1.5 million British drivers refuse to turn right
Fri, 21 Nov 2025
More than half of UK motorists say there is at least one thing they avoid or refuse to do while driving – and some of the avoidance strategies are, to say the least, extreme.
The research by Direct Line found that 3% of UK drivers refuse to turn right. This is equivalent to 1.5 million motorists.
Nearly a million say they refuse to reverse, while nearly two million say they will never make a U-turn.
A least 4% of motorists won’t drive through tunnels, 3% avoid going over bridges and another 3% avoid roundabouts.
The most commonplace driving quirks include 2.4 million motorists who won’t drive if it’s windy, 3.5 million who avoid motorways and 4.7 million – that's more than 1 in 10 of licence holders – who won’t drive in the dark.
There are more leftfield quirks, too, including not driving without a hot drink, driving barefoot or insisting on total silence.
Indeed, 3% of motorists refuse to drive with anyone else in the car… although another 2% will only drive if they do have a passenger with them.
Half prefer not to have passengers but will reluctantly take them.
"It is no wonder so many drivers prefer specific conditions to feel safe when driving," says head of Direct Line motor insurance Matt Pernet.
Some of the things motorists avoid or refuse to do while driving does somewhat beggar belief, though. How can you complete a trip without turning right or using roundabouts?
In all, Direct Line found that 56% of drivers, or 24 million motorists, have at least one quirk while driving, “highlighting just how particular Brits can be when it comes to their driving behaviours."
But in avoiding them, motorists will argue it is at least making their driving safer. "Having no distractions while driving can allow drivers to feel more confident and, in turn, safer on their journeys," reckons Pernet.
