AA-YONDER DRIVER POLL 2024

January 2024

February 2024

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August 2024

September 2024

October 2024

November 2024

December 2024

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Yonder summary December 2024

The December AA-Yonder survey ran between 10 and 17 December 2024 and received 14,443 responses

Motorways

This month, we began our survey by asking AA panel members about their motorway usage. Two fifths (42%) reported using the motorway a few times each year, while one-third (33%) said they use it a few times each month. Additionally, 13% of the members are regular motorway users, travelling on it at least weekly for several journeys.

We then presented respondents with a series of scenarios and asked them how safe or nervous they would feel driving in each situation. We also asked them to compare this to three years ago to assess whether they felt less, or a lot more, safe for each scenario.

The majority of AA Panel members who use motorways (87%) feel safe driving on a motorway with a continuous hard shoulder. Over two thirds (66%) think driving on this type of motorway is a lot safer compared to three years ago.

More than a quarter (27%) feel nervous/anxious driving on a motorway with no hard shoulder but with emergency refuge areas (lay-bys) about one and a half (1.5) miles apart. However, a similar proportion (25%) do feel safe driving on this type of motorway. Three in ten (30%) think it’s less safe now driving on this type of road compared to three years ago.

Slightly less (23%) feel nervous/anxious about driving on a motorway with no hard shoulder where the lay-bys are a shorter distance (about 0.75 miles) apart. As also seen with lay-by gaps of 1.5 miles, over a quarter (27%) think it’s less safe to be driving on this type of road compared to three years ago.

Three in ten (30%) feel nervous about driving on a motorway where the hard shoulder can be 'switched on and off' so it can be used as a running lane at peak times, whilst only a quarter (24%) feel safe and relaxed.

A third (34%)think it’s less safe to be driving on this type of road compared to three years ago.

Three in five AA panel members and drivers surveyed (59%) think the all lane running network should be converted back to a traditional three lane motorway with a permanent hard shoulder. Meanwhile, 14% suggest converting it into a 'controlled motorway' scheme, and 9% favour transforming it into a 'dynamic hard shoulder' scheme. Only 11% of respondents think the current 'all lanes running' smart motorway network should remain unchanged.

Insurance

In a scenario where respondents were involved in a car collision but could still drive home, we asked whom they would likely seek help or advice from regarding car repairs. Approximately two in five (39%) would likely contact their insurance company, a quarter (27%) would turn to the AA, and less than one in five (18%) would consult an independent garage for advice and assistance.

Private practice

Private practice is where a qualified driver gives free driving instruction/lessons to a learner driver. We asked how many hours of private/free practice panel members have carried out to date.

Two in five (40%) of those who indicated they have given private/free driving practice reported they have given 1-10 hours of free driving lessons to a learner. Between one and two in ten have spent 1-20 hours (14%), 21-40 hours (17%), and 41-60 hours (13%).

The majority of participants who indicated they have given private/free driving practice gave free these lessons to their own children (52%). A further 20% coached a family member, and just over one in ten taught a friend (12%) or their spouse/partner (11%).

More than half (53%) of those who have given private/free driving practice enjoyed providing driving practice, although a quarter (23%) did not find it enjoyable. Despite many enjoying the experience, over half (54%) stated they would not want to supervise a learner again, while only 21% would.

Regarding the profession itself, two in five (44%) believed that being a driving instructor would be a rewarding career.

Car buying

When thinking about purchasing a used car, we asked how confident respondents would feel purchasing a car from a dealer who is partnered with the AA as opposed to one who isn’t.

Overall, the majority of panel members and drivers surveyed (85%) expressed confidence in purchasing from a dealer associated with the AA. Only 12% felt that such a partnership made no difference to their level of confidence.

Over half (57%) of AA panel members currently own a petrol vehicle, while a third (32%) own a diesel vehicle. Less than one in ten own a mild hybrid petrol vehicle (7%) or an electric vehicle (3%).

One in six (15%) plan to buy a new petrol vehicle in 2025, whilst only 7% are considering purchasing a diesel vehicle. In terms of alternative fuel vehicles, 4% of panel members are interested in purchasing a plug-in hybrid petrol vehicle, and 3% are considering an electric vehicle.

A small minority plan to sell their vehicle in 2025 without replacing it (6% plan to sell their petrol vehicle and 4% plan to sell their diesel vehicle).

For those planning to replace their car in 2025, the average amount respondents can afford to spend is around £16,500.

Potholes

We asked respondents about their encounters with potholes on UK streets. Seven in ten (70%) respondents have had to take evasive action to miss a pothole. The same proportion (70%) have had to change their road position considerably to avoid a pothole.

Additionally, two-thirds (65%) have had to slow down considerably to drive through a pothole, with a similar proportion (64%) having struck one without sustaining damage.

More than two in five (46%) have hit a pothole that was concealed by standing water and, lastly, 15% have had to pay out of their own pocket to repair pothole damage.

Government statistics indicate that main roads are less troubled by potholes compared to minor, rural, and residential roads. Panellists agreed, with most saying that potholes are most always/often found on residential roads (75%), slow-moving rural roads (70%), fast-moving rural roads (50%), and single carriageway main roads (49%). Potholes are sometimes encountered on Major A roads (41%), dual carriageway roads (39%), single carriageway roads (38%), fast-moving roads (37%), and motorways (23%).

Over half (57%) of those surveyed claimed that they rarely/never encounter potholes on motorways. A third (35%) also said they rarely/never encounter potholes on dual carriageway main roads.

New Year Plans

Among AA Panel Members, over half (56%) planned to celebrate the New Year with a quiet evening at home. About one in ten (12%) will host friends and family or join the festivities at a friend’s house (9%).

Seasonal Drink Driving

We asked AA panel members of the likelihood they will drive the morning after even though there is a chance they might still be over the limit.

A quarter of respondents (25%) said they do not drink so would not be impacted. Three in ten (29%) said they would not drink at all if they knew they were going to be driving the next day. Almost a third (31%) said they would make sure they don’t have to drive the following day if they’re going to drink a lot.

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Yonder summary November 2024

The November AA-Yonder survey ran between 12 and 19 November 2024 and received 11,329 responses

Electrified

This month we started off the survey by asking AA panel members about their attitudes to Electric cars. The cost of purchasing and running an EV is a concern for respondents, as a large majority (80%) believe that electric cars are too expensive to purchase. A further one in five (20%) believe that charging away from home is more expensive than refuelling a traditional vehicle. Only one in five (21%) think that EVs are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars.

Despite respondents thinking EVs are too expensive, more than two in five (45%) are aware of low off-peak energy tariffs that make running an electric vehicle (EV) more affordable.

Charging infrastructure reliability and confidence in EV’s is a significant issue, with three in five (60%) doubting its reliability. More than half (55%) are concerned that the batteries won’t last as long as petrol or diesel engines.

Less than half of the drivers surveyed (46%) report feeling less confident about driving an electric car compared to petrol or diesel vehicles and less than a third (31%) feel confident about how to charge an EV. A similar proportion (30%) are deterred from switching to an EV due to concerns in energy prices.

Concerns about air quality and the environment are important for over a quarter of respondents, who support the government’s decision to ban the sale of diesel cars in the future (27%) and who say issues surrounding the environment could influence their decision to switch to an EV (26%).

We then asked respondents what factors, if any, prevent them from buying an electric car. The most common reasons were the high cost of purchase (76%), lack of confidence in the reliability of the UK’s charging infrastructure (72%), and not having access to a home charging point (54%).

Additionally, half (53%) said they are reluctant to give up their petrol or diesel car, and a further half (51%) believe electric cars are not as environmentally friendly as claimed.

Christmas travel

With Christmas approaching, we asked respondents if they plan to drive over the festive period and if so, how many miles do they anticipate driving.

Half of those surveyed (54-58%) anticipate making short trips, driving under 50 miles from the 20th of December to Christmas Eve on the 24th of December. On Christmas day this falls to 45%.

