Tailgating, running red lights & not indicating are Queenslanders' biggest pet peeves

A learner driver will always inherit the habits, good and bad, of those who teach them. What does this variance in education lead to?

New research conducted by Ford’s Driving Skills for Life program, asked 1000 Queenslanders for their opinion on driving habits of fellow road users, with some gobsmacking results.

The results suggest nearly three quarters (74%) of Queenslanders believe their neighbours are not good drivers, and just over one quarter (26%) believe they are superior drivers compared to the other states and territories.

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Of all the bugbears, Queensland drivers are most perturbed by not indicating (80%), tailgating (79%) and running red lights (63%).

Other traffic and driving etiquette annoyances included: not using lights in wet weather (43%), speeding (42%) going under the speed limit (41%) and the unforgivable sin of not returning the “thank you” wave (34%).

However, when it came to learning how to drive on different terrain, only half of the respondents had experienced various terrains.

“Driving is a lifelong skill, and every day we are all still learning. When first learning how to drive, we rely on the skills and knowledge of the person who taught us, as well as the roads and surfaces we were comfortable practising on," said James Stewart, Ford Driving Skills for Life Program Director in Australia.

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“If a teacher has a bad driving habit, that will be passed onto the student, so it’s important to break that cycle with professional training.

"The lessons taught in the Driving Skills for Life program will arm the next generation of drivers with skills that will help them when they need it most on the road," Stewart said.

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When asked about their experience when first learning how to drive, 71% of Queensland respondents felt that they passed their learners permit with the full complement of driving skills needed – while an astonishing 94% claimed to now be better or equal to the person who taught them.

In terms of generational comparison, this sentiment hits home for Queensland local and legendary race driver Dick Johnson, and his grandson Jett. “The biggest thing I could say to parents when they’re teaching their kids to drive is to be very patient and remain calm. And if you don’t think you’re a good enough driver – get someone else to do it, otherwise you’ll just make them as bad as you are,” said Dick Johnson.

Jett Johnson, currently racing in Super2 for Zane Morse Racing, said “a lot of driving schools teach you how to pass your test, but at the end of the day, the biggest thing is getting your hours up and getting experience. Every day you’ll get on the road, and nothing is the same, everything is always different, so there’s no substitute for experience.”

The 2024 Ford Driving Skills for Life program will be collaborating with local councils and high schools across regional Queensland throughout May.

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