Five habits that are guaranteed to drive road users around the bend

Frustrating at best, illegal at worst - the 5 most irritating things you can do behind the wheel.

Hands up who hasn't been driven to the brink of insanity by another motorist's shoddy driving?

No hands? Didn’t think so.

Middle lane hogging, making a last-minute manoeuvre without flipping the indicator or a misjudged overtake—these are all scenarios that most UK road users are all too familiar with.

Statistics show that some of the most commonly adopted 'bad' driving habits among motorists are also the most dangerous.

But let's be completely honest—whilst we unanimously berate other drivers for committing crimes against the Highway Code, how many of us can truthfully say we haven't tried to cut corners or had a momentary lapse in concentration at least once when behind the wheel?

Studies show that while 80% of UK motorists believe themselves to be above average in terms of driving skill, nearly all of us have experienced one or more of the instances cited below.

I’m no mathematician, but something doesn't quite add up there.

It's safe to assume that nobody intends to drive inconsiderately - or indeed, dangerously.

But with most of us spending around four years of our lives driving, eight months spent in traffic and two months hunting for a parking space, it's hardly surprising that people occasionally slip into bad habits.

We all have our own personal pet peeves when it comes to driving, but these five come up consistently as some of the most annoying things another driver can do.

How many have you encountered, and how many are you guilty of?

Using a mobile phone

Despite countless accidents caused by distracted drivers, 25% of motorists still admit to checking their phones – rising to a staggering 57% among 17-24-year-olds.

Shocking, right?

It’s not just texting or calling that’s the problem. Operating a sat-nav while driving is illegal too, with the same penalties applying even if you’re stuck in traffic, at red lights, or supervising a learner.

Hands-free options like Bluetooth, voice commands, or a dash mount are essential to stay on the right side of the law.

Break the rules, and you’re looking at:

• 6 penalty points and a £200 fine if caught using a handheld device
• 3 penalty points if your phone mount blocks your view
• Worst case? A court appearance with fines up to £1,000, and even a driving ban

Our advice? Go hands-free or turn it off. No text or map is worth risking your licence – or your life.

Not buckling up

Believe it or not, 7% of drivers still risk going beltless, which translates to a jaw-dropping 1.49 million UK motorists taking to the roads without a seatbelt each year.

Even scarier?

Around 34% of road traffic fatalities involve people who weren’t wearing one.

Seatbelts reduce the risk of death in a crash by half, so why are some drivers still skipping this lifesaving step?

Some blame discomfort or forgetfulness, while others assume a short journey or modern safety features make it less necessary. The worst offenders?

Van drivers on delivery runs and passengers in taxis.

Although seatbelts became mandatory in cars in the 1960s, wearing them didn’t become law until 1983 – and for rear passengers, not until 1991. Drivers are responsible for ensuring all passengers are belted up unless exempt, which includes:

• Reversing (or supervising a learner reversing)
• Driving a vehicle for emergency services or certain trade tasks
• Travelling fewer than 50m between stops in a delivery vehicleS

Our tip? Don’t gamble with your life or others. Buckle up – it’s quick, simple, and could save your neck. Literally.

Lights, lights, lights

Driving in poor visibility is challenging enough, but add the blinding glare of full-beam headlights and it can quickly turn dangerous.

Shockingly, half of all drivers are dazzled by oncoming lights each year.

Even worse, a momentary dazzle can cause two seconds of temporary blindness – plenty of time for a vehicle at 70mph to cover 60m of blind driving.

Though dazzling isn’t yet illegal, it’s linked to 300 accidents a year, and campaigners are calling for penalties, including a £100 fine and points.

Advances like Xenon bulbs, combined with higher SUVs, make this issue worse.

So, when should you use headlights? The Highway Code advises:

• Use full beam only on unlit roads and dip them when another road user – driver, cyclist, or pedestrian – is nearby
• Dip lights when following another vehicle (no one likes a blinded rear-view mirror moment)
• Use lights when visibility drops to less than 100m

Showing your intentions

Few things are more infuriating than a driver who doesn’t bother to indicate.

Let’s be honest – we’ve all been tempted to skip the signal when the road looks quiet, or we know the roads well.

But even when it seems deserted, there could be a pedestrian or cyclist lurking in your blind spot, ready to appear at the worst moment.

While there’s no specific penalty for failing to indicate, it could land you in serious trouble.

If your lack of signalling leads to an accident or is deemed careless or dangerous driving, you’re looking at penalties as harsh as 9 points on your licence, a £5,000 fine, or even a driving ban.

And if a pedestrian is injured? Things get much worse.

So, even if it feels like no one’s around, save yourself the stress (and everyone else the guessing game) – just flick that indicator. It’s a small gesture that shows you care.

Hogging the middle lane

Or worse—the third lane. It’s easily one of the most annoying habits on the motorway. The rule is simple: keep left unless overtaking.

Yet we’ve all encountered that one driver blissfully cruising in the middle lane, causing chaos for everyone trying to use the motorway properly.

Beyond being maddening, lane hogging is a top culprit behind those baffling motorway traffic jams – the kind where you crawl along at a snail’s pace for miles, only to find no apparent cause.

The truth? It’s often slow-moving drivers clogging up the middle and outside lanes, disrupting the flow.

The Highway Code is crystal clear: the middle and right-hand lanes are strictly for overtaking slower traffic.

Once you’ve overtaken, you should return to the left lane when safe. If you’re towing a trailer or driving an HGV, the right-hand lane is completely off-limits.

Thankfully, the law has caught up with the frustration. Police can now pull over lane hoggers, slapping them with an on-the-spot £100 fine and 3 penalty points.

So, let’s all agree to play nice and stick to the left – it’s the polite (and legal) thing to do.

Whether it's hogging the middle lane, failing to indicate, or dazzling other drivers with your full beams, the rules of the road exist for a reason.

They’re not just there to keep us safe but to ensure a smoother, more enjoyable experience for everyone using it.

While we’ve all been guilty of a slip-up here and there, a little extra awareness can make a world of difference.

So, next time you're behind the wheel, buckle up, stay alert, and keep the rules in mind – because no one wants to be that driver. 

Safe travels.