Drivers "inherit" bad habits

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Drivers are increasingly picking up the bad habits of their parents when on the road, according to a new survey by First Alternative.

The car insurer says that the vast majority of drivers ? two-thirds ? acknowledge that they have assumed the faults of their parents.

The most common mistake inherited from parents was crossing hands on the steering wheel ? with driving with one hand the second most common error.

First Alternative chief executive Colin Batabyal said that the issue underlined the risks of bad driving and the role played by parents in passing them on.

"We don?t claim to have discovered the driving gene but it?s clear from this research that example plays a strong part in shaping people?s driving behaviour.

"It?s never too early for parents to set a good example with their driving and we believe that the more conscious parents become of the effect of their driving on their children the better. This way, two generations of drivers can potentially become safer at the same time."

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