How ‘friendly’ drivers in France are compared to the US and UK

Drivers in the UK and US are friendlier and more agreeable than those in France, a new study has found, with France coming in seventh place on a new international ranking.

The study*, by second-hand car specialist AutoTrader, sought to “to find out which nations around the world have drivers who are generally calmer, happier, and more agreeable”.

To do this, it asked citizens with valid driving licences around the world to self-report how nice they are, based on their answers to questions in the 'Agreeableness' section of the Big 5 Personality Test (an independent, globally recognised personality and psychology test).

The test assesses personality traits across five traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Agreeable driving traits

The most agreeable drivers were found to:

• Be friendlier and more cooperative on the roads 

• Have more patience and courtesy when driving

• Have a greater willingness to share the road with others

The questions also asked drivers if they had ever done any of the “uncourteous driving behaviour” examples given, including: beeping, tailgating (not respecting safe distances between vehicles), using obscene gestures, and verbal aggression.

France in seventh place

Based on the ranking, France came in seventh, behind countries including the UK, US, Canada, and Portugal. 

In contrast, it scored better than Spain, Italy, Germany, and Poland.

“France's Friendly Driving Score of 32.98 reflects a mix of urban and rural driving cultures,” said AutoTrader. 

“While Parisian traffic is infamous for its chaos, drivers in other parts of France are often more patient and accommodating. The country's emphasis on leisure and quality of life may contribute to a more relaxed approach to driving in many regions.”

The friendliest drivers: Top 15

The ranking’s top 15 was:

1. UK - Friendly Driving Score: 35.40 (out of a possible total of 40)

2. Australia: 35.02

3. New Zealand: 33.59

4. USA: 33.37

5. Portugal: 33.11

6. Canada: 33.03

7. France: 32.98

8. Netherlands: 32.88

9. Spain: 32.50

10. Ireland: 32.25

11. Italy: 32.24

12. South Africa: 31.54

13. Germany: 31.07

14. Mexico: 30.84

15. Poland: 29.55

Top scorers

Commenting on the ranking’s leader, the UK, the study said: “The UK leads the rankings as the country with the most polite and agreeable drivers. British drivers are renowned for their adherence to road rules and an ingrained sense of courtesy, such as signalling well in advance and allowing others to merge in traffic. 

“The UK's comprehensive driving tests and the emphasis on lane discipline may contribute to these 'friendly' traits - moreover, cultural values around politeness and a ‘keep calm’ attitude likely play a role in creating a nation with a super cooperative driving culture.”

In second place, Australian drivers were praised for their “very friendly nature, laid-back lifestyle, patience and tolerance”, while third-placed New Zealanders were found to be “willing to give way” and to “have patience on rural and urban roads alike”.

And “while the vastness of the USA leads to varying driving cultures in different states, throughout the country there is a universal sense of politeness and safety-first attitudes”, the study said of America (which came in fourth place), while fifth-placed Portuguese drivers were highlighted for their “warmth and generosity [which] often extend to the road”.

Sixth-placed Canadian drivers were “commended for their patience, especially in snowy or icy conditions that require extra caution”, and Canada was recognised for its “strict penalties for aggressive driving”, which “reinforce a culture of respect”.

*The study was compiled with market research agency Prolific, and included responses from 3,200 participants from 15 countries on the 'agreeableness' trait of the Big 5 Personality Test. The average score of people in each country was then calculated to find an average 'friendliness' score for each nation.