From boxing day (26th of December) to New Years Eve (31st of December) 44-52% will drive under 50 miles. Similarly, on News Years day 43% plan to drive under 50 miles.

And for the first week in the New year from the 2nd to the 5th January, a similar proportion 50-54% will also be making trips under 50 miles.

Of those who will be driving over the festive period, the majority are planning to visit family (73%).Two in five (43%) will be making a shopping trip and one in five will be driving for work reasons (21%).

Gifted cars

We then asked respondents if they have ever been gifted a car by their parents on different occasions such as passing their driving test, birthdays or going to university etc. The majority of respondents have never been gifted a car by their parents (86%). Only a small percentage of respondents have (4% for passing a driving test, 3% for a birthday).

Vehicle Inspections

More than four in five surveyed (86%), would feel more confident about purchasing a used car that has been independently inspected by the AA. Only 11% said it would make no difference to them.

When it came to the speed of decision making, two in five (44%) would be fairly likely to make a quicker decision on purchasing a used car that has been independently inspected by the AA. More than a quarter (27%) would be very likely. Although, a similar proportion (24%) said it would make no difference, with them being no more or less likely to make a quicker purchasing decision.

Winter car preparations

With the winter weather setting in, we asked panel members which preparations they have made or intend to make to their car ahead of the colder months.

The most common (from a given list) winter preparations among AA members are, adding cold weather screen wash (58%), checking anti-freeze strength (41%), performing FLOWER checks (Fuel, Lights, Oil, Water, Electrics, and Rubber) more frequently (35%), and packing a cold weather kit—including blankets, a spade, food, and drinks (33%).

A quarter (24%) plan to have a winter service or check carried out by a garage before the colder weather sets in.

Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)

Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are lights that automatically turn on when the vehicle is in use during the day. They were introduced in 2011 to alert other road users of a vehicle’s presence.

For two in five of respondents (41%), the lights are set to ‘auto’, with cars automatically taking care of their own lighting. A further 30%, always check that their lights are on the correct setting before moving off and similar proportion (29%) always check the lights are set to ‘auto’ after somebody else has used the car or if its been in for repair or a MOT.

One in five (18%) shared their car doesn’t have DRLs due to the age of the car.

Flooding

Last month saw significant flooding in parts of England, causing damage to homes and causing travel chaos. We asked respondents how concerned, if at all, were they about the prospect of floods where they live.

More than half (55%) said they are not at all concerned, whilst 30% are slightly concerned. Very few panel members feel very or extremely concerned (3%).

We then asked respondents how confident or unconfident, if at all, they are that there are sufficient flood defences to protect particular infrastructures nearby where they live.

Three in five (62%) were confident that homes are sufficiently protected against floods. Half of those surveyed are confident that motorways and major A roads (51%) and town centres (50%) are well protected against floods.

A similar proportion (49%) felt confident that there are sufficient flood defences in place to protect main roads. On the other hand, local roads raised more concern, with 41% lacking confidence compared to 36% who felt assured.

Confidence was lowest for rural roads and agricultural land, where around half (52% and 51%, respectively) expressed doubts about sufficient flood defences.

Home improvements

We asked respondents about their home improvement plans for 2025. Nearly half (44%) plan to paint and decorate one or more rooms themselves, while 17% intend to hire a tradesperson for this task.

Additionally, 19% aim to renovate or redesign their gardens independently. Whilst one in ten (9%) plan to bring in a professional to replace a bathroom or ensuite.

However, a significant number of respondents have no plans to carry out any of the listed home improvements in 2025.

De-icing

Among AA respondents, the most common method for de-icing a windscreen is using an ice scraper, with 79% relying on this tool. This is followed by 69% who use de-icer spray.

Other methods include leaving the engine running while sitting in the car (43%), covering the windscreen to prevent ice build-up (33%), and using warm water to melt the ice (20%).

Vehicle damage

Three in five (60%) respondents say there is no current damage on their car, whereas, a third (33%) have minor bodywork damage on their car (small dents/scratches etc). A small minority have a cracked/chipped windscreen (4%) or a dashboard warning light illuminated (4%) on the car at present.

Potholes

The final question in this month’s survey focused on potholes, revealing widespread dissatisfaction among AA members with the current state of road surfaces. A large proportion (79%) of respondents said they cannot remember a time when road conditions were as bad as they are now.

Many believe the situation is worsening, with almost four in five (75%) saying new potholes are appearing as quickly as councils can repair them, and 72% feeling there is little evidence of repairs being carried out at all.

While a similar proportion (71%) noted that a few potholes in their area had been fixed, they felt many worse ones were being ignored. In addition to the dissatisfaction respondents felt, three in five (63%) believe councils are waiting for roads to deteriorate completely before taking action.

As a resolution to the pothole issue, half (52%) of those surveyed supported using community service as part of sentencing for convicted individuals to repair potholes. A similar proportion (48%) thought low-risk prisoners could be involved in pothole repairs as part of their rehabilitation.

Despite widespread frustration, only 27% of respondents have reported potholes to their local authority, with higher reporting rates in Northern Ireland (34%) and the South East (30%). Few AA panel members and UK drivers we surveyed have contacted a local councillor (15%) or MP (7%) about the issue.

Volunteering to repair potholes was unpopular, with only 18% willing to participate in such schemes, while 45% disagreed with the idea altogether.

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Yonder summary October 2024

The October AA-Yonder survey ran between 15 and 23 October 2024 and received 10,237 responses

Wildlife warnings

This month we opened the survey asking respondents what they do when they see a wildlife warning sign at the roadside. Half of those surveyed (51%) slow down and become more vigilant. Whilst, two in five (39%), continue at the same speed but become more vigilant.

Driving test confidence

AA Panel members tend to be more experienced drivers with three in ten (30%) having passed their driving test over 51 years ago, a similar proportion (29%) passed 41-50 years ago. A quarter (23%) passed 31-40 years ago. Only 10% passed 21-30 years ago.

We then asked AA members, how confident or unconfident they feel in passing their practical and theory tests now if they had to retake.

A large proportion were pretty confident they would pass their practical (86%), however this dropped to 58% for the theory test, with 10% admitting they wouldn’t be too confident on retaking their theory test.

Among those who felt unconfident about retaking a theory or practical test, a large number felt their highway code knowledge isn’t up to date (75%), as well as their knowledge of road signs (21%), and rules of the road (20%).

Among those who weren’t confident they would pass their theory or practical test, most felt bad driving habits (56%), nerves (34%), reversing manoeuvres (25%) would hold them back.

The M1's 65th birthday

The M1 celebrates its 65th birthday in November, we asked respondents to rate their experience of travelling along the UKs oldest motorway. Respondents poorly rated levels of congestion (60%), the amount of litter (47%), the number of and quality of service areas (37%), and road condition (33%).

Respondents felt more positively about road markings (39%) and signage (48%) on the M1, giving it a higher rating.

What to do in a breakdown

We then asked respondents to imagine their vehicle broke down on the following roads and what they would do:

1. A motorway
2. A smart motorway
3. A road or a dual carriage way

If broken down on a motorway, the majority of respondents (92%) would turn on the hazard warning lights, pull up on a hard shoulder (88%) or just pull over as quickly as possible (73%) and leave the vehicle and stay stood nearby (83%).

If broken down on a smart motorway, respondents would again turn on the hazard warning lights (85%), call a breakdown provider (82%) and leave the vehicle and stay stood nearby (76%) or pull into an emergency area (70%).

If broken down on an A road or on a dual carriageway, the majority of respondents (93%) would call a breakdown provider, turn on the hazard warning lights (89%), pull over as quickly as possible (75%) and leave the vehicle and stay stood nearby (75%).

Then we asked what respondents would do if they broke down on a country road, car park or on a town or city road. On a country road, respondents are more likely to call the breakdown provider (95%) and turn on the hazard warning lights (90%). As well as pull over as quickly as possible (69%) or find a layby (67%).

