The vast majority of drivers (94%) also said they thought it would be great if drivers could be more courteous to each other

Yet just a sixth of drivers (16%) think motorists have become more courteous to other drivers in the last year. 

There was more improvement in the relationship between cyclists and drivers as the AA/Populus poll reveals a quarter (23%) of motorists think drivers have become more courteous to cyclists in the last year. Londoners were the most likely to have noticed this trend (28%).

And 44% of drivers think they personally have become better at being courteous, letting people out of side roads, merging traffic, in the last year. Young drivers aged 18-to-24 were by far the most likely (58%) age group to say they had become better mannered this year on the roads.

The research, which coincides with national Road Safety Week, highlights the need for all road users to look out for each other – whatever form of transport they are using.

Earlier this year The AA launched the “Think Bikes” campaign; designed to encourage motorists to do a double-take in their mirrors for cyclists and motorbikes. The campaign included the distribution of millions of small line drawing stickers that drivers can place on their vehicles as a reminder to do that extra mirror check.

Edmund King, AA president, said: ‘Road Safety Week is a good time to for everyone on the roads to take a bit of extra time to think about how they treat other road users.

‘It’s not a case of pitching one set of road users against another; we all have a responsibility to share the roads safely and effectively.

‘The fact so many drivers prize greater courtesy on the roads shows that we are probably all falling a bit short at the moment.

‘Courtesy to all road users is at the heart of the Highway Code and in how we teach young learners to act behind the wheel.

‘This year we will be using the week to spread the Think Bikes message to all our AA and BSM learners.

‘It’s an especially important message for us as the AA’s motto is Courtesy and Care.’