What's the news?
The latest survey into the attitudes of Irish drivers, carried out by toll-tagging and transport services provider Easytrip, has found that - unsurprisingly - the price of insurance is still the number one concern for drivers in Ireland.
68 per cent of the respondents to the survey said that the cost of insurance was their number one motoring concern, followed by the cost of fuel (56 per cent), and the condition of the roads (39 per cent). Other concerns included 28 per cent who said that the cost of motor tax was a worry, 26 per cent who said they were concerned about the cost of keeping their car serviced, and 19 per cent who said that the policing and control of traffic and accidents was a worry. Interestingly, some 32 per cent said that their biggest worry was the catch-all 'other road users.'
There's a wrinkle to the insurance concern - around ten per cent of drivers were unaware of specific features or benefits of their insurance policy, suggesting that while people are worried about the cost of insurance, they're not necessarily looking at the fine print to see what other benefits they might get.
Opinions on driving standards are fairly middling. Most said that other drivers were at least 'average' in their abilities, but one-fifth of respondents said that other motorists were 'somewhat good' while another fifth said that they were 'not good.' 52 per cent said other drivers were courteous, while 48 per cent said that they were not - Brexit in the outside lane, it would seem.
Commenting on the research, Colin Delaney, CEO of Easytrip said: "Being a motorist comes with a lot of responsibility and while it brings the freedom of travel it can also bring many stresses. While it's not surprising to see that the cost of insurance remains a key concern for many drivers, it was alarming to see that many of the respondents weren't aware of the features of their insurance policy. It is vital that drivers read through their insurance cover and understand what is included in the event of a driving incident. Having a better driving experience is of benefit to all road users and I would encourage motorists to assess their own driving habits, be more courteous and make motoring that little bit less stressful."