Motorists admitted to dangerous driving habits including excessive speeding and mobile phone use despite dramatically quieter roads during the 2020 lockdowns, according to an RAC study that challenges assumptions about pandemic road safety.
The motoring organisation found drivers confessed to exceeding speed limits on 30mph roads at alarming rates. Empty streets during lockdown restrictions appear to have encouraged riskier behaviour, particularly concerning given pedestrians and cyclists remain vulnerable in urban areas.
Handheld mobile phone use at the wheel increased despite strict laws and ongoing awareness campaigns. This behaviour significantly impairs reaction times and concentration, leaving drivers unable to respond to sudden hazards.
Passenger-related distractions also rose during the period. Whilst less publicised than mobile phone dangers, chatty passengers can equally divert attention from the road during complex driving situations. The study suggests pandemic social dynamics may have influenced these patterns.
The findings demolish the myth that reduced traffic automatically means safer roads. Driver behaviour remains the critical factor, with pandemic circumstances apparently embedding riskier habits amongst some motorists.
Road safety organisations and policymakers now face the challenge of tackling these ingrained behaviours as traffic returns to normal levels. Targeted interventions will be essential to prevent these dangerous habits translating into increased accidents and casualties across Britain's roads.