The VINCI Autoroutes Foundation has released the results of its 4th European Responsible Driving Barometer Survey which has found that although European drivers are aware that inattentiveness kills, they are unable to give up distractions at the wheel.

The survey found that driver inattentiveness is now seen by Europeans as the main cause of road collisions in general ahead of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: 57% (up 5 points) of European and up to 75% of drivers in the Netherlands identified this risk. Yet, while driving, many Europeans still use their telephone or smartphone or adjust their GPS.

This behaviour does vary from country to country. European driver behaviour: 43% telephone using Bluetooth (up to 52% in Italy but 31% in the United Kingdom), 39% adjust their GPS (up to 50% in Germany but 29% in Spain), 32% telephone without a hands-free kit (up to 54% in Greece but 14% in the United Kingdom), 31% telephone using an earbud, headset or headphones (up to 49% in Greece but 16% in France), 24% write and/or read texts or emails (up to 32% in Italy but 16% in the Netherlands).

The survey also found that drivers feel danger and rudeness are always the fault of others: Respondents were very critical of their compatriots: 83% used at least one negative adjective to describe others’ driving: “irresponsible” for 45% of Europeans (up to 65% of Poles), “stressed” for 36% (up to 63% of Swedes), “aggressive” for 33% (up to 42% of British), or even “dangerous” for 26% (up to 39% of French). Conversely, they were less critical of their own driving as 97% of Europeans used at least one positive word to describe their own driving. Europeans above all believe they are “cautious” (74% and up to 80% in Italy and Greece), “calm” (54% and up to 66% in the Netherlands) and even “courteous” (up to 48% of British drivers).

VINCI noted that while the aim of the European Commission is to halve the number of road fatalities between 2010 and 2020, the number of deaths on European roads has only dropped by 19% in the past six years. In 2017, more than one out of every two Europeans (51%) feel that it will be difficult to make any significant further reduction in the number of people killed on the road.

Click here for further findings from the VINCI Autoroutes Foundation 4th European Responsible Driving Barometer Survey.