VAB: ‘Not using blinkers in traffic irritates 67% of Flemish drivers’

A survey (among 3,540 Flemish drivers) by mobility organization VAB revealed that cyclists riding in the dark without lights on and car drivers who do not use their indicators are Flemish motorists’ biggest annoyances in traffic. The organization, therefore, pleads for stricter punishment for some violations and refresher courses for drivers.

Other drivers’ most annoying behaviors include not using their blinkers (66.9%), tailgating (65.8%), continuing to drive in the middle section (65.2%) on motorways, and using their cell phones behind the wheel (59.8%). It is striking that almost everyone is annoyed by something. On average, Flemish people are bothered by eight things in traffic.

Sources of irritation

Cyclists are also often a source of irritation, specifically cyclists who ride without lights when it is dark (70.4%), speed pedelecs with inappropriate driving behavior (63.3%), and cyclists using mobile phones (50.8).

In response to the survey, VAB is calling for heavier sanctions for, among other things, telephone use while driving and dangerous overtaking. Therefore, using a mobile phone behind the wheel can be punished more severely for almost 7 in 10 Flemish people.

‘Good driving habits’

In addition, the mobility organization favors periodic refresher courses for drivers with a driver’s license “to reinforce good driving habits and to inform them of new traffic laws”.

The study also revealed that people notice the mistakes of others more quickly than their own or tend to justify or underestimate their own negative behavior.

For example, more than a third of respondents (36.6%) are annoyed by pedestrians who cross where they are not allowed, but a fifth (20.3%) admit that they sometimes do so themselves. Strangely enough, more people admit they sometimes drive too fast than find it an annoyance. (28.3% >< 25%).