News from Bennetts

Bikers say no to Volvo - British motorcyclists vote Swedish car most hated in survey

Volvos have been voted the most hated car on the road in a survey of British motorcyclists. The Swedish car manufacturer, whose XC90 model was once voted one of the top ten safest cars, topped the Bennetts poll with almost a third (28%) of UK bikers dreading an encounter with a Volvo.

The survey released today by Bennetts, the UK’s number one for bike insurance*, reveals the perception of the slow and considerate Volvo driver (like Mr & Mrs Bucket from Keeping up Appearances) has vanished. With newer models such as the large V70 and the popular S80, it seems Volvo drivers are becoming increasingly unaware of bikers on Britain’s roads.

The research, compiled from bikers up and down the country, put Volvo on the top spot, but BMW wasn’t far behind with 27% of bikers considering them the most dangerous cars on the road. Over the past year, motorcycle accidents have risen to over 6,000**, with a large proportion of those involving car drivers who look but fail to see bikers on the road. With numerous blind spots and huge doors, it’s not hard to see why BMW models such as the X5 and the classic 5-Series would cause concern for bikers.

Unsurprisingly, next on the hit list of most hated cars on the road was Porsche with 16% of the overall vote. Although normally the same height as a bike, the Cayenne 4x4 monster may explain why the German car giant is third in the poll. Land Rover (13%) and Mercedes (6%) make up the rest of the top five, proving that if you have a large vehicle, it pays to look out for bikers on the roads.

Top 10 most hated car’s on Britain’s roads
Volvo - 28%
BMW - 27%
Porsche - 16%
Land Rover - 13%
Mercedes - 6%
Ford - 3%
Jaguar - 2%
Volkswagen - 2%
Nissan - 2%
Mini - 1%


*Based on brand tracking research in April 2008
**Based on stats from Think! Road Safety
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