According to new research by GoCompare, it seems most drivers believe that the law is on the side of rude or otherwise antisocial drivers. 76% of participants in London believe that making rude gestures to other road users are perfectly legal and 82% believe it is okay to drive with your dog in the passenger seat, more than any other region.
More than four out of five think it’s legal to beep the horn while stationary in traffic
89% of the participants we surveyed in London believed that beeping the horn while stationary in traffic is perfectly legal. However, in fact, a driver beeping the horn while their vehicle is stationary (and not in a time of danger) is subject to a fine of up to £1,000.
Four out of five think it’s legal to play excessively loud music
87% of the participants in London, more than any other region, believed that playing excessively loud music in your car couldn’t result in a fine when in reality it could cost you up to £100.
Additionally more than half of the participants from London don’t think the following are offences
London seems to know the least about the finer details of the law. The region had the highest score of motorist who did not know these offences in almost every category:
| Offence | London participants who didn’t think this was an offence |
| Flashing your lights to warn other drivers of a speed trap | 81% |
| Eating while driving | 72% |
| Changing a CD while driving | 78% |
| Driving with snow on your vehicle’s roof | 79% |
| Driving through puddles and splashing pedestrians | 76% |
| Swearing or making rude gestures to other road users | 76% |
| Driving with a dog in the passenger seat | 82% |
| Driving over a painted mini-roundabout | 76% |
Red = Highest region
Which offences are the most commonly committed in London?
33% of participants admitted to eating at the wheel which, while not directly illegal, can result in a fine of £100 for driving without due care and attention, and almost a third (30%) of the drivers we quizzed have beeped the horn because the lights were green and the driver in front wasn’t moving.
Here are the top 5 most commonly committed offences in London:
- Eaten while driving has been committed by 33% of participants
- Beeped the horn while stationary in traffic, 30%
- Driven with snow on vehicle’s roof, 25%
- Swore or made rude gestures to other road users, 21%
- Played excessively loud music from a car, 21%
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