A SCOTTISH learner driver has backed up proof that a stunning 81 per cent of L-plate motorists have skilled abuse from different street customers.
Insurer Marmalade’s ballot additionally discovered that intimidation in the direction of learners is rising, with 59 per cent of driving instructors saying it has elevated because the begin of the pandemic.
Now the agency has launched a petition calling on the UK Authorities to do extra to forestall street customers driving dangerously round learners. Chloe Hutchon, from Fife, mentioned the abuse stopped her from studying for greater than a yr.
She defined: “I’ve had quite a few experiences of abuse that left me feeling fairly nervous and filled with dread. Essentially the most damaging expertise was once I unintentionally took the mistaken exit off a busy roundabout. The motive force behind me responded in such an abusive method that it actually shook me.
“The motive force took the identical exit as me and sounded their horn for a superb 40 seconds whereas driving extraordinarily near me and shouting verbal abuse.
“The embarrassment from that incident together with normal driving nerves gave me nervousness and might nonetheless put me in a nasty mindset behind the wheel, which might result in extra driving errors.
“There ought to be penalties for these actions because it’s unfair for younger folks to be commonly subjected to this kind of bullying.”
The ballot of greater than 1000 driving-test college students and 400-plus instructors discovered commonplace dangerous behaviour included tailgating (68 per cent), harmful overtaking (65 per cent), beeping (59 per cent) and being lower up (44 per cent).
Scarily, 4 per cent have even skilled drivers getting out of automobiles to confront learners. Sadly, a whopping 99 per cent of driving instructors have witnessed abuse directed at their pupils.
Marmalade boss Crispin Moger mentioned: “We really feel extremely captivated with this problem – it’s one thing that impacts nearly all of our clients and now we have a accountability to assist.
“That’s why we’re calling on the Authorities to behave – our analysis discovered that 54 per cent would help on-the-spot fines for abuse, with 50 per cent suggesting anger administration programs and 35 per cent backing three penalty factors.”
Go to https://www.wearemarmalade.co.uk/driver-hub/information/dangerous-driving-around-learner-drivers to search out out extra and signal the petition.