When it comes to motoring, the British have contributed immensely to the automotive history. It has also introduced a lot of eccentricity, innovation and sheer quirkiness, too. From iconic cars to peculiar driving traditions, Kristian Harrison takes a delightful dive into the whimsical world of British motoring.
Firstly, let’s take a look at some facts and figures. Over the past five years, speeding has become a frequent misdemeanour among UK motorists, with nearly one in six drivers falling foul of speed limits. If you thought Bahrain had a lot of speed cameras then you’d be astounded by how many proliferate the roads!
Speaking of fines, back in 1896 the first speeding ticket was issued to Mr. Walter Arnold in Kent. Mr. Arnold had exceeded the speed limit by four times the stated limit and was doing a superfast 8mph! The law at the time indicated that cars could not travel over 2mph and he received a fine of one shilling (now 20p, or 100 fils) from a local policeman.
When it comes to aesthetics, grey reigns supreme as the UK’s favourite car colour with more than a quarter of all cars sold being such a warm, bright shade. Well, at least it matches the sky…
Behind the wheel, Britons face a daunting challenge: the driving test. With a pass rate of just 50.2 percent for the theory test and an even lower 47.2 percent for the practical examination, aspiring motorists face some of the strictest examiners in the world. Claims that the consequential high volume of booked tests is in reality a money-making scheme are so far unproven.
Meanwhile, despite more than 37 million cars being on the roads, there are only currently 8,365 petrol stations serving the nation’s drivers, a far cry from the 37,000 that dotted the country in 1970. It’s no surprise that Britain has a dedicated service to rescuing cars who run out of fuel on the motorway; with an estimated total length of 262,300 miles, if one were to lay out these roads in a straight line into space, they would surpass the distance to the Moon!
Despite Britons’ self-assuredness behind the wheel, as evidenced by 92 percent rating themselves as good drivers, a significant portion – 65 percent, to be precise – admit to exceeding speed limits. Oh, how I would love to run that poll in Bahrain!
There are some places, however, where people won’t be speeding but instead stopping to take in some of the most breathtaking road trips on the planet. From the scenic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands to the charming villages of the Cotswolds, there’s no shortage of picturesque drives. The most famous is the North Coast 500, Scotland’s equivalent of Route 66, starting and finishing in Inverness.
If you thought traffic was bad in Bahrain, wait until you learn that UK drivers spend around eight months of their life waiting in traffic and a whole four years behind the wheel!
Perhaps the most notorious spot for traffic is Swindon’s Magic Roundabout, often voted the UK’s most terrifying roundabout. Made up of one central and five satellite mini roundabouts, each connecting to the next, you have to see this to believe it. In fact, I’d pay to put a deckchair out and watch the traffic if this was in Bahrain!
As a final note, if you thought getting used to the new Al Fateh Highway was confusing, wait until you visit Spaghetti Junction near Birmingham. The name says it all…
