British drivers ’staying safe’ at Christmas

Car rental customers in the UK could find the country one of the safest places to drive this festive season, as new research has shown British motorists to be among the most conscientious in Europe.

Britain ranked second in an Axa list of the best places in Europe for safe driving, with locals less likely to use their mobile phones on the road than residents of any other country, as well as being significantly below average in terms of drinking alcohol.

Axa’s head of motor claims Chris Voller commented: "These findings reveal British drivers are generally pretty safe behind the wheel and it is especially pleasing to see, in the run up to Christmas, such a low level of drink driving."

He noted that while the country does have a stronger legal deterrent in some instances than its European neighbours, it also did well in areas purely to do with safety such as tailgating.

Portuguese motorists arriving at Gatwick Airport, for example, would be more than 50 per cent less likely to be tailgated than in their own country – and London is one of the least safe places in the UK for motorway driving, according to the Automobile Association.

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