Drivers are throwing litter and cigarette butts at motorcyclists as they overtake, according to alarming new research, as drivers risk breaching Highway Code rules.
The shocking behaviour was reported by more than a third (37 per cent) of motorbike riders surveyed by IAM RoadSmart.
The research, which polled 600 motorcycle members about their experiences over the past year, reveals a concerning pattern of dangerous and deliberately hostile actions from drivers towards motorcyclists on UK roads.
The survey also found drivers deliberately spraying windscreen wash when bikers are behind them, cutting them up and preventing legal filtering through traffic.
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Motorcycle riders said drivers continue to put them in danger by throwing litter out of windows
PA
Rule 147 of the Highway Code states that drivers should always be considerate on roads and "MUST NOT" throw anything out of their windows, including packaging, cigarette ends and cans.
These rules are reinforced by Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which states that a person is "guilty of an offence if he throws down, drops or otherwise deposits any litter in any place to which this section applies and leaves it".
A motorist in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is believed to be one of the first to receive a fixed penalty notice at the new, higher rate of £500 after being caught on another driver's dashcam.
A staggering 80 per cent of motorcyclists reported seeing drivers distracted by mobile phones. The same percentage said drivers failed to look out for bikers when pulling out of junctions.
Other concerning behaviours include 54 per cent of drivers failing to check mirrors when overtaking, 28 per cent opening car doors without checking for bikes, and more than 60 per cent tailgating motorcyclists.
These findings are particularly concerning as motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, being 52 times more likely to be killed in a road traffic accident than car occupants.
According to the Department for Transport's 2023 reported road casualty data, one-third (37 per cent) of motorcycle fatalities occurred in two-vehicle collisions between a motorcycle and a car.
The most common contributory factor in fatal or serious collisions involving motorcyclists and another vehicle was "driver or rider failed to look properly", accounting for 29 per cent of those killed or seriously injured.
Nicholas Lyes, Policy and Standards Director at IAM RoadSmart, said: "Hurling litter and cigarette butts at motorcyclists is shocking and completely reckless. Taking umbrage just because bikers are able to get ahead is at best petty, and at worst, downright dangerous.
"Equally, motorcyclists should ride responsibly, but it's important to keep in mind that bikers are some of the most vulnerable on the road and will almost always come off worse in the event of a collision.
"Deaths and serious injuries remain a real concern for motorcyclists, but a little courtesy and additional checks go a long way to improving the safety of some of the most vulnerable on the road."
The research also revealed drivers' complaints about motorcyclists' behaviour, with 35 per cent of drivers reporting encountering bikers approaching in their lane while overtaking vehicles on the opposite side, risking head-on collisions. The same number said they had been tailgated by motorcyclists.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Motorcyclists identified a number of issues relating to the attitude of drivers
PAA similar proportion (36 per cent) reported experiencing close passes when being overtaken by bikers.
Public concern about roadside litter is growing, with separate research from IAM RoadSmart finding nearly half (45%) of 2,000 adults surveyed were more concerned about litter on roadside verges than they were a year ago.