In a car park, respondents would call their breakdown provider (97%) and stay in the vehicle (61%). A third (31%) would call a family member/ friend or partner. If broken down on a town or city road, respondents would call their breakdown provider (95%), turn on the hazard warning lights (85%) and pull over as quickly as possible (66%).

Unauthorised car meets

Unauthorised car meets, or car cruises, are where drivers meet on the public highway or large public car parks to race or show their vehicles to others.

The majority of respondents have not noticed an increase in the number of car meets in their area in the last 12 months (72%), whilst 10% have.

Among those who have noticed an increase in the number of car meets in their area, most have noticed excess noise (80%), witnessed vehicle racing on the road (71%) along with lots of vehicles congregating in one area (62%). Three in five (61%) have also seen more cars/ people meet up at night (61%).

More than half have noticed tyre marks left in car parks (55%) and on the road (52%).

Only one in five have noticed more damage to the roads (26%) and an increase in crashes (22%).

Buying a used car

Four in five of those surveyed (88%) would feel more confident about buying a used car from a dealership that has been accredited by an independent organisation, such as Trading Standards, compared to a dealership that has not.

Headlights

We asked respondents when driving at night, how often they are blinded by oncoming headlights that are so bright that they struggle to see the road. Two in five (40%) stated that they often are blinded by oncoming headlights, whilst a similar proportion (41%) say sometimes, whilst one in ten (10%) say rarely/never.

Flooded roads

We then asked respondents, if the road ahead was completely covered by standing flood water, what are they most likely to do. A third of respondents (33%) are likely to turn around and go another way, particularly women (40%).

Two in five (21%), would drive through only if the kerb was still visible and fewer than that (16%) would check the depth and drive through if less than 10cm deep.

One in ten (10%) said they would just wait and see if anyone else drives through first and then follow them.

Buying motor insurance

When purchasing car insurance, respondents expect the following features to be included as standard: coverage for vehicle damage repair (87%), windscreen cover (84%), a courtesy car while repairs are carried out (71%), and the ability to drive other cars on a third-party basis (70%).

Additionally, about two in five respondents expect personal injury cover (69%), coverage for damage to third-party vehicles (66%), an uninsured driver promise or coverage (65%), personal injury cover for third parties (63%), and a hire car if their vehicle is stolen or written off (62%).

Around half of respondents also expect motor legal protection (58%), coverage for personal possessions in the vehicle (52%), protection for lost or stolen keys (51%), and coverage for audio and satellite navigation equipment (41%).

Finally, about one-third of respondents expect onward travel or hotel expenses after an accident (35%), insurance coverage while driving in Europe (27%), and breakdown assistance (25%). Respondents indicated a willingness to forgo certain car insurance features, with 61% willing to give up European driving coverage, 52% willing to forego breakdown assistance, 44% willing to forgo coverage for audio and satellite navigation equipment, and 43% willing to give up onward travel or hotel expenses after an accident.

Only about a third would be willing to give up coverage for personal possessions in the vehicle (37%), lost or stolen keys (36%), a courtesy car while theirs is being repaired (31%), or a hire car if theirs is stolen or written off (30%)

A smaller proportion would give up the ability to drive other cars on a third-party basis (25%), motor legal protection (21%), windscreen cover (17%), or personal injury cover for third parties (12%).

Most drivers search for insurance policies on price comparison websites (PCWs), with over half (68%) agreeing that these platforms should do more to help consumers understand the policies they are purchasing. Many find the same insurer or brand repeated multiple times in search results, making it challenging to understand why there are price differences between policies (60%) or to identify what sets the policies apart (57%). Additionally, 56% of those surveyed use PCWs to find the cheapest price and then haggle with their current insurance provider.

Two in five respondents (46%) admit they are sometimes unsure whether the product they’re purchasing provides the coverage they need, while one in five (22%) disagree.

Similarly, 43% believe that price comparison websites (PCWs) clearly show what is and isn’t included in each policy, though 20% disagree with this.

And lastly about a third (34%) feel it is unclear on PCWs which comprehensive policies include windscreen cover, whereas 21% do not share this concern.

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Yonder summary September 2024

The September AA-Yonder survey ran between 10 and 17 September 2024 and received 10,556 responses

Motoring costs

This month we asked panel members what they think is the best way to pay for roads in the future, as people adopt other forms of mobility (i.e. cycling, shared vehicles, public transport) and switch to electric cars.

According to more than a third of panel members (35%), the best way to pay for roads in the future is to retain fuel duty & VED (car tax) but introduce taxation for EVs either through electricity costs or pay per mile schemes.

One in five (19%) thought that we should keep the current system of fuel duty and car tax. One in ten (10%) think we should give every driver their first 3,000 miles free and then charge a price per mile to use the road network.

The majority of panel members think that the proportion of revenue raised from motoring taxes should be spent on the upkeep of roads (e.g. filling potholes, installing EV charging) (94%) and that any ‘'pay as you drive' scheme should be independently regulated so politicians cannot increase prices to suit their needs (82%).

Filling with fuel

When refuelling, three in five respondents re-fill completely (63%), whilst one in five (19%) say it varies each time and 15% put in a set amount each time.

We asked those who put in a set amount each time, how much they currently spend on refuelling compared to a year ago. On average, respondents currently spend around £34 on fuel, which is similar to the average amount spent least year at £33.

Remote car buying

When we asked our respondents if they'd ever bought a car remotely, a quarter indicated they have bought a car without seeing it in person first (24%), whilst seven in ten (71%) have never and would never do that.

We asked those that had bought a car without seeing it in person, what made them confident enough to do so. Two in five (44%) were reassured by the fact it came with a warranty and a similar proportion (43%) said it was from a well-known national dealership/platform.

Other reasons, include buying from a trusted dealership/platform (25%) they have purchased from before, and knowing that it would be easy to return if there were any issues (23%).

Autumn driving

We asked panel members what they dislike about driving in the autumn, seven in ten (73%) dislike the dazzle from the sun when it is low in sky, other drivers not using their lights properly (52%) and inconspicuous pedestrians/cyclists (50%).

Two in five drivers are not looking forward to driving in the darker mornings and evenings (40%), other cars with defective lights (39%) and also fog (38%).

When the weather gets even colder, respondents are not looking forward to having to defrost/scrape the windscreen/windows (37%).

Graduated driving licence

The AA supports the concept of Graduated Driver Licences (GDL), which essentially is made up of different rules for new and young drivers.

When asked about these proposed rules, a third (33%) indicated that new drivers should not be allowed to carry peer age passengers for the first 6 months after passing their test.

A quarter (24%) believe new drivers under 21 must display a ‘G’ plate for six months after passing their test, otherwise face a 3 point penalty.

Less than two in five (18%) agree that learner drivers should complete a 12 month minimum learning period with a mandatory logbook to ensure a wide range of driving experience before they pass their test.

A similar proportion (17%) think there should be no additional restrictions on new novice drivers.

Motoring offences

We then asked respondents whilst driving in the UK over the summer months of June to August, which, if any of the listed motoring offences did they receive a ticket for. The majority of respondents didn’t receive a fine for any of the offences asked about (88%) during the summer. Only 3% received one for parking or speeding.

Tired driving

We then asked respondents about any occasion where they have driven even though they were tired and asked them why they felt tired driving. A quarter said that this was due to a long/hard day at work (26%). Two in five (20%) said it was the monotony of the journey, a similar portion said they were trying to cover too much distance in one day (19%).

Other reasons include lack of sleep the night before (17%) and late night driving (17%).

We closed the survey by asking those who have driven when tired, how frequently they drive when feeling tired. Half (49%) said rarely, only a few times since passing their test. Whilst one in ten (12%) said very rarely, only about once since passing their test.

