16 August 2024
More than eight out of 10 drivers (85%*) say that they have heard music blasting out like the nightclub on wheels so far this summer, according to an AA poll. It’s a scene often played out across the UK, you’re sat waiting at the lights when you suddenly feel the thump of the speakers of the car next to you followed by excessively loud music, amplified due to their windows being wound down.
The survey suggests there is a new wave of bass boomers on the roads this summer.
While loud music can be an annoyance, there are more worrying activities already being witnessed by drivers across the UK. Sadly, more than three quarters (78%) of drivers say they have seen people throw litter out of car windows, with the North East having the most litter louts (81%). Three fifths (63%) of drivers have observed the front passenger rest their feet on the dashboard while one in six (17%) have seen passengers dangle their feet out of a moving vehicle.
"Don’t be a ‘Road Raver’, keep the volume at a decent level so you can concentrate on the road ahead."
As well as poor passenger behaviour, poor actions by drivers have been observed. A third of people have seen drivers wearing flip-flops, whilst a similar number have seen drivers try to control the vehicle and eat an ice cream at the same time.
Don’t Get Stung
Except for littering, none of these behaviours are specifically illegal, however they could prove painful, or allow the Police to pull you over for a chat. Dangling your legs out of a moving vehicle is a safety hazard which could lead to serious injury in the event of a crash. Front seat passengers resting their legs on the dashboard should be wary that if the airbag deployed it could cause serious damage to their hips, legs and feet compared to if they were sat properly in their seat.
A common summer myth is that it is illegal to drive in flip-flops, or indeed with bare feet, but the Highway Code does not specify this at all. It says drivers should wear “appropriate footwear”, but if the police observed examples of poor driving and felt that inappropriate footwear was the cause, then an offence such as ‘driving without due care and attention’ may be issued. The same can be said for eating or drinking whilst driving – should police see drivers swerve across the road because the driver was more focused on their Flake ’99 rather than the road, they too could be charged with driving without due care and attention.
Music lovers behind the wheel may become too focused on their tunes rather than the road, and there are numerous examples where turning the sound down or even off, could be beneficial to everyone. Approaching junctions like roundabouts, reversing into a parking bay or driving on country roads with blind bends are better handled when the sound system is at a minimum.
Tony Rich, The AA’s head of road safety, said; “Summer is here, and people want to go out and have fun. But, it’s no fun if you spoil the trip for everyone by littering or creating unnecessary danger with passengers dangling their feet out the window.
“With scorching weather due it is very tempting to crank up the volume and blast your music out, however there are times where The Sound of Silence is more appropriate. Don’t be a ‘Road Raver’, keep the volume at a decent level so you can concentrate on the road ahead.
“Reducing these Bad Habits could make the summer safe and fun so everyone can enjoy the Sunshine.”
* Yonder received 9,839 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 8th to 16th July 2024 Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.