Caring professions make careless drivers

You might guess that hanging around with a tobacconist could be bad for your health, but what about a doctor or an air stewardess?

When it comes to driving, some of Britain’s most well respected workers are letting their profession down, causing accidents and generally showing that a responsible job doesn’t necessarily mean being responsible behind the wheel.

Here’s a rundown of the percentage of people within each profession who have had an accident that was their fault:

Perhaps it’s the smoke clouding their vision, or maybe they are coughing too much to keep their eyes on the road, but whatever the reason, tobacconists make for some of the most dangerous drivers in Britain, with more than 1 in 8 (13.64%) admitting to being the cause of a road accident.

But while sellers of cigarettes might well be expected to represent a hazard to your health, the caring profession is failing to live up to its name by harbouring some of the worst drivers on our roads.

Doctors, surgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists and gynecologists make up a full half of the top 10 dangerous drivers, showing that a spotless white coat is unlikely to mean a spotless driving license. The worst among the healers are doctors, with 1 in 8 (12.96%) having caused a crash, giving “Is there a doctor in the house?” a whole new meaning when shouted at the scene of an accident.

But topping the poll for the most dangerous drivers in Britain is the otherwise heroic lifeguard. A strapping young swimmer may be a welcome sight if you find yourself with cramp and far out to sea, but on the road, you should be doing your best to steer clear of muscle-bound lifesavers. Lifeguards are officially Britain’s most dangerous drivers, with almost 1 in 7 (13.79%) admitting to causing a car accident.

So which professions make the best friends to ask for a ride? Well perhaps all that stargazing is paying off for astrologists, who sit at the very bottom of the poll. Just 4.53% of astrologists have caused an accident, suggesting that in the majority of cases, they manage to see it coming. Second on the list of those most likely to cause a crash is watchmakers, revealing that where driving is concerned, timing is everything.

Have you ever been on a ride from hell with a doctor, or been hit by an absent-minded meteorologist? Let us know about your experiences of Britain’s best and worst drivers.

Here’s a rundown of the safest drivers:

A minimum of 100 people in each profession must have had a quote and have at least two years’ driving experience.