We claim to be patient with inexperienced drivers – but practice suggests otherwise

This is the focus of the Magyar Suzuki “Together on the Road – You Were Also a Beginner Driver” campaign It is mainly drivers living in Budapest and large cities who sit behind the wheel less frequently, so they are often the ones who associate anxiety and fear with driving, according to Magyar Suzuki’s representative survey . While it seems – based on the survey responses – that attitudes of the Hungarian motoring community towards beginner or inexperienced drivers are patient and supportive, according to a traffic psychologist, everyday experiences suggest otherwise.

Higher rate of uncertainty among drivers in Budapest and large cities
In Magyar Suzuki’s “Together on the Road” road-safety campaign, every year the focus is on a different traffic problem. This year, the spotlight is on inexperienced and beginner drivers. It is generally thought that society should be much more understanding towards them. However, at the start of the campaign, it is important to understand the attitudes of experienced drivers when encountering a car marked with an “L” plate, and why driving often involves negative emotions for inexperienced drivers.

The research revealed that among those who drive less frequently, the proportion of women and Budapest residents is higher, as well as those who have only been driving for a few years. Driving less frequently is mostly due to the more convenient public transportation (26%) or not being busy enough to need to drive (26%). One in five respondents does not own a car, and one in ten licensed drivers feels anxious about driving. Ten percent of the participants said they don’t drive more often because they consider themselves inexperienced, while six percent said their environment doesn’t allow them to drive.

Learning in the countryside, then driving in a big city
The question is, why is anxiety or fear associated with driving? The reasons include inexperience (68%), bad experiences when learning how to drive (21%), having been involved in an accident (15%), poor health (14%), and the need to pay attention to children while driving as a parent (12%). Another reason mentioned was learning to drive in the countryside but having to navigate in a big city (5%). Nearly half of the inexperienced drivers would benefit from less traffic (45%), while the other half would find the help of a professional instructor (36%) or psychologist (28%) most useful. Some mentioned that they need to be in better physical condition (14%), and a supportive environment would also help (11%). Other respondents couldn’t specifically identify what negative feelings hinder carefree driving (12%).

“L” plates cause nervousness
The research indicates that most drivers have a neutral or positive attitude towards uncertain drivers. Supportive or patient behaviour is more typical among women, the older generation, and those living in smaller towns. Those who become nervous about cars bearing “L” plates or uncertain drivers feel that these participants hold up traffic (64%) or don’t know how to handle the uncertainty (26%). Compared to residents of other places, Budapest inhabitants offer less empathy (indifference: 24%), while drivers in smaller towns and villages are generally more supportive (should be supported: 74% in towns, 77% in villages). Experienced drivers who get nervous when seeing an inexperienced driver suggest that these drivers should only go on the road after gaining more experience or taking extra lessons in closed-off areas. However, one in four experienced drivers believes not everyone needs to drive, and nearly the same proportion thinks that nothing could change their opinion about learner or uncertain drivers.

How sincere were the respondents?
According to the traffic psychologist, the urban environment, increased traffic, and routine are all key disruptive factors that generate constant stress and tension among drivers.

"We tend to conceal objectively aggressive behavior during a survey. Negative behavior towards learners falls into this category. The respondents in the study did not highlight their own responsibility at all; instead, they mentioned the learners' uncertain abilities and mostly blamed the other party. This indirectly implies that they do not see themselves as impatient or only see themselves as slightly impatient, considering their own driving style as the standard to which beginners have not yet adapted. A typical conflict in road traffic is the perpetual opposition between those who strictly adhere to speed limits and those who drive 'in the rhythm of the traffic,'" responded traffic psychologist Dávid Zerkovitz to the study.