Selfies and social media: Drivers behaving badly

MUCH of what is taught to pass the driving test is forgotten by nearly a fifth of Yorkshire drivers within a week of them tearing up their 'L' plates, new research claims.

Speed, braking and motorway driving continue to be the main themes of bad driving, however social media is also playing its part in bad driving behaviours.

The research, carried out by Co-operative Insurance, has revealed modern distractions are now entering into driver behaviours.

Nationally, the research highlights, over one-in-50 drivers have updated social media feeds, taken selfies or recorded videos whilst driving.

And the 25 to 34 age group are the most socially active in their vehicles, with almost one-in-ten admitting to updating their statuses and over on-in-20 taking selfies.

Using data from their customers’ in-car telematics systems Co-operative Insurance found that, despite over half 52 per cent of drivers in Yorkshire classing their driving as at least very good, 19 per cent displayed bad speeding behaviours within a week of passing their test and 11 per cent broke speed limits within 24 hours of becoming a legal driver.

Nationally, the 17 to 24 age group are the most likely to display bad speeding behaviours, with four-fifths 81 per cent admitting to doing so.

Despite this, the research reveals that over half of drivers in Yorkshire (66 per cent) believe that their driving has improved since they passed their test.