Blinding sun glare is biggest autumn driving worry, new research shows
New research from Startline Motor Finance's monthly Used Car Tracker, which questioned 329 consumers, finds 53% of drivers say glare from low sun is their biggest worry when driving in autumn, ahead of slippery or poor road conditions (42%) and the brightness of oncoming lights (40%). Almost seven in 10 get their car checked for winter. For fleets, it is a reminder of the seasonal hazards drivers face as the days shorten. The press release is published below as supplied.
- More than half of drivers (53%) say blinding glare from low sun is their biggest worry when driving in autumn
- 42% are concerned about slippery road conditions and 40% the brightness of lights from oncoming traffic
- Almost seven out of 10 (68%) get their car checked at this time of year, ready for winter motoring, shows October’s Startline Used Car Tracker
More than half of drivers (53%) say blinding glare from low sun is their biggest worry when driving in autumn, new research shows.
October’s Startline Used Car Tracker also reports that 42% are anxious about slippery or poor road conditions and 40% the brightness of lights from oncoming traffic.
Heavier congestion due to school runs and weather delays is a concern for 37%, while 36% dislike driving in the dark as days shorten and 30% worry about other motorists not switching on their lights in bad weather.
When it comes to their car itself, 26% dislike getting into a cold vehicle in the morning, 24% having to scrape their windscreen and 14% smudgy windscreen wipers.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “After a long, dry summer, the arrival of autumn means motorists are having to tackle much more difficult conditions on the roads as the days become shorter and the weather worsens.
“There are many hazards for them to negotiate, but our research shows an overwhelming dislike for the blinding effect of low sun, reflecting off the windscreen and the road. It can make driving feel very risky.
“However, there’s also a range of other factors – more congestion, driving in the dark, poor weather – that cause some degree of anxiety. All of these can make the business of driving seem less safe and require a high degree of concentration.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker also shows seven out of 10 (68%) of motorists get their vehicle checked at this time of year to make sure it is ready for winter motoring.
Paul said: “This is a much higher figure than may perhaps have been expected and shows a large majority of drivers take the business of preparing for tougher conditions seriously.”
The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 329 consumers and 60 dealers were questioned.
About the Startline Used Car Tracker
The Startline Used Car Tracker was launched in April 2022 to produce essential attitudinal data about the used car sector over time. Each month, it asks consumers about their propensity to buy, fuel choices and the factors that will affect used car purchases, as well as questioning dealers about their feelings regarding the prospects of the market, the challenges facing them and their online offering.
The research is carried out for Startline by APD Global Research, well known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs.
About Startline Motor Finance
Founded in 2013, Startline is one of the UK’s leading motor finance companies, providing flexible solutions to around half of the top 50 franchise dealers and 70% of the top 50 independent car retailers measured by turnover, as well as accounting for more than 2% of the motor finance market by volume.
It aims to deliver market-defining levels of customer service, compliance, innovation and insight. The company is headquartered in Glasgow where it employs more than 200 people and has a comprehensive sales presence throughout the whole of the UK.
Sources
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