New research released by the road safety charity and Direct Line shows that while almost all drivers (99%) believe they are comparatively safe, two-thirds (69%) admit putting others at risk by breaking traffic laws.

The firms’ survey of 1,000 drivers across the also found that a third of participants (35%) say they break laws because they believe they can handle it, while another third (33%) admit it's down to not paying attention. Only a small minority (1%) say they know they're taking risks, but do it anyway.

Brake and Direct Line are launching an appeal to drivers' better nature, urging them to sign Brake's Pledge to help prevent the devastating crashes that often result from risky law-breaking at the wheel.

Brake is also calling on the Government to ensure greater priority and funding for specialist roads policing – which it says is a proven deterrent to risk-driving – and action to tighten up our penalty points system so drivers who tot up 12 points or more can't escape a ban by pleading “exceptional hardship”.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: ‘It is deeply concerning so many drivers break vital traffic laws, yet still believe they are safe. Anyone who thinks they can handle speeding, using a phone at the wheel or drink-driving is fooling themselves and taking an appalling chance with people's lives. The evidence is clear: if you break traffic laws you risk causing terrible harm to yourself and others.’

Full survey results:

How do you think the safety of your driving compares with that of an average driver on the roads today?

• 44% said safer than most
• 55% said about average
• 1% said more dangerous
• Thinking about the behaviour of other drivers within the past 12 months, what is your impression of the standard of driving on the roads?
• 5% said the roads are full of dangerous drivers and there are hardly any safe drivers
• 36% said there is a mixture of safe and dangerous driving but more dangerous than safe
• 58% said there is a mixture, but more safe than dangerous drivers
• 1% said the roads are full of safe drivers and there are hardly any dangerous drivers
• Which statement is most applicable to you? 
• 32% said I never break traffic laws
• 33% said I break traffic laws sometimes, but only when I'm not paying attention
• 35% said I break traffic laws sometimes, but only when I know I can do so safely
• 1% said I break traffic laws frequently, and sometimes when I know it's taking a risk

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