Are caravan drivers the scourge of Britain's road?

FOR generations they have driven other drivers to distraction by crawling down country lanes and causing endless fuming traffic jams.

Caravan on road in UKGETTY

Your Legal Friend Road Report found that caravan drivers are the country's least popular road users

And today caravan drivers were named and shamed as the pariahs of Britain's roads.

The Your Legal Friend Road Report found that caravan drivers are the country's least popular road users.

Only nine per cent of the 2,000 road users questioned - just  180 motorists - thought caravan drivers were competent.

It will come as no surprise to many motorists that caravan drivers are also blissfully unaware of their critics.

The survey found that 61 per cent of caravan owners feel happy on the road and half of them are relaxed behind the wheel.

And nearly one in three think that they are among the country's best drivers.

But the survey suggests that to the rest of the motoring public caravan drivers are more of a menace than motorcyclists.

The poll found that   11 per cent regard them as safe drivers despite their Hell's Angels connotations. 

In contrast, the kings of the road are car and lorry drivers, rated the best by other road users.

Car drivers were rated as the best drivers by 40 per cent of respondents, with lorry drivers and pedestrians scoring 21 per cent and 20 per cent.

Back of a caravan on UK road in traffic jamGETTY

Caravan drivers are also blissfully unaware of their critics according to the survey

they often cannot move quickly and create blockages and make the drivers behind them get frustrated

Hugh Bladon

The survey also found that car drivers are the most relaxed road users with 61 per cent at ease behind the wheel and and are most likely to enjoy driving at 66 per cent.

The happiest motorists are lorry drivers with  86 per cent content with their life on the road.

Experts said they can see why caravanners are unpopular   - but said the problem often lies with other drivers.

Hugh Bladon of the Alliance of British Drivers said: "Even though I can't stand caravans I don't think the criticism of caravan drivers is fair. 

"The trouble is that they often cannot move all that quickly and create blockages and make the drivers behind them get frustrated.

"If I have a beef about them it is that they don't take notice of the congestion they are causing and pull over to let other drivers pass.

"If they did that they would overcome this stigma.

"But I don't think car drivers towing a caravan are any worse than other motorists.

"There are an awful lot of problems with other drivers - especially  ones who get impatient with caravans and then take risks which can cause an accident.

"If you overtake a caravan you are basically overtaking two cars. And if the car in front of you is not very powerful and is stuck behind a caravan you are effectively having to overtake three cars in one go."

Luke Bosdet of the AA said: "Other drivers need to bear in mind that caravanners are dragging a small house behind them.

"This makes a difference between being able to pull quickly out of a junction and having to be that much more careful.

"And in these days of heavier traffic caravan owners may have to push into traffic to get moving just like any other driver.

"So what may appear to be bad driving may be no more aggressive than any other driver's behaviour.

"And given that knowing how to tow a caravan safely is not something you pick up overnight, you could argue that many caravan owners are more skilful drivers than many of their critics."

Philip Waters, road traffic accident solicitor at Your Legal Friend said: "It is a common belief that caravan drivers are some of the most unpopular road users, and let’s be honest they do have more to contend with, driving high sided vehicles with multiple attachments is more complicated than just jumping in a car. 

"However, this doesn’t mean that they must be bad drivers, if they take the correct precautions to ensure their vehicles are up to standard and drive responsibly on the UK roads.

“With caravan drivers often taking to the roads during holiday periods it’s no surprise that half admit they feel relaxed when driving. 

"As we approach what is predicted to be the wettest winter on record, all drivers need to be mindful of one another but we are pleased that caravan drivers feel happy as they hit the roads.”

The Caravan Club, whose website says there are  1.7 million caravanners in the UK, declined to comment.

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