A new survey by The AA has revealed 56 per cent of motorists always obey the speed limits, with 42 per cent obeying them "most of the time".
The survey garnered responses from over 2,600 respondents and uncovered some trends in driving behaviour and etiquette on Irish roads.
Motorists were asked to identify what they deem to be the most dangerous driving behaviours.
Ninety-seven per cent identified driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs as the most dangerous behaviour, followed closely by using a mobile phone while driving at 96 per cent and speeding at 95 per cent.
Running red lights, tailgating, traffic weaving and driving without headlights were also referenced.
The AA said these statistics show a clear recognition of the major road risks, but also a worrying trend in terms of continued dangerous practices.
Additionally, aggressive driving and poor use of indicators ranked as the most frustrating habits motorists experience from others, with almost 90% of drivers noting aggressive driving as their top grievance.
Eighty-four per cent expressed frustration with drivers failing to use their indicators, which continues to be a widespread issue.
In the verbatim comments, there was an overwhelming number of motorists who said the use of the wrong lane especially on roundabouts was their top pet peeve.
A notable 82 per cent of respondents admitted to never using a mobile phone while driving, a promising trend towards safer driving practices.
Head of Marketing and PR at The AA (Ireland), Jennifer Kilduff, said: “The campaigns that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been promoting are clearly having a positive impact on motorists and we would hope this continues."
Parking etiquette was also a point of contention, with almost 93 per cent of drivers claiming they have never misused a parking space. This includes the use of parent and child parking, disabled parking, double parking or the use of loading bays incorrectly.
One in three surveyed said they would intervene if they saw another driver parking inappropriately, suggesting that some motorists are willing to take action when they witness poor parking behaviour.
Ninety-four per cent of motorists stated that they treat cyclists as equal road users, an important finding reflecting growing awareness of cyclists' rights and safety on the road.
Nonetheless, rule-breaking remains a prevalent issue, with almost 38 per cent of respondents stating they frequently observe motorists violating traffic rules.
"The AA encourages drivers to reflect on their own habits and driving etiquette, as 27 per cent of motorists rated their driving etiquette as excellent, while a further 66 per cent rated it as good," Kilduff said.
"Ninety-nine per cent of respondents claimed they always thanked other drivers for giving way on the roads, which was great to see."
An honest 12 per cent of drivers said they have used a bus lane during restricted hours. 34 per cent stated the reason was for an emergency, 5 per cent used the bus lane as they were late for work and 8 per cent simply got impatient waiting in traffic.
Looking at the verbatim commentary the majority of motorists said they had used a bus lane unknowingly or by accident.
