by
Autonet Insurance
| Jun 02, 2011
Two out of five motorists believe that careless drivers should undergo compulsory driver training, while over half (59%) want disqualified motorists to retake their test, according to a new survey by road safety charity the IAM.
Of the 1900 people surveyed, only 15% have the opinion that the most effective way to tackle careless driving is to issue fixed penalty notices to the offending drivers.
A third believe verbal advice from a police officer would be effective in tackling careless driving, while nine out of 10 want to let offenders make a choice between paying for driver improvement training and penalty points.
Over three-quarters (77%) want police to seize the vehicles of serious offenders.
Simon Best, chief executive of the IAM, said: "The vast majority of crashes are caused by driver error, they are not deliberate - fining drivers is punitive and does not improve driving skills.
"Driver quality is the key issue in improving road safety and this poll recognises that driving is a skill that needs refreshing and updating."
© Press Association 2011