NSW drivers rate themselves best in Aust

The safest drivers in Australia are in NSW. If you don't believe that, just ask them.

A new survey shows motorists across the country have a high opinion of their abilities behind the wheel, and nowhere more so than in NSW.

Law firm Slater and Gordon asked more than 2000 drivers whether they thought they were a confident and safe motorist, and 76 per cent of respondents believed they were.

Drivers in NSW topped the self-belief stakes, with 79 per cent attesting to their own skill and courtesy.

But drivers everywhere have much less faith in their fellow motorists: asked whether they thought other drivers were safe and courteous, only 36 per cent replied yes, leaving nearly two-thirds of the nation who believe everyone else is a menace on the road.

Slater and Gordon motor accident lawyer Craig Lynch said the survey showed a big difference between how drivers viewed their own driving style and that of others.

Statistics also suggested that most drivers' self-perception might not reflect reality, he said.

"There is a tendency to only credit negative actions to other drivers on the road," he said.

"We can't possibly be perfect drivers all the time."

Mr Lynch said drivers had to concentrate on their own driving and their own potential to be a threat, instead of focusing on others.

State-by-state, Western Australia's drivers gave themselves the next-biggest thumbs-up, with 77.2 per cent rating themselves safe, followed by Queensland (76.5 per cent), Victoria (75.7 per cent) and South Australia (67.3 per cent).

By gender, 80 per cent of men and 71 per cent of women gave themselves a tick.

By age bracket, 45-54-year-olds were the most confident, with an 83 per cent self-approval rating, followed in descending order by 35-to-44s, 55-pluses, and 25-to-34s.

Young drivers were by far the least confident, with only 54 per cent of 16-24-year-olds ranking themselves as safe.