Nearly half of drivers say they swear or honk their horn at cyclists at least once a week, new research suggests. Conflicts between drivers and those on two wheels have become a regular sight on UK roads, but especially in towns and cities.
A survey by personal injury claims firm National Accident Helpline has revealed just how common it is. The poll of 2,000 people showed that 46% of drivers confess they show frustration towards cyclists at least once a week, with one in three admitting they do so several times a week. And nearly four in 10 (38%) of motorists believe a cyclist has been put at risk by a distracted motorist on a daily basis for the past year.
Cyclists report shouting, beeping and threatening gestures
When it comes to cyclists, 46% also say they have experienced drivers shouting or swearing at them over the past year. Just under 40% report being aggressively beeped at and almost a third have witnessed threatening gestures from behind the wheel.
According to the poll, BMW drivers are the most likely to admit to honking or swearing at cyclists at least once a week (72%), ahead of Toyota (58%) and Ford (42%).
Cycle lanes and near misses
Cycle lanes remain a source of frustration for many road users, with three in 10 of all respondents saying there are too few, while more than a quarter point to dangerous use by some e-bike riders (27%) and vehicles blocking lanes (27%).
Cyclists are also the most common type of near miss, with a vehicle passing too closely cited by 34% of those surveyed. That was followed by a damaged road surface (33%) and a pedestrian stepping into the road or cycle lane (31%), highlighting the everyday dangers faced by those travelling on two wheels.
Near misses overall seem to have become so common that almost three quarters (71%) of road users said they experience one at least once a month. Driver error remains one of the biggest causes of these incidents, with nearly three in 10 blaming motorists for failing to look properly. One in four reported people travelling too fast and more than one in five said a near miss was because a driver was distracted.
Most near misses go unreported
Almost three quarters of people who experienced a near miss said they did not capture the incident on a dashcam or helmet camera, while more than half admitted they did not report it. Just one in five went to the police.
Craig Delahaye, associate director of legal operations at National Accident Helpline, said: “These findings paint a worrying picture of just how common near misses have become on Britain’s roads. Whether you’re driving, cycling or walking, everyone deserves to feel safe when travelling, yet too many people are experiencing dangerous situations on a regular basis.
“What is particularly concerning is that many of the leading causes identified in this research – such as failing to look properly, speeding and distracted driving – are entirely preventable. A moment’s lapse in concentration can have life-changing consequences for everyone involved.”
