Greater than half of motorists are diverting from motorways to doubtlessly much less protected rural roads to keep away from site visitors jams and congestion, in accordance with new analysis.
IAM RoadSmart, Britain’s main highway security charity, discovered that over the past twelve months, 51% of drivers have diverted from a congested motorway and headed for a rustic lane as a substitute.
Statistically, rural roads are probably the most harmful roads in Britain, with almost 1,000 deaths occurring on them yearly, in accordance with the Division for Transport. This compares to 84 killed on motorways and 273 fatalities on city roads in 2023. Many nation roads are slim, with restricted protected locations to overhaul, and characterised by a poor highway floor and blind bends.
The analysis additionally reveals that drivers engaged in hazardous manoeuvres to keep away from congestion. Practically one third (27%) of the two,000 folks polled for the 2024 IAM RoadSmart Street Security Report admitted to performing harmful manoeuvres equivalent to U-turns in the midst of a highway to beat the jams, whereas one in ten (11%) confessed to working a purple gentle to save lots of time. A small minority (8%) held their arms as much as continuing past a site visitors gentle altering to purple solely to finish up blocking an intersection.
With greater than three quarters (83%) reporting that they’ve had greater than half-hour added to their journey due to a site visitors jam over the previous yr, it’s small marvel that motorists are discovering different routes and diverting onto rural roads to save lots of time. Nevertheless, by doing so they could be placing themselves and others at a larger danger of a collision.
Irritating driving habits are additionally totting up the time spent on the highway, with 80% reporting that that they had been delayed momentarily ready for a driver that had failed to point at a junction or roundabout.
Site visitors jams and delays are manifesting in impatience, with greater than a 3rd (31%) beeping their horn to get the motive force in entrance to rush up. This has the potential to result in these drivers on the receiving finish making dangerous or unwise selections when pulling out of a junction.
Regardless of many falling underneath the nationwide pace restrict of 60mph within the UK, site visitors usually consists of folks travelling at quite a lot of speeds, together with cyclists and farm autos, in addition to pedestrians.
In line with the survey by IAM RoadSmart, 64% supported decreasing the pace restrict on a rural single carriageway to 50mph.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Coverage and Requirements Nicholas Lyes stated: “This can be very regarding however considerably comprehensible that greater than half of motorists are diverting onto nation lanes to keep away from site visitors jams. Many individuals lead busy lives and it’s not shocking that they’re attempting to save lots of time by selecting one other route.
“Rural roads are sometimes winding, stuffed with blind spots and missing in pavements. Nationwide pace limits may lull drivers right into a false sense of safety that these are acceptable limits; in lots of instances, they don’t seem to be. We’d encourage roads authorities to evaluation and the place acceptable cut back pace limits on sure sections of those roads. Additionally, whereas focus is rightly placed on enhancing present roads relatively than constructing new ones, Authorities needs to be ready to increase capability on congested elements of the strategic highway community.
“With the festive season simply across the nook, and roads more likely to be busy as folks head dwelling for Christmas, folks needs to be conscious of congestion and poor climate circumstances, and plan forward to keep away from travelling in peak occasions.
“Travelling at a protected pace and anticipating different forms of highway customers – notably tractors, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians is crucial. Whereas the statistics present an elevated danger on these roads, correct coaching and consciousness can mitigate this.”