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Yonder summary August 2024

The August AA-Yonder survey ran between 13 and 20 August 2024 and received 11,469 responses

Roads policing

We opened our August survey by asking respondents to rate how likely or unlikely, on a scale from 1 (no chance at all) to 10 (certainly), they think it would be that a driver committing offences on roads in the area where they live, would be caught by a police officer in a police car/motorbike, and be punished.

Respondents weren’t confident that any of the offences listed would likely be caught and punished. With a mean average score of 5 given to drink driving, speeding, driving in a bus lane, driving without insurance or without vehicle excise duty or driving under a red ‘X’ on a smart motorway.

When it comes to policing of the roads, the majority (91%) believe that a more visible police presence would make local communities safer and roads safer. Currently, three in four (71%) don’t think there is a visible police presence on the local roads in their area, as well as on the main roads (65%) and motorways (43%).

Four in five (82%) believe more road police officers could help reduce wider crime such as vehicle theft, drug dealing and human tracking (82%), as a large proportion don’t think roads can be policed effectively by cameras alone (70%).

Connected cars

Cars are becoming increasingly ‘connected’, with intelligent systems and services connected to the internet. Connected services can do lots of things including enabling owners to access certain vehicle information remotely via an app or website.

We asked respondents, which information would be most beneficial for them to access remotely. According to AA panel members, the most beneficial features would be, early notifications of potential vehicle faults (51%), followed by tyre health (38%) and pressures (37%). As well as, reminders for Tax/MOT/Service (28%).

Driver priorities

We asked our panel to rank some driving based priorities in order of importance.

The top priority among drivers we asked, were to avoid a mechanical failure or breakdown (50%), reduce their insurance premium (26%) and to cut down on their fuel bill (11%).

Property Protection

Respondents were then asked what security measures they have taken to protect their home/car and/or possessions.

The most common type of security modification among AA panel members was security lighting, with two in five (39%) having them installed. A similar proportion have installed some sort of alarm system (30%) and changed the doors/windows to more secure alternatives (28%).

Next Vehicle fuel type

We asked respondents to think about their next car purchase and which fuel type they think, they will be most likely to purchase next. Almost a third (31%) think they will likely buy a petrol vehicle (31%). Over a quarter (27%) said they are likely to buy a hybrid vehicle and 13% are likely to buy a diesel vehicle. The proportion of respondents indicating their next car would be an electric vehicle was (7%).

Subscription car features

Car manufacturers are looking at introducing a subscription model to unlock ‘add on’ vehicle features. From entertainment options to enhanced navigation and hands-free driving. We asked respondents out of a given list, what would be the ‘add on’ features they are most reluctant to pay for as a monthly subscription.

Respondents are most reluctant to pay for a heated steering wheel (29%), hands free technology (27%) and heated seats (22%).

We then asked respondents whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement, “I oppose paying a monthly subscription fee to enhance the performance of my car and/or to access additional features”, four in five (79%) agreed with this statement.

Return to school/work

As the summer holidays come to end and people go back to school and work, we asked respondents what are the motoring issues that concern them the most.

The most concerning issues are further deterioration of the roads (71%), the cost of road fuel in general (47%), encountering roadworks (42%), and a hike in fuel duty in general (41%).

Late August Bank Holiday

We asked respondents if they are planning to drive on any of the following dates over the bank holiday.

Two in five planned to drive on Friday 23rd August, and Saturday 24th August (44% and 40%).

A third (36%) planned to drive on Sunday 25th August and Monday 26th August. Almost two in five (38%) planned to drive on Tuesday 27th August.

A further third (35%) shared that they had not planned to drive on any of the bank holiday dates.

Seatbelts

At present, not wearing a seatbelt carries a fixed penalty notice of £100 with no penalty points. We asked panel members whether penalty points should be introduced for people not wearing a seatbelt?

Three in five (60%) believe penalty points should be introduced for people not wearing seatbelts, whilst half of this (30%) believe there shouldn’t be.

Of those who believe penalty points should be introduced for not wearing a seatbelt, 74% think 3 points would be appropriate for not wearing a seatbelt, whilst 20% think 6 points would be appropriate.

Insurance renewal

Lastly, we then asked AA members, when receiving their car insurance renewal what they do. More than half (59%) use a price comparison website to shop around and see what else is out there, whilst two in four (44%) call their insurer to negotiate a better deal.

Three in ten (30%) accept it, if it’s not much higher than the year before. Whilst, one in five (22%) contact other insurers directly to find a better deal.

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Yonder summary July 2024

The July AA-Yonder survey ran between 8 and 16 July 2024 and received 9,839 responses

The Highway Code

Since the DVSA updated The Highway Code in 2022, we wanted to know how well our panel understood the changes. Reassuringly, the majority of our members demonstrated a sound understanding of The Highway Code in it's current form.

More than four in five (85%) correctly identified that when a motor vehicle and a cyclist are traveling in the same direction and the vehicle intends to turn into a side road, it must give right of way to the cyclist going straight before turning.

In addition, the majority identified correctly that there has been a minimum distance introduced for overtaking motorcyclists, cyclists, and horse riders (80%).

Over half of AA panel members (58%) knew a ‘hierarchy of responsibility’ was introduced in these changes. This is where road users who can cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to others.

Summer getaway

We next asked our panel some questions about summer driving. When asked what preparations they make before a summertime trip, AA panel members usually ensure they fill up on fuel (90%), check tyre conditions and age (81%) and check the windscreen washer fluid level (77%).

Three in five (68%) check the oil level and set their route via a route planner (64%).

We went to ask about driver's experiences during a log summer trip. For AA members, trips are often spoiled by heavy traffic on the way (56%) and on the way back (51%). No surprise that two in five (43%) have had their summer trip ruined by bad weather.

A third (33%) have faced the frustrating dilemma of not finding any parking . A few have had their trip ruined by overcrowding (28%), getting lost on the way (13%), breaking down (10%) and receiving a parking ticket (9%).

Next in this section, we asked "who would be your ideal companion for a driving holiday/road trip across Europe or the UK"?

From the options given, Sir David Attenborough was the preferred choice.

Finally for this segment of the survey, we asked what kind of behaviours our members had experienced whilst travelling in the summer.

The most seen behaviours in the summer months include playing loud music from a vehicle (85%), littering from a vehicle (78%) and front passengers putting their feet on the dashboard (63%).

Three in five of those surveyed (58%) have seen people get out of their vehicle in the middle of a traffic jam.

Just under half (48%) have seen people abandoning their cars at the side of the road due to a lack of parking spaces and a similar proportion have been picnicking in a layby (46%).

Road conditions

The most annoying issues concerning road conditions for AA panel members in their areas this time of the year was potholes which need filling (57%), followed by temporary roadworks with no visible progress (17%).

Additionally, one in ten respondents (11%) are frustrated by long grass blocking sightlines at junctions, and road signs obscured by foliage such as grass, branches, and leaves (10%).

Business Car Insurance

The majority of those we surveyed do not use their personal cars for business (80%), only one in five (19%) panel members reported using their personal vehicles for business purposes.

Among those who did, we inquired whether they included their business use and estimated mileage in their car insurance policies. Of these respondents, 75% confirmed that they did include this information.

Autonomous Cars

We then asked respondents about their attitudes towards fully autonomous vehicles. This is a car that can drive without any input from a human in all conditions.

An overwhelming majority (80%) feel uneasy about the prospect of travelling in a vehicle with no steering wheel, gearstick or pedal

Almost four in five (76%) wouldn’t feel at ease riding in an autonomous vehicle, and a similar proportion (74%) are worried about these vehicles operating alongside human drivers. Only 30% believe that advances in science and engineering will make autonomous vehicles safer than human drivers.

Despite these concerns, three in five (59%) believe that autonomous vehicles could provide independent transportation options for those who currently struggle to access it.

Driving School myths

There are many myths and legends passed down to people when they are learning to drive. So, we asked panel members to indicate which statements they believed to be true and false.

