The 2025 ranking of “The World’s Friendliest Drivers” is in, and guess what? The Netherlands made the top 10! 🎉
Yes, in a country where cyclists behave like they own the road and roundabouts feel as lawless as the Wild West, Dutch drivers are apparently… very agreeable.
But before handing out medals for kindness, let’s take a closer look at how this conclusion was drawn. 👇
How was this measured?
British car marketplace AutoTrader conducted an international study, asking licensed drivers across the globe how friendly they consider themselves behind the wheel.
Using the “Agreeableness” section of the Big 5 Personality Test, participants rated themselves on kindness, patience, and trust.
READ MORE | How people park their cars in Amsterdam is downright terrifying (video inside)
They also had to confess their driving sins — things like aggressive honking, tailgating, and flipping off that one guy who refuses to merge properly.
Curious about the results? Here are the top-ranked countries:
| Place | Country | ‘Friendly Driving’ Score |
| #1 | UK 🇬🇧 | 35.40 |
| #2 | Australia 🇦🇺 | 35.02 |
| #3 | New Zealand 🇳🇿 | 33.59 |
| #4 | USA 🇺🇸 | 33.37 |
| #5 | Portugal 🇵🇹 | 33.11 |
| #6 | Canada 🇨🇦 | 33.03 |
| #7 | France 🇫🇷 | 32.98 |
| #8 | Netherlands 🇳🇱 | 32.88 |
| #9 | Spain 🇪🇸 | 32.50 |
| #10 | Ireland 🇮🇪 | 32.35 |
| #11 | Italy 🇮🇹 | 32.24 |
| #12 | South Africa 🇿🇦 | 31.54 |
| #13 | Germany 🇩🇪 | 31.07 |
| #14 | Mexico 🇲🇽 | 30.84 |
| #15 | Poland 🇵🇱 | 29.55 |
Yes, the UK came out on top, full of drivers who politely wave people into traffic and say “sorry” after nearly rear-ending your car.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands ranked 8th, sitting comfortably ahead of its neighbour Germany (are we surprised?).
Polite… or permanently defeated?
With a Friendly Driving Score of 32.88, Dutch motorists are, on paper, quite polite.
This is a bit shocking, considering they share the road with lawless scooters, unpredictable trams, and oma’s on e-bikes who will cut you off without hesitation.
But let’s be real: maybe it’s not kindness, just pure survival instinct. They know that at any moment, a fatbike or a clueless tourist might swerve into their lane.
READ MORE | Why driving in the Netherlands is stressful: My experience of living in the Netherlands
That said, let’s not start handing out politeness trophies just yet. If you’ve ever been tailgated on the A2, you might have some doubts about Dutch driving friendliness. 🚗
So, are Dutch drivers among the friendliest — or just good at convincing themselves (and others) that they are? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🤔🚦