Posted on November 26, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

We envy their effortless chic, we lap up their wine by the gallon, the works of their artistic geniuses adorn the walls of our homes, but when it comes to driving, our Gallic cousins fail to cut the mustard (Dijon probably).

Argus Car Hire’s customer loyalty programme MyArgus carried out a survey of its UK and Ireland members earlier this month asking them about their driving experiences in Europe’s most popular destinations.  Participants were asked to consider which drivers they felt had the worst habits abroad as well as their stress levels when driving in these countries.  According to MyArgus members, the French came out on top for having the worst drivers/worst driving habits in Europe, closely followed by Greece and Italy.

The survey also found that 65% of participants felt ‘apprehensive’ about driving in another European country. 

Commenting on the poll, Argus brand manager Emma Coakley said:  “Renting a car and getting out on the open road is without doubt one of the best ways to explore Europe. However, it’s sometimes easy for holidaymakers to forget that some things are going to be different from driving at home. As we can see from our customers’ accounts of their driving experiences abroad, many people have concerns about driving overseas. The best advice we can offer car hire customers is to familiarise yourself with the rules of the road, stick to speed limits, drive defensively, expect the unexpected and you should be fine.”

Europe’s 5 Worst Drivers

1. France
2. Greece
3. Italy
4. Portugal
5. Spain

Worst Driving Habits:

1. Tailgating
2. Speeding
3. Failure to signal
4. Being aggressive/using hand gestures/shouting expletives
5. Inconsiderate driving