Most respondents stated correctly these statements to be false;

• You can be over the drink drive limit when you supervise a learner driver (91%)
• Learners can't get points on their licence (80%)
• You have to pass your theory test before you can start taking lessons (62%)
• There is a pass/fail quota for examiners (56%)
• You have to go down through the gears when slowing down to prevent wear and tear on your brakes (55%)

Respondents correctly thought these statements were most likely to be true;

• If you don't pass your practical test within two years of passing your theory test you'll have to take the theory again (75%)
• If you hit the kerb on your test it's an automatic fail (43%)

New Government motoring priorities

According to AA members, the top 3 motoring issues they feel will be resolved under the new Labour Government are, fixing potholes (43%), action on smart motorways (35%) and expansion of EV charging infrastructure (28%), as well as a review of the 20mph speed limit (28%).

Car buying

We rounded off the survey by asking some questions about car buying.

Firstly, we asked to what extent would high-quality photos advertising the inside and outside of a vehicle impact the likelihood of you buying a car online? Almost half (48%) said it would have no influence, being neither more or less likely to buy a car online. However, a third would be more likely to purchase online if there was high quality advertising (35%).

We then asked which vehicle features were important to our panel.

The most important car feature/accessory for a long summer getaway or road trip according to those we surveyed are, air conditioning (83%), USB charging points (43%) and Bluetooth connection for mobile phones (41%).

Finally we asked respondents if they have ever received financial support from or given financial support to family to buy a car.

Almost three in five (57%) have not received or given support to buy a car. A quarter (26%) have given their child financial support to buy a car. Less than two in five (17%), have received support from a parent.

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Yonder summary June 2024

The June AA-Yonder survey ran between 13 June and 1 July 2024 and received 11,279 responses

Driver mishaps

We opened June’s survey by asking AA panel members if they have ever mis-read a road sign and if so, what were the consequences (from a list of options). With over three-quarters admitting to having misread a road sign, over half said they have got into the wrong lane (60%) or taken a wrong direction (52%).

Just under a third (30%) reported they have become lost; this was higher among women (35%) and those newer to driving aged 18-24 (39%).

We went on to ask respondents, if they have ever driven over anything without realising it was there. A large proportion (86%) have driven through a pothole without realising.

Just over two in five (43%) have driven through standing water or a puddle and over a quarter (29%) through debris in the road and over or on a kerb (27%).

Around one in ten of AA panel members (8%) stated they have never driven over anything without realising it was there.

Smart motorway breakdowns

We then asked respondents to imagine their vehicle developed a fault, from a provided list, whilst travelling in lane 1 on a smart motorway (motorway with no continuous hard shoulder) and the action they would take depending on the fault.

From the list of faults provided, almost four in five reported they would stop in lane 1 for a total loss of power (77%), followed by smoke from the bonnet (47%) and a tyre blow out (45%).

A large majority would continue until they find an emergency area (EA) if a red warning light came on (72%), noises from under the vehicle (63%), the steering wheel shaking (61%). With half seeking an EA for smoke from the exhaust (50%).

Over a third of AA Panel members would continue to the next exit / motorway service area if the driver window was stuck down (50%), for an amber warning light (46%), if the windscreen wiper failed (38%) or if there was smoke from the exhaust (33%).

E-scooters

Last month’s survey revealed that moderate to high level of e-scooters are used on roads and pathways. AA Panel Members were asked their personal usage of these vehicles; the majority (72%) stated there is absolutely no way they would ever use an e-scooter. This was higher among females (76%) and those aged over 65 (81%).

A quarter (24%) would be willing to try an E-scooter, but hadn't actually been on one, while a very small minority of respondents have actually tried an e-scooter (2% from a hire scheme and 1% have tried a private e-scooter).

Car Purchase decisions

We then asked respondents if they had the full amount of money for a car available, how they would pay for the vehicle. Four in five (79%) would pay the full amount up front. Less than one in ten would pay a deposit up front and the rest on finance (3% would pay a 25% deposit or a 50% deposit. 2% would pay a 75% deposit or pay the full amount on finance).

When asked about their car purchasing plans, 82% said they are not looking to buy a car. Only 6% are actively looking to buy one. Meanwhile, 4% want to buy a car but have delayed for up to a year, 3% have delayed for one to two years, and 5% have delayed for over two years.

Driving instructor training

The next section explored driving instructor training, as over the last few years many people have reconsidered their future goals and careers. Interest in driving tuition has increased as people are looking to retrain as driving instructors.

We asked respondents how much they thought it costs to train to become a driving instructor. On average, panel members believed it costs £5,000 to train, however only one in ten were correct in stating between £1,001 and £2000 (9%) with the actual costs being £1,499.

We then asked how long they think it takes to train to become a driving instructor. On average, panel members believed it took around 8 months. However, you could be earning as a trainee instructor from 3 months. A third believed it took 4-6 months (34%) and a quarter (26%) believed it took 1-3 months.

L and P Plates

The last section of the survey investigated attitudes towards cars who displayed L and P plates.

An L plate indicates a learner driver is under supervision. Nine in ten agreed they leave more space in front if they are following a car being driven by someone learning to drive (89%).

Two thirds also agreed they would be more likely to give way to a learner car (67%) particularly older drivers over 65 (72%).

Three in ten (30%) agreed they would avoid parking next to a learner car. While a quarter would be more likely to overtake a learner car (25%).

The majority would not tailgate new drivers (89%). Whilst over three in five would not get impatient with them (64%) or change their route to avoid them (62%).

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Yonder summary May 2024

Our May survey ran between 21 and 29 May 2024 and received 13,469 responses

Motorway service stations

We opened May’s survey by asking AA panel members about their favourite motorway service station. The most mentioned service station was Tebay services on the M6 in Cumbria. Other frequently mentioned service stations were Warwick services on the M40, Gloucester services on the M5, Norton Canes Services (M6), Taunton Deane services (M5) and Killington Lake services on the M6.

When asked to imagine driving and the next service station coming up was one respondents disliked, one quarter (23%) would deliberately drive past this service station to get to a more preferable one if they or someone else in the car was hungry. One in five (19%) would drive past if they are someone else was thirsty or if they or someone else needed the toilet (18%).

Fuel savings

With the transition from winter to spring motoring, cars should become more fuel-efficient. Warmer starts and less use of wipers, heaters and lights puts less demand on the engine and therefore reduces fuel consumption. We asked AA panel members whether they had noticed a difference in fuel consumption.

A quarter of respondents (24%) said they don’t or cant measure the fuel consumption of their car so wouldn’t know if their car is more fuel efficient. A similar proportion (26%), said that spring motoring isn’t having any noticeable impact on their fuel consumption. A small few of those surveyed have noticed an impact - gaining extra miles per gallon from spring motoring (13%).

Private Parking Notices

We then asked respondents, if in the last 12 months, they have received a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from a private parking company (e.g. ParkingEye, NCP, Euro Parking).

Of those that did receive a PCN from a private parking company, more than a quarter (27%) said they knew they were in the wrong, so paid it straight away. A similar proportion (23%) said they successfully appealed at the first stage.

Over one in then (11%) respondents said they weren’t sure if they were in the wrong but ended up paying the fine anyway.

Littering

This section asked respondents about the amount of litter on the roads and surrounding areas they have encountered lately.

Worryingly, half of those surveyed (52%) said they are noticing more litter on British streets. Two in four (39%) said they have seen no difference in the amount of litter.

Respondents from the East and West Midlands, have noticed significantly more litter (56%) when compared to other regions in the UK.

Littering from vehicles is a serious issue but can be difficult to prosecute if a local authority can't identify the individual responsible. Six years ago local councils were given powers to issue a civil penalty notice to the vehicle's registered keeper even though the keeper may not have thrown the litter and, indeed, may not have been driving at the time.

Three fifths think it is unfair that the registered keeper is not able to name the passenger or driver (if someone else is driving) responsible for throwing the litter so that the right person gets the fine (61% and 60%, respectively).

