Research released by car insurance experts Confused.com shows that dawdling drivers are the top cause of irritation for UK drivers. According to the survey, over half (60%) of motorists experience an increase in stress levels and a heightened irritability when faced with a vehicle driving slower than the rest of the traffic.

In reaction to these slow drivers, almost half (45%) of motorists risk overtaking, thus increasing the chances of an accident. Research from the Department for Transport (DfT) also reveals that 143 accidents a year are caused directly by slow drivers, or ‘Sunday drivers’ as they are known.

With little to prevent drivers from travelling too slowly, half of British motorists are supporting the idea to introduce the first ever ‘slow speed camera’ to the roads of the UK. The slow speed camera will specifically catch slow motorists, penalising them with a fine for driving slower than the minimum designated speed limit. This has come as a reaction to the fact that although minimum speed limits are enforced on some UK motorways, there are few preventative measures that are used widely.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “Slow drivers need to be taken as seriously as motorists caught speeding. Findings confirm they are a constant source of anxiety on UK roads and responsible for a large amount of accidents each year.” Kloet continued, “We support the introduction of a programme of measures to eliminate this hazard as our research has highlighted that excessively slow driving is a real problem.”

Additional findings from the survey also uncovered other solutions for limiting slow drivers. Suggestions included imposing a minimum speed limit on all British roads (37%), the introduction of a slow lane (26%), dedicated times for slow drivers to be on the road (15%), and even a warning badge system to be displayed by offending motorists (5%).

Peter Rodger, Chief Examiner from The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) supports the need for change on Britain’s roads, “All forms of inconsiderate driving need to be tackled. Drivers who are unnecessarily excessively slow lead others to make rash moves.”

The survey was based on 2000 respondents in the UK who are car owners.