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17th August 1989
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

:uro survey

• British drivers are the hest in Europe, while Italian and French are among the worst, according to UK truckers who participated in one of the biggest surveys of drivers' attitudes and behaviour ever undertaken.

The majority of the 2,119 truckers in the Shell Diesel survey found sticking in the middle lane was the habit that annoyed them most about other people's driving. But driving too close to their tails, overtaking on the inside, using fog lights in the wrong conditions, overtaking on the hard shoulder and speeding up when a truck is overtaking were also listed as the irritating practices of other drivers.

Nearly half the respondents in the survey felt drivers of family cars such as Volvo estates had the best driving manners — with high performance cars such as Porsches the worst mannered.

Most of the respondents in the survey viewed their jobs as a long-term career with 67% having been truck drivers more than 10 years. Only 15% had been driving trucks for six to 10 years, and 2% less than two years.

Nearly 40% felt patience was the most important quality of a truck driver, followed by alertness and concentration, with many pointing out the need to look ahead continuously on the road and watch out for other people's mistakes.

More than a third of respondents put independence as their first priority in choosing to drive a lorry for a living, 26% said pay was their first priority with 18% regarding freedom as the major influen But the least advantage= aspect of the job was the tin spent away from home and t long hours — although the si vey revealed that 35% of dri ers spent more than five day a week driving.

Only 5% spent the majorit of their time abroad — 84% never drive in other countri &hough 62% prefer to.

The truckers' choice of ser/ice station and truckstop is governed, in the main, by its Mower and washing facilities, :hough promotional offers are mother deciding factor.

Of those who work on the continent, half considered Britsh drivers to be the best while German drivers are second favourites. The Italians are not only considered to be the worst drivers by 46% of the respondents, but are also thought to have the most ineffident traffic police in Europe.

Germany and the UK are considered to have good traffic policing, but despite the ability of French police to demand onthe-spot lines, their efficiency was not highly rated. However, the French remain the best restaurateurs, with French cafés the most popular amongst UK international drivers. Germany's food was well thought of but cafés in the UK got the thumbs down, mainly due to the poor standard of food and drink.

More than 2,000 responded to a questionnaire sent out by the Shell Diesel Driver's Club's bi-monthly publication, Shell Diesel Driver Magazine.


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