When asked if companies should pay the penalty rather than individuals in cases where litter is branded and the company can be identified (e.g. burger, chicken, coffee chains etc), almost a quarter (22%) think companies should be fined.

Summer event travel

We then asked respondents if they are considering attending any events this summer such as the Euros in Germany, Olympics in Paris, Glastonbury and Wimbledon etc. The majority of those asked were not considering attending any event or weren’t sure yet (84% ).

Of those that are considering attending any of the listed summer events, the main mode of transport to get there will be via car (71%). One in five plan to travel by train (18%).

Car Purchase Overspend

When it came to purchasing or leasing a new car, the majority of respondents have never overspent what they intended to and stuck within their budget (78%). Almost a quarter (22%) said they had leased or bought a car that was more expensive than what they originally intended.

We then asked those who did overspend what the reason for overspending was. A third (34%), were motivated by the cars unique features. For some it was their dream car (19%) and for others it was some retail therapy – to cheer themselves up (12%).

E-scooters

We ended our May survey with a number question on E-scooters

Following the Government's recent decision to extend the trial of e-scooters hire schemes for a further two years, we asked AA panel members how often they encounter e-scooters when driving and when walking on the pavements.

Over half our panel indicated they encounter E-scooters on the road, with almost a fifth (18%) saying the encounters were regular.

When walking on pavements, almost two-thirds of our members said they encounter E-scooters, with over a fifth (21%) saying the encounters were regular.

We then asked respondents how they felt about e-scooters on British roads and pavements. Two in five were initially concerned by the presence of e-scooters on the road (42%) and pavements (41%) and remain so.

A similar proportion (41%) are adamantly against their use on pavements especially when compared to roads (38%).

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Yonder summary April 2024

Our April survey ran between 15 and 23 April 2024 and received 13,836 responses

Auto vs Manual

We opened April’s survey by asking AA panel members about their thoughts on automatic cars.

A third of AA panel members (34%) find automatic cars much easier to drive and almost a quarter (23%) said that their next car would be an automatic car. Despite this, one in ten (11%) would never consider buying an automatic car.

When it came to safety, a larger proportion of respondents felt safer driving a manual car (21%) in comparison to an automatic car (10%).

Those living in London (29%) and Northern Ireland (31%) were more likely than the average to buy an automatic car as their next car.

Personal finance

We then asked respondents some questions about credit ratings.

Almost two-fifths (37%) have never had a problem with having a poor credit rating, a third revealed they don’t know what their current credit rating is (32%).

One in ten (10%) shared their credit rating has gotten better in the last year, whereas only a small proportion of those surveyed (2%) has said their credit rating has gotten worse in the last year due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Tyre age

It’s important for drivers to know the age of the tyres, as over time car tyres can wear out and will eventually need changing. In order to find out the age of tyres, you must look at the 4 digit number code on the tyre. The first pair of numbers is the week of manufacture, and the second pair of numbers is the year of manufacture.

We then asked respondents if they knew where to find the build date of a vehicle’s tyres. Half of the drivers (53%) surveyed said they expect to find it somewhere on the tyre.

Over one in ten (13%) would expect this to be checked as part of a MoT, or would rely on their garage to tell them (8%).

Driving in mainland Europe

This section asked respondents about driving abroad.

Before setting off abroad, the majority of respondents (82%) agreed that it is important to check the local rules of the road before going abroad to reduce the risk of a fine/accident.

Almost half (48%) of the drivers we surveyed agreed that they are confident driving in a foreign country, whereas a third (31%) avoid driving abroad.

We then asked respondents about driving into mainland Europe and how they would prefer to travel if they were to take their own car with them. More than a third (35%) would not consider taking their car out of the UK, particularly women (41%) and those aged 65+ (42%).

We asked respondents about their experiences of driving their own vehicle in Mainland Europe. Of those that have driven in Europe previously, three in ten (30%) are generally confident driving in Europe.

More than a quarter think that the roads are in a much better condition in comparison to the roads in the UK (26%).

Zero alcohol drinks

There has been a significant growth in the zero/low alcohol sector, with more alcohol free versions available for popular alcoholic drinks. Amongst AA panel members, a considerable proportion (61%) would choose a soft/hot drink over a zero-alcohol free version of an alcoholic drink option.

Despite this, a third (33%) already consume alcohol free drinks when they’re the designated driver or take alcohol free drinks with them when driving to see family and friends (28%).

A further third (33%) have alcohol free drinks at home for themselves and guests and a similar proportion said they sometimes choose to have an alcohol-free drink even when having the freedom to have alcohol (32%).

The most popular places to have tried alcohol free beer was at a pub/bar (57%), followed by in their own home (50%). A quarter (26%) tried it at a family/friend’s house.

When it came to driving, the majority of respondents (83%) agreed that with the wide range of zero alcohol drinks available, there should be no excuse for drink driving.

In car entertainment preferences

When driving alone, respondents listen to DAB radio (51%) or their own playlists and albums (39%) to enhance their driving experience. Less than a third listen to analogue radio (31%) and one fifth (21%) listen to their own device through car infotainment.

We then asked respondents about what they do when listening to the music/radio, almost half turn it down to concentrate (48%), less than a third turn it down to park (31%). Less than one-fifth turn it down when close to home (18%).

Parking preferences

We then asked drivers about their parking preferences. We gave respondents a list of different parking spaces and most respondents said they are happy to park in the following places:

• A parking space where you have to reverse park/drive out (87%)
• A parking space where you have to forward park/reverse exit (84%)
• A town centre multi-story car park where you need to navigate tight spaces (ramps, pillars etc) (77%)
• A street where you need to parallel park (77%)

More than two-fifths are happy to park on a street where you have to park in heavy traffic condition(43%), but a similar proportion would try to find an alternative (46%).

Climate control preferences

To finish off this month’s survey, we asked respondents about the temperature they have in their car during the different seasons.

In the spring / summer months, almost two-fifths (39%) keep their car temperature between 16-20 degrees. Less than this keep it at lower temperatures of around 5-10 degrees (16%) or 11-15 degrees (15%).

Around the autumn / winter months, a similar proportion (41%) keep their car temperature between 16-20 degrees and a under a third (31%) keep it at 21-25 degrees.

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Yonder summary March 2024

We ran our March survey between 11 and 18 March 2024 and we received 12,723 responses.

Reasons for learning to drive

We opened our March motoring survey by asking our members who drive what their primary motivation was to learn.

Gaining more independence and not relying on others for a lift was the main reason for two in five (42%) of those surveyed.

This reason was particularly high amongst women when compared to men (55% vs 36% of men) and younger respondents aged 18-24 and 25-34 (51%).

Almost one in five (17%) learnt to drive because they love cars and enjoy driving and a similar proportion (16%) believe learning to drive felt like a rite of passage they had to go through.

We then asked what may have delayed respondents learning to drive as soon as they were old enough, more than a quarter were delayed due to financial reasons (27%), this included cost of lessons, costs of buying and running a car.

Think Bikes

Next we asked our driving panel to select from a list of options, the statements that best described their experiences with cyclists and motorcycles on the road.

The majority of respondents (97%) always try to give cyclists plenty of room when passing them. Respondents also agreed that cyclists (95%) and motorcyclists (93%) are vulnerable road users and they always give them space when driving.

Nine in ten respondents said they always look out for cyclists (92%) and motorcyclists (89%), despite being hard to see sometimes - in particular cyclists (89%).

Seven in ten of those surveyed believe cyclists are inconsiderate (68%) and are often surprised when a cyclist (64%) or motorcyclist (60%) appears from nowhere. The drivers we surveyed felt motorcyclists were more considerate in comparison to cyclists, with only two-fifths (38%) believing motorcyclists were inconsiderate.

Half of our respondents who drive said large groups of cyclists make them nervous, and 15% admitted to losing their temper and shouting or using hand gestures at a cyclist.

However, two in ten reported that a cyclist had lost their temper with them (20%).

