MOTORISTS STRUGGLE BEHIND THE WHEEL FOLLOWING LOCKDOWN

After nearly three months of a pandemic lockdown, studies in the United Kingdom are finding many motorists, on both sides of the pond, struggle behind the wheel after returning to the driver’s seat. These studies are finding 1-in-5 drivers are having a tough time reclaiming their driving skills after being off the road as a result of the pandemic lockdown.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Before the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, motorists used to average nearly 600 miles per month. It could have been the daily commute to work or school, picking up and dropping off the kids, or even a cross-country weekend road trip. The road warriors here at Napleton.news probably average more. After the lockdown, drives have been generally limited to around 90 miles during a four week period. These were typically a run to the big box store to stock up on the world’s largest pack of toilet paper and a fifty-gallon drum of hand sanitizer. As an aside, 30-percent of respondent drivers admitted they drove 25 miles or less in a month.

A GAME OF STATISTICS

As restrictions are being lifted, a study found approximately 18-percent of motorists struggle behind the wheel once they return. In the UK, where many cars are equipped with manual transmissions, a third of the drivers admitted to stalling their vehicles. Twenty-one percent have forgotten to use their turn indicators, and another 21-percent have sheepishly admitted to curbing their wheels (scratching wheels against the curb) while attempting to parallel park.

Other statistics: Almost 40-percent admitted that they haven’t filled up their tanks in the past month nor serviced their vehicles as needed. Still, another 12-percent have said they have forgotten which side the fuel-filler door is located.

TOP 10 DRIVING ERRORS SINCE LOCKDOWN

• Stalling the car
• Struggling to parallel park
• Forgot to use turn indicator
• Scraped wheels on curb
• Had to think about what each pedal does
• Not checking rear and sideview mirrors when pulling away
• Forgot where filler cap was
• Forgot to turn ignition key
• Not shutting the door properly
• Not putting on seatbelt

The survey, conducted by Hyundai UK, found that half of the motorists questioned were concerned about being out of practice. It was commissioned as a result of police reports expressing shock over the bad driving skills on display during the lockdown.

For those who need their skills refreshed, vehicles in the Hyundai lineup have driver assists like Hyundai Smartsense, which offer features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Assist. For everyone else, it’s good to know your car is equipped with the latest in driver-assist technologies. These features are available now on many of the brands sold by Napleton Auto Group Dealerships. Find the dealership near you and stop in to find out about the latest technologies and deals today!