Most people like to think they’re decent drivers. But if the examiner got into your car tomorrow, clipboard in hand, would you actually pass again? New research suggests that many of us are far more confident than the data says we should be – and the gap between how safe we feel and how safe we are is widening.

The confidence paradox on UK roads

Across the UK, drivers say they feel secure behind the wheel. Based on the recently conducted research by National Accident Helpline, a striking 82% report feeling generally safe on the roads, yet serious collision figures continue to creep up. Government data recorded 1,633 fatal collisions in 2024, an increase from the previous year and hardly a backdrop that matches the nation’s buoyant self-belief.

Men report the highest confidence levels, especially when it comes to retaking their driving test. Seven in ten say they’d pass again today. Women are more cautious, with only 58% sharing the same certainty. But the real-world results tell a different story: early 2024 test pass rates show women outperforming men, and fatal collision data follows the same pattern.

Age adds another twist. Older drivers, especially those over 80, feel the safest of all, with 97% reporting confidence on the road. Yet drivers aged 70 and above account for the same proportion of deadly collisions as the youngest, least experienced drivers. Confidence, it seems, isn’t always a reliable safety gauge.

Technology and the reality check

Today’s cars do a lot of the thinking for us. Reversing cameras, parking sensors, lane warnings or even fully autonomous parking – helpful, yes, but they give a smoothness to everyday driving that the practical test simply doesn’t permit. Despite this, almost half of all drivers rely so heavily on reversing cameras that they would struggle with basic manoeuvres if they had to perform them unaided.

It’s a comfortable habit, and while it does help us in our everyday driving, it creates a false sense of readiness. The moment you remove the tech, the real skill level shows itself. And for many drivers, especially those who passed years or even decades ago, the gap between perceived ability and test-standard ability may be wider than they realise.

Changes to the Highway Code

The Highway Code has seen steady updates in recent years, particularly around cyclist and pedestrian priority. Most drivers know they’re supposed to stay up to date, and more than four in five even openly say it’s their responsibility.

However, only a quarter actually follow through. Are you one of them?

Younger drivers, often dismissed as inexperienced, tend to check the Code more frequently. One in three aged 17–24 say they revisited the rules within the last six months. Among drivers aged 55 and above, only one in ten have done the same. And yet, the people who keep up with the latest guidance often feel the least confident on the road. Awareness seems to spark humility, not bravado.

What does it mean to be a good driver?

A clean licence and years of experience don’t guarantee test-ready skills. And as the research shows, confidence alone isn’t a measure of road safety. The real challenge is far simpler: noticing the habits we’ve let slip and being open enough to correct them.

Safety experts say this kind of honest self‑assessment matters far more than macho claims of being “a great driver”. Skills fade without practice. Rules change. It’s that simple. Plus, technology creates shortcuts that mask declining proficiency. The safest drivers are the ones who admit what they could improve.

Maybe that means revisiting the Highway Code, practising a forgotten manoeuvre, or easing off the tech for a week. Small steps that make us sharper road users.

Because being a “good driver” isn’t something you prove once at 17. It’s a standard you keep choosing to meet.