Parking

We asked respondents if in the last 12 months, if their car has been damaged whilst parked in a car park. Half of those surveyed (51%) said their car has never been damaged in a car park, whilst two-fifths (42%) said they have found a dent or scratch on their car caused by someone else in a car park.

When it came to the topic of parking in places where one is not entitled to park, over a quarter (26%) revealed they have parked on a double yellow line when they were not supposed to. One in ten drivers we asked revealed parking in a residents parking bay (12%) and in a family/child bay (11%).

The government is considering making changes to the rules around pavement parking in England, we asked respondents what they think is the best way to resolve the problem of parking on pavements.

One in five (20%) think there should be a national ban pavement parking across England similar to the one that is currently applied in London. Fewer than this (16%) don’t think there should be a national ban, but allow council traffic wardens to fine for "unnecessary obstruction of the pavement" to tackle the worst cases of pavement parking.

Almost three in ten (27%), said there should be a nationwide ban on pavement parking, but get councils to carry street by street assessments.

A quarter (24%) thought there should be no national ban but allow individual councils to decide how and where to implement pavement parking restrictions.

Haggling for a used car

Next we asked respondents how they feel about haggling with a dealer over the price of a used car. A third said (31%) they always haggle, Whereas, one in ten (10%) don’t feel confident haggling.

One in seven (14%) said they would haggle only if they felt that the car was overpriced and believed that dealers should always be open to negotiating prices (14%).

May Bank Holidays

We asked AA members about their driving plans for the upcoming May Bank holidays and whether they plan to drive for numerous reasons listed, including to see family or friends, or driving to the coast or countryside or into town or the city centre. Of those who do plan to travel over the May bank holidays.

On Sunday 5th May, a quarter (24%) are planning to visit friends or relatives and 10% are planning to drive to the coast or countryside for leisure.

Two-fifths (19%) are planning to visit family and friends on Monday 6th of May, while three fifths (63%) where planning on going somewhere either not on the list, or they were undecided as to the destination.

Two-fifths (20%) are planning to drive to see family and friends on Sunday the 26th, whilst fewer (16%) will drive for the same reason on Monday the 27th.

Vehicle servicing

We asked our panel who drive a number of questions around car servicing and how important they feel it is, and how they go about getting it done.

The majority of respondents agreed their car is important to them, so getting it serviced at the correct time / mileage interval is important for peace of mind (83%).

Three in five (67%) AA panel members think it’s best to get their cars’ MOT and service done at the same time so that any faults are easily dealt with – with half actually doing so annually (47%).

Despite this, for some respondents it could be quite expensive to do both at the same time. As two in five (37%) think that keeping the MOT and the servicing separate helps to spread the costs of running a car.

Annoying driver behaviours

We rounded off the March 2024 survey by asking our members which behaviours they considered to be getting worse or improving.

Around half of AA panel members felt that most of the driving behaviours we asked them about were actually getting worse:

1. Tailgating (55%)
2. Speeding (53%)
3. Middle lane hogging (52%)
4. Overtaking on the left/inside (51%)
5. Road rage (46%)
6. Mobile phone use (44%)

Middle lane hogging and speeding were seen to be getting a lot worse according to three in ten respondents we asked.

In terms of improvement, almost two-fifths (17%) thought mobile phone use was the only behaviour to be improving.

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Yonder summary February 2024

We ran our members survey between 12 and 21 February 2024 and we received 12,432 responses.

Dazzle from traffic lights

In December, asked a question about drivers being blinded by vehicle head and brake lights (dazzling). Some members contacted us to say that they had been dazzled by traffic lights. So we opened this month’s survey asking panel members and drivers if this has happened to them.

Almost a third (31%) of those polled, said that they had experienced dazzling from traffic lights. Those aged 18-24 and 25-34 in particular, recall having been dazzled by traffic lights with two-fifths having experienced this (40% and 39%, respectively).

Home Insurance status

Next, we asked respondents about their home ownership status. The majority of those surveyed (81%) own their home outright or with a mortgage. We then asked all those who either own their home or who are renting, what kind of home insurance policy they have.

Overall, four in five (81%) have a buildings and contents insurance policy. This is highest amongst those aged 55-64 and 65+ (82% and 85%, respectively) and those who live in Northern Ireland (88%).

In London, the percentage of those with a buildings and contents insurance policy is notably lower compared to other regions, standing at 71%.

One in ten (10%) have a contents-only insurance policy, whilst fewer than this don’t have any type of home insurance (4%).

Automatic to manual driving tests

In the UK there are separate driving tests for automatic and manual cars. Learners who pass in automatics are not allowed to drive a manual car unless they take the whole test again in a manual vehicle (not including the theory). Learners who pass their test in a manual are allowed to drive automatics with no further testing. Electric vehicles have automatic transmissions, therefore anyone who chooses to learn and take their test in an EV takes the automatic driving test by default so cannot drive a manual car.

We asked our members if they thought this system should be updated

Half of those surveyed (50%) agree that learners who pass in an EV/ automatic should still have to take the full manual test if they want to drive a manual car.

Two in five (40%) agree there should be a short “bolt-on” test option to upgrade an automatic licence to a manual one if you pass in an EV.

Only a few respondents think there should be a scheme like “Pass Plus”, which does not have a test at the end but qualifies EV/automatic drivers to drive a manual car (7%).

Road casualty statistics

We asked our panel what they thought were the top three contributing factors for all casualties caused on Great British roads in 2022.

Travelling too fast for the conditions (76%) was the top reason chosen by respondents, followed by drivers using their mobile phones (42%). A driver/rider error or reaction (39%) and drivers behaviour or inexperience (39%) were the third top reasons given for casualties.

In fact, the top three contributory factors for casualties caused on Great British roads in 2022 were:

• Driver/Rider error or reaction
• Driver/Rider failed to look properly
• Behaviour or inexperience

Vehicle repairs and consumer rights

We asked our members if they had a problem with a used car in the first six months after purchase, which reasons, from a given list, would they consider going to the car dealership they bought it from to resolve.

Over half (52%) said they would would always go to the dealer, even for a small fault.

Almost a fifth (19%) said they would only return to the supplying dealer if the fault occurred within the first few months, and 15% of our respondents said they would only go to the dealer if it was a major fault.

Our members were then shown a list of considerations regarding dealerships, and asked which, if any, applied to them.

More than two-fifths (44%) of AA panel members indicated they would feel more confident buying a car from a dealership that is transparent about its complaint procedures. Whereas, over a fifth (22%) wouldn’t even think about a dealership's complaints procedures before purchasing.

Close to a quarter of respondents said they understand their consumer rights regarding issues when purchasing a car.

Driver frustrations

Respondents were then asked what driver behaviours they found to be the most annoying.

Driving with full beam lights on when passing other cars was the most annoying (89%), followed by drivers not pulling over for an emergency vehicle (86%) and then not stopping at pedestrian crossings (85%) and not using their indicators (85%).

We went on to ask what were the most irritating behaviours they encountered from other drivers whilst driving. The results were:

1. Tailgating (driving too close to the car in front) (34%)
2. Middle lane hogging (unnecessarily sitting in the middle lane of the motorway) (18%)
3. Talking on the mobile phone while driving (17%)

Easter travel

We next asked our members about their travel plans over the Easter holiday weekend.

About half of those asked (49%) didn't plan to travel on Good Friday. However, a quarter (25%) had plans to drive somewhere but have not decided where, and 13% are planning to drive to visit friends or relatives.

Similarly, on Saturday the 30th of March, two-fifths (44%) said they wouldn't be driving and just over a quarter (26%) will drive somewhere but are undecided and 13% will drive to visit friends or relatives.

On Easter Sunday, half (52%) don’t have any plans to drive. Of those that do, almost a quarter (23%) have not yet decided where they will go and 16% will drive to visit friends or relatives.

