Good drivers tend to pay less for their car insurance than bad drivers. They have fewer accidents and on average live longer. Companies such as Endsleigh recognise this. So what makes a good driver? No doubt you believe that you are a good driver already. The majority of drivers consider that they are better drivers than average, which is, to say the least, a little convoluted. The problem is that many drivers who consider their selves to be good drivers are very bad drivers. At least drivers who consider that they are not very good know enough to recognise their limitations and adjust their driving habits accordingly, possibly becoming quite good drivers in the process. Bad drivers who think they are good are just plain dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

There are six attributes that good drivers share. These are skill, anticipation, concentration, self discipline, knowledge and attitude. Each one of them can be worked on and improved.

Here are some of the major contributors to road traffic accidents:

• Not looking or not looking properly is the biggest contributory factor; in 38% of all road accidents that were reported to the police this was the main reason reported.
• Failing to properly control the car was the major factor in accidents that resulted in fatalities; in 36% loss of control was the reported reason. •
• Driving too fast causes a large number of accidents; speed was reported as the cause of 27% of road accidents resulting in fatalities and 13% of all road accidents.
• It is not just drivers who fail to look properly; pedestrians failing to do this were the cause of 58% of accidents resulting in a pedestrian fatality.

It is not difficult to become a better driver. You owe it to yourself and to others to do so. With potential no-claims discounts of 75% it will also reduce your insurance costs considerably.