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Irritation the greatest with bad parkers, direction-indicator non-users, press-betweens and folks crossing streets wherever.
By the people, Estonian traffic manners are assessed as «satisfactory». What bugs people the most is the careless way drivers park their cars, as well as people heading across streets in places not intended for that – as evidenced by research by Turu-uuringute AS, ordered by RSA, an insurer.
On the five notch scale, the average politeness result proved to be 3.07. Assessments slightly over the average were posted by non-Estonian speakers (3.27) and city dwellers (3.15). Over-average grades were also awarded by younger people.
Cyclists despised
The most often encountered problem is careless parking (76 per cent), most troubling for dwellers in smaller apartment blocks. Pedestrians crossing streets in wrong places bothers 71 per cent of those interviewed – as most often noticed by younger road users aged 15–24. Drivers pushing between others in the traffic flow irritate 69 per cent of road users, especially those living in North and West Estonia, as well as inhabitants of small towns; Inhabitants of Ida-Viru County and non-Estonians will not notice that as much.
Over a half of those interviewed consider it problematic that drivers do not indicate direction.
Close to a half (49 per cent) are bothered that cyclists are not considered. Cyclists’ pavement habits are offensive to 47 per cent, most often noticed by families with children. Almost as many are bothered by cyclists on highways (43 per cent), especially so in North-Estonia and among drivers.
Splashing water on pedestrians, driving despite of red light, disrespect of pedestrians at crosswalks are rarely deemed a problem in Estonia.
Drivers are most annoyed by cyclists on roads, public transport users are most mad at pedestrians being sprinkled. Turns out, pedestrians don’t mind too much when cars squeeze between other vehicles.
As admitted by superintendent Riho Tänak of traffic bureau at Police and Border Guard Board, the listed habits do indeed disturb traffic.
«No wonder, that, assessing the overall picture, people do not talk of the excessive speeding, drunk driving or unfastened seat-belts, as these are not felt by the average road user, who may only read of results thereof in the newspaper,» said he, underlining that traffic culture may indeed be assessed by road users themselves. Even so, statistics tend to support the optimism of those interviewed.
«The vital figures as traffic deaths and injuries reveal that, over the past 20 years, traffic of Estonia has steadfastly improved,» concluded the policeman.
Answers according to own life
«Still, as revealed by police traffic-research feedback, many are also bothered by speeding – especially in calm traffic areas and near crossings. Obviously, a lot depends on where the person interviewed stands in traffic, how close the problems home to him – dangers are most spotted near home; pedestrians differ from drivers in what they feel to be problematic etc,» explained Mr Tänak.
The superintendent said such research is a way to improve out traffic culture. «This should make driver and pedestrian alike think about how often they, themselves, bother others by such behaviour. Meaning: traffic culture happens in the heads of participators of it; all will contribute,» underlined the man.
Road users bothered by:
• Driver parks careless – 76 %
• Pedestrian crosses street at wrong place – 71 %
• Other driver «pushes in between» – 69 %
• Driver blinks not direction-indication – 50 %
• Driver overlooks cyclist – 49 %
• Bicycle on pavement – 47 %
• Bicycle on street/highway – 43 %
Of those interviewed:
• Two thirds walk.
• A bit over half ride cars.
• A bit over half uses public transport.
• Close to third ride bicycles.
• At end of October, 565 persons were interviewed, aged 15–74.
• On average, a person had 2.5 ways to be in traffic.
Source: Turu-uuringute AS