On Easter Monday, similar to the above, half wouldn't be driving (52%). More than a quarter (26%) of those who do plan to drive have not yet decided where and 11% will drive to visit friends or relatives.

Local elections

Turnout for local elections is typically 35.9% in England, as opposed to 67.3% in general elections. We asked our members about their local election voting behaviour.

The majority of those surveyed regularly vote in local elections, with almost four in five (78%) doing so.

Only 12% of respondents we asked said they rarely vote and 6% never vote in local elections.

Some local issues such as schools, hospitals and transport may individually have greater influence on local elections in specific areas. We asked those who rarely/never vote in local elections if they would be inspired to vote in a local election by specific issues impacting drivers.

Issues regarding the condition of roads (e.g. potholes) would inspire almost three in four to vote in a local election (69%). And the cost of parking in public car parks would inspire two in five to vote (42%) in a local election.

Residential parking costs

We wrapped up the February survey by presenting some statements about how the amount residents pay for parking permits should be decided, and asked which our members agreed with most.

Three in five (63%) respondents agree that residents' parking charges should only reflect the actual cost of providing and enforcing a Controlled Parking Zone, and more than half think that mileage (56%) and CO2 emissions (55%) should not be the basis on which the cost of a resident's parking permit is decided.

Half of those we surveyed (53%) agree that the cost of multiple parking permits should be the same for each vehicle in households with multiple vehicles.

A similar proportion (53%) think the length of the vehicle should be taken into account when deciding the cost of a parking permit.

A third (32%) agreed that the weight of a vehicle should be taken into account when deciding the cost of a parking permit, however, a similar proportion disagreed with this (33%).

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Yonder summary January 2024

We ran our members survey between 11 and 23 January 2024 and we received 11,983 responses.

Buying used cars

We started this month's survey by asking AA Panel members and drivers if they knew the definition of a list of words, they might find in a car finance application.

Respondents felt they knew what was meant by deposit (99%), personal loan (98%), credit check (98%), credit score (95%) and hire purchase (94%). Balloon payment (69%), loan to value (57%) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVA) (52%) were less understood in comparison.

With the prices of electrical vehicles falling up to 13% in 2023, we asked if and how this would affect members decisions to buy a second-hand EV. Almost two-thirds (59%) said they have no intention of buying one.

• Of those who did, 16% would likely buy a used EV in the next 5 years if this trend continues.
• Less than one in ten (9%) would hold off buying an EV in case prices continue to fall.
• A similar proportion would buy a new one instead of a used one if they were to buy an EV (9%).

Moving Home 2024

The majority of those we surveyed (88%) are not planning to move home in 2024. Only 6% revealed that they are planning to move.

A garden (14%), off-street parking (13%), a garage (9%) and local amenities nearby (9%) are considered the top ‘must haves’ for those who are planning to move houses this year.

2024 Holiday Plans

One-third of those we surveyed (34%) said they are planning to have a holiday in the UK and plan to drive. Fewer than this (30%) said they are currently thinking about a trip within the UK but haven’t planned it.

One-fifth (20%) are planning to go somewhere in Europe but will not be driving their own vehicle there, whilst 19% are thinking about a trip to somewhere in Europe, but have nothing planned as yet.

Just over one in ten of those surveyed (13%) said they’re not having a holiday this year.

Helping Distressed Road Users

More people than usual are likely to experience mental health issues at this time of the year. We asked respondents what they would do if they encountered someone in distress at the side of the road.

More than a quarter (26%) would intervene by calling the emergency services and then approach with caution and offer assistance.

One-fifth (20%) said they would approach and offer assistance only and not call emergency services.

Men were more likely than women to not get the emergency services involved (21% vs 17% of women).

A similar proportion (19%) would call the emergency services immediately and wait for assistance to arrive without approaching, whereas, one in ten (10%) would just call the emergency services to alert them and not wait around.

Spare Tyres

Many vehicle manufacturers now include a tyre repair/inflation kit with their vehicles instead of a spare wheel. It seems having a spare wheel is quite important amongst AA panel members and drivers.

Almost half (49%) stated they would pay extra to have a spare wheel if one wasn’t included as standard.

Men were more likely to pay extra for this when compared to women (53% vs 39% of women).

Just over a third (35%) would hesitate to buy a car that didn’t have a spare wheel – men in particular, with 38% saying they would hesitate.

AA members and drivers don’t feel too confident using a tyre repair/inflation kit, with only 18% saying they would feel fine with a tyre inflation kit instead of a spare wheel, compared to 35% who said they wouldn’t feel confident using this type of kit.

Confidence was quite low amongst women, as under half (46%) of the women surveyed revealed they wouldn’t feel confident in using a tyre repair/inflation kit.

We then asked respondents if their vehicle has any tools to help them repair a punctured tyre. A third (32%) said they had a full-size spare in their car, 29% said they had a repair/inflation kit and 27% said they have a space saver wheel.

Driving Through Floods

As the UK has seen an increase in heavy flooding, we asked drivers what they would do if the road ahead was completely covered by standing flood water.

• A third (34%) said they are most likely to turn around and go another way.
• One-fifth (19%) said they would drive through only if the kerbs were still visible.
• Less than a fifth, (17%) would check the depth and drive through if less than 10cm deep.
• Whilst one in ten (11%) would wait and see if anyone else drives through first and follow them.

Insurance Premium Tax

In the budget planned for 6th March, the Chancellor may announce an increase in the standard rate of insurance premium tax (IPT). The standard rate of IPT is currently 12%.

We asked respondents which statements they think are true or false:

The majority thought (96%) thought ‘IPT is currently levied on car insurance’ to be true. Just under nine in ten (88%) also thought 'IPT is currently levied on home insurance or travel insurance' (86%) to be true.

Half (55%) thought IPT being currently levied on breakdown cover to be false and about a third thought it being levied on life insurance was also false.

More than three quarters (78%) of respondents agreed that increasing the cost of essential insurance is unfair. 80% agreed that it would encourage more people to drive uninsured.

More than half (56%) think IPT should be cut in the budget, and more than a third (36%) believe IPT should not be applied for newly qualified drivers for the first two years of driving to make insurance more affordable for them.

General Election 2024

We then asked respondents to what extent transport and motoring-related policies influence them when considering voting in a general election.

Almost half (46%) of AA Panel members and drivers don’t consider transport motoring policies when deciding who to vote for.

However, a quarter (24%) said transport and motoring policies are in their top ten of issues.

Almost a third (31%) of those surveyed thought increased spending on local road maintenance (e.g. fewer potholes and better markings within residential areas) should be the government's top priority when it comes to motoring, followed by maintenance of major roads (22%).

With a general election to happen this year, more than two-thirds (69%) are concerned that motoring taxes (VED, fuel duty) will increase. The same proportion (69%) are concerned that motoring costs (road pricing, tolls, fuel, parking) will also increase following the election result.

And lastly, given that there is a lot of concern amongst drivers about increases in costs, we asked them which ideas affecting drivers would they consider to be good or bad.

Good ideas according to AA panel members and drivers are:

• Installing more Emergency Areas to motorways without hard shoulders (86%)
• Tougher sentences for offences such as causing death by dangerous driving (84%)
• Scrap existing All Lane Running smart motorways and reintroduce the hard shoulder (81%)
• Compulsory eyesight tests for drivers over 70 applying to renew a driving licence (76%)
• Introducing a graduated driving licence for newly qualified drivers (e.g. limiting the number of passengers for a certain period once they pass their test) (72%)
• Tougher penalties for traffic offences (e.g. speeding, drink driving) (68%)
• More traffic police (67%)

Bad ideas according to AA panel members and drivers included:

• Increased taxation on petrol and diesel vehicles (87%)
• Allowing the use of fully autonomous cars on public roads (driverless cars) (76%)
• Expanding the use of partially autonomous cars on public roads (66%)
• Charge drivers for using older/ more polluting vehicles in urban areas (57%)
• Prioritise rail and bus services over road improvements (50%)

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