23 January 2008
Britons 'go to pieces' when driving in unfamiliar weather conditions such as very heavy rain, fog or snow, new research from Mercedes-Benz shows.
The study found that 31% of drivers have lost control of their car in bad weather - and that 76% are "not confident" on the road in all conditions.
Moreover, many others were found to be risking car insurance claims-triggering accidents through their over-confidence behind the wheel - with 18% ignoring weather warnings from the Met Office to take car trips.
Commenting on the survey, Managing Director at the car firm Peter O'Halloran said: "Often people question why our roads come to a standstill after a few inches of snowfall compared to countries like Russia, Canada and Sweden where everything continues to function despite far more extreme conditions.
"One thought is that our severe weather is so fleeting that we don’t give it the same focus: in other countries where snow sits on the ground for months, individuals plan and prepare for those conditions and gain plenty of experience in dealing with them."
Accordingly, Mercedes-Benz found that 45% of drivers did not feel confident in their ability to handle a skid in their cars - and one quarter felt the same way about driving in snow or in a flood.
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