The World’s Friendliest Drivers
A new piece of global research undertaken by the car-selling experts at Auto Trader has crowned the United Kingdom as home to the world’s friendliest drivers.
Auto Trader’s latest study measures and compares drivers’ levels of politeness, cooperation and kindness on the road. The study asked participants from different countries around the world to rate their behaviours in common driving scenarios, as well as using questions around ‘Agreeableness’ from the Big 5 Personality Test. The answers were scored to calculate a collective overall ‘Friendly Driving Score’ per country.
The highest possible score to achieve in the study was ‘51’, with the highest-scoring countries crowned as the countries with the most considerate drivers.
The highest score in the study (35.40) was achieved by drivers from the United Kingdom, with Australian drivers banking the next highest score (35.02) and New Zealand motorists taking third place with a score of 33.59.
The World’s Friendliest Drivers
Auto Trader’s research shows that the UK's stereotypical love of decorum and correct manners rings true even on the road. British drivers have a renowned adherence to road etiquette (which could be in part due to the country’s comprehensive driving tests), and the UK’s general appreciation of politeness also factors in helping the nation secure the title of World’s Friendliest Drivers.
Australians are well-known for manifesting a laid-back and relaxed lifestyle, which seems to be translating to more tolerance and patience on the roads; the country’s low congestion outside of major cities and expansive road networks could also be helping contribute to lower stress levels when driving, all helping Australians to earn second place in the World’s Friendliest Drivers rankings.
New Zealand drivers take third place. With a general reputation for being very welcoming and showing hospitality to strangers, Kiwi drivers embrace a kind and collaborative driving culture, with the country’s emphasis on community values translating nicely in to how motorists treat one another.
While the driving attitudes and cultures differ from state to state in the USA, there is a prevailing nationwide sense of safety-first and politeness radiating from American drivers. Motorists in the USA are often praised for their willingness to help others, stopping to assist stranded vehicles or drivers in distress. Despite TV shows showing high-pressure urban areas like New York City, or busy Los Angeles freeways, being filled with frustrated drivers, Auto Trader’s study shows that there are still plenty of moments of cooperation and courtesy among American drivers, making the USA one of the friendliest nations when it comes to roads.
Another North American country to make the top ten list of the World’s Friendliest Drivers is Canada. With a score of 33.03, Canadian drivers are living up to the expectation that the country is filled with courteous individuals. Canadian drivers are often noted for their patience, especially in snowy or icy driving conditions that require plenty of caution.
European countries round out the top ten list of the World’s Friendliest Drivers. The Netherlands, with its strong cycling culture, means its drivers may be more accustomed to respecting other road users, whilst Ireland’s reputation for friendliness to strangers and building social communities is also reflected in their very friendly driving habits.
With the rise of advanced safety technology in new cars - from collision avoidance systems to lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring – drivers are potentially having the safest and least stressful drives ever. With new technology safety features helping create a happier road driving experience for many motorists, we wanted to find out where in the world has the friendliest and most cooperative drivers to celebrate good road behaviour, and encourage motorists to think about how polite and courteous they are behind the wheel - helping make the roads a happier and safer place for everyone.
The full results and methodology can be found at https://www.autotrader.co.uk/cars/sell-my-car/friendliest-drivers/
Methodology
Using market research agency Prolific, over 3,200 participants from 16 countries were asked to self-rate their behaviour in various driving scenarios and also answer questions from the "Agreeableness" section of the Big 5 Personality Test, a globally recognised and standardised personality test. The answers were scored and averaged to find a ‘Friendly Driving Score’ per country which were then ranked. The countries with the highest average scores were deemed the world’s friendliest drivers.
All data correct January 2025
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