Most drivers fear for their safety when behind the wheel yet believe it’s other drivers who pose the danger, according to research by Brake and Direct Line.

While more than two-thirds (69%) of drivers consciously worry about being killed when driving, only 1% believe they perform worse than average when it comes to driving safely. Conversely, 98% think they are safer than, or as safe as, the average driver.

The 800 drivers questioned made it clear that it’s the risks other drivers take that makes them worry for their lives when on the road:

• Only one in a hundred drivers believe that the roads are full of safe drivers;
• One in three (35%) think there are more dangerous drivers than safe drivers on the road;
• Nearly a third (31%) said they feel safer when driving a car compared to other modes of transport, while only 5% said being a passenger in a car made them feel the safest;
• Three in ten (31%) said they feel least safe traveling as a passenger in a car compared to any other mode of transport, while only 7% said they felt least safe while driving.

The research suggests that many drivers overestimate their driving ability, whilst blaming other drivers’ risky driving for crashes on the roads. In reality, a high proportion of drivers continue to regularly take risks such as speeding, drink driving or driving while tired.