining from junctions do not normally slow down or consider stopping to ensure safe access to main traffic flow, with no concern for those who cannot move over!!!
But of course, many of those who drive in Spain are 'foreign' drivers!