Behind the Wheel: How confident are British drivers?

Whether we’re nervous about driving in the dark, or don’t particularly enjoy parallel parking, there are certain scenarios that can be stressful for even the most experienced of motorists. Confidence while driving not only makes it more enjoyable but also keeps you calm and focused in challenging situations, ensuring the safety of yourself and other motorists on the road.

With this in mind, our team conducted a survey to uncover the scenarios and car maintenance tasks drivers feel the most and least confident with. Alongside some guidance on how to feel more in control while behind the wheel.

Which UK cities are home to the most confident drivers?

Rank	City	Percentage of Confident Drivers
1	Southampton	88%
=2	Cardiff	87%
=2	Plymouth	87%
=3	Edinburgh	85%
=3	Bristol	85%
4	Manchester	84%
=5	London	83%
=5	Glasgow	83%
=5	Belfast	83%
=5	Norwich	83%

Across the UK, 82% of drivers say they are confident when on the roads, with Southampton having the highest proportion of confident drivers, where 88% of motorists in the city describe themselves in this way. This is closely followed by Cardiff and Plymouth, with 87% of residents in both cities agreeing they are calm and comfortable while driving.

According to the research, Nottingham is home to some of the least confident drivers from the study, with 11% admitting to feeling uneasy behind the wheel. This is over double the UK national average of 5%.

Interestingly, our survey has revealed that the type of car we drive can also affect our confidence. Those who drive petrol cars are the most comfortable on the roads, with 84% suggesting this to be the case, while those who drive an electric car are just under 10% less confident behind the wheel.

Which driving scenarios do Brits feel most or least confident in?

The scenarios in which UK drivers are the most confident in:

Rank	Scenario	Percentage of drivers who are confident with scenario
1	Roundabouts	82%
2	Driving up/down hills	81%
3	Following a GPS	80%
4	Changing lanes on a motorway	79%
5	Driving on the motorway	78%
6	Driving on country lanes	77%
7	Slip roads / merging onto a motorway	76%
=8	Driving in the rain	75%
=8	Parking on a hill	75%
9	Navigating roadworks or diversions	72%
10	Driving with my kids in the car	70%

When it comes to different on-road scenarios, drivers across the UK are most confident about roundabouts, with 82% of motorists saying they aren’t put off by these. This is followed by driving up or down hills (81%) and following a GPS (80%).

Lots of Brits are at ease on motorways too, where over three-quarters of drivers say they are confident about changing lanes (79%) and driving on the motorway (78%) in general.

However, this does differ across the generations. Those aged between 17 and 24 (15%) are almost three times more uncomfortable switching lanes on motorways than those aged over 55 (5%) and are twice as uneasy about simply driving on these kinds of roads.

The scenarios in which UK drivers are the least confident in:

Rank	Scenario	Percentage of drivers who are not confident with scenario
1	Driving abroad	37%
2	Driving on ice	35%
3	Driving in the snow	31%
4	Driving after an accident	27%
5	Driving in the fog	24%
6	Driving in unfamiliar places	20%
7	Having a 'backseat driver'	17%
=8	Reading a traditional map	16%
=8	Parallel parking	16%
9	Driving in the dark	15%
=10	Slip roads / merging onto a motorway	10%
=10	Parking on a hill	10%

Over one-third (37%) of motorists say they aren’t confident driving whilst abroad, which perhaps isn’t surprising given that the rules, signs, and even sides of the road you drive on often vary from country to country.

Weather can also have a significant impact on confidence. Driving in ice (35%) and snow (31%) are the third and fourth scenarios in which motorists are the most uneasy, and just 67% of drivers say they are comfortable driving in the dark. No matter how experienced you are, it’s really important to take extra care when the weather is poor, particularly in the colder months when we are driving in winter weather conditions.

What are the car maintenance tasks drivers feel most and least comfortable doing?

The car maintenance tasks UK drivers are most confident about:

Rank	Maintenance Task	Percentage of drivers who are confident with task
1	Unfogging your windscreen when on the road	78%
2	Checking the oil	74%
3	Speaking with a mechanic	70%
4	Checking/filling up coolant/antifreeze	67%
5	Checking tyre tread depth	65%

Brits are most confident with the basics of car maintenance, like unfogging their windscreen (78%) and checking their oil (74%). Many are also fine with speaking to a mechanic (70%), which is sometimes perceived to be a difficult task.

Looking at seasonal tasks, just 67% of drivers are confident they know how to check or fill up their coolant or antifreeze, which is an important step in preparation for driving in cold weather.

The car maintenance tasks UK drivers are the least confident about:

Rank	Maintenance Task	Percentage of drivers who are confident with task
=1	Changing the oil	38%
=1	Changing a tyre	38%
2	Changing your headlights	36%
3	Checking brake fluid levels	30%
4	Jumpstarting your battery	28%
5	Changing your windshield wipers	24%

Car confidence really starts to waver when it comes to the more technical roadside tasks. Nearly two-fifths (38%) of drivers aren’t comfortable changing their oil or tyres, and a further one in five (17%) Brits say they are uneasy about checking the tread depth of their tyres.

Even if you don’t feel poised to do your own car maintenance, your vehicle needs to be kept in good working order, to ensure you keep yourself and other road users safe. Driving a car that’s in a dangerous condition could earn you a £2,500 fine, three penalty points, or even a driving ban.

That being said, some things are better left to the professionals. If your car needs a little TLC, and you are doubtful about carrying out the task yourself, book it in with a mechanic.

Top tips on how to build your confidence as a driver

Julie Daniels, part of the motor insurance team, has pulled together her top tips on how you can build your confidence as a driver:

1. Prepare ahead of time

Planning your journey ahead of time should help ease stress while on the roads. Take a look at your route beforehand to minimise the risk of getting lost and try to avoid roads that might have a lot of traffic or congestion.

2. Practise driving in different conditions

Situations like driving in adverse weather conditions or at night can be challenging, but it’s important not to avoid them altogether. Exposing yourself to these situations little by little is good practice and will help you feel more confident over time.

3. Take some refresher driving lessons

There are various advanced driving courses you can take, such as motorway driving or lessons focused on how to drive at night. These courses are designed to help you become more confident behind the wheel and prepare you for different scenarios on the road.

4. Keep it slow

It’s always important to stick to the speed limit. If you’re not confident on the roads, keep it slow and steady so you’ll have more time to assess the road ahead, stay calm, and make informed decisions.

Methodology & Sources

The data used in this campaign is from a survey of 2014 drivers aged 17+ which took place in October 2023.