More than one quarter of drivers (28%) think that people throwing rubbish out the window is the most annoying habit in the summer, according to a new AA Populus poll of 21,877 members.
Only 17% of 18-24 year olds thought throwing rubbish out the window is annoying which suggests they might throw rubbish out the window themselves.
One third (32%) of 45-54 year olds think throwing rubbish out the window is the most annoying thing which perhaps shows they are less likely to throw rubbish out the window.
Scottish drivers are the least likely to highlight car litter louts whilst drivers in the East Midlands are most likely to highlight this problem.
In the last three years there have been over 364,000 bags of litter collected from the roadsides along England’s main roads according to Highways England. That is over 330 bags collected a day, and each bag roughly costs £40 to tax payers.*
The total sum spent on collecting rubbish from the roadside is over £14,500,000. Collecting the litter also puts workers’’ lives at risk.
The next most annoying thing during the summer for drivers is large groups of cyclists cited by 21% of men and 23% of woman. Forty people also mentioned half-naked drivers as a turn-off.
The top ten summer pet hates are:
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Commenting, Edmund King, AA president, said, “Car litter louts are a needless menace who cost the country millions, spoil our environment and put road workers’ lives at risk.
“There is no excuse for tossing out litter. Car occupants should bag it and bin it at home. Many of the other pet hates concerned groups slowing drivers down by being lost, slow or indecisive. Drivers need to be more patient in the summer on the roads because anything can happen. “By checking your car, route and being prepared, means that drivers are less likely to get hot under the collar and more likely to reach their destinations safely.” |