MILLIONS OF UK DRIVERS ADMIT TO DRIVING ILLEGALLY DURING ‘EMERGENCY DASHES’
From needing the toilet to medical emergencies, motorists admit to breaking the law under pressure
Last updated: 21/01/2026
Last updated: 21/01/2026
More than 7 million* UK motorists (17%) admit to breaking a road law in an emergency, with nearly a quarter (24%) confessing they would bend the rules if they thought they wouldn’t get caught, according to new research by temporary car insurance provider, Tempcover.
More than half of motorists (68%) believe it’s ‘OK’ to park on double yellows, exceed the speed limit, and drive through a bus lane if it’s an emergency. The poll of 2,000 drivers also found almost one in 10 (8%) even think it’s acceptable to run a red light.
While the most common justifications are medical crises like a passenger experiencing a heart attack or stroke (55%) or someone suffering a serious injury (52%), the definition of ‘emergency’ can be surprisingly loose. It seems 14% of motorists believe a pet emergency warrants breaking the rules, and one in 20 (4%) would even consider needing the toilet to be a valid reason.
Despite these confessions, motorists are quick to judge others. A staggering 86% admit to feeling annoyed when they see other road users breaking road laws.
A quarter of drivers (25%) admit they have been caught by police or traffic cameras breaking the law, yet many still believe the rules shouldn’t apply during a crisis.
In fact, more than a third (38%) believe they should be legally allowed to speed or run red lights when taking someone to the hospital. Expectations of the police are also surprisingly high: if stopped by police in a genuine emergency, 32% would expect an officer to escort them to their destination, while 14% reckon they could ‘get away with it’.
While parking on double yellows and speeding are the most common offences, the research exposes a significant insurance risk from panic borrowing. Of the one in ten (12%) who have borrowed someone else’s car during an emergency situation, less than half (41%) stopped to check whether they were insured to drive it.
Crucially, the data shows that when drivers picture themselves in a situation where they’re driving uninsured, their main concern is financial rather than safety, with 27% saying their biggest concern is being liable for costs if they crashed.
Furthermore, 36% admitted they were unaware that driving without insurance, even in an emergency, could lead to their vehicle being seized and crushed.
Adam Craddock, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said: "In the heat of an emergency situation, the end goal is often at the front of mind. However, it is vital to remember that breaking road laws - like speeding or running red lights - can inadvertently create a second emergency by putting yourself and other road users at risk. The last thing anyone needs in a crisis is the legal and safety repercussions to make an already difficult situation much harder to manage.
“Driving without valid insurance, even in an emergency, remains a criminal offence. If caught driving uninsured, you could be subject to fines, points on your licence, and the vehicle could be seized and destroyed.
“Whether you are looking for cover for a day or just an hour to borrow a car at short notice - temporary car insurance is available 24/7, 365 days of the year.”
The 20 most common road laws people think are acceptable to break in an emergency
