Greater than half of motorists are diverting from motorways to probably much less secure rural roads to keep away from visitors jams and congestion, in keeping with new analysis.
IAM RoadSmart, Britain’s main highway security charity, discovered that during the last 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 practically 1,000 deaths occurring on them yearly, in keeping 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 secure locations to overhaul, and characterised by a poor highway floor and blind bends.
The analysis additionally exhibits 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 Highway Security Report admitted to performing harmful manoeuvres corresponding to U-turns in the course of a highway to beat the jams, whereas one in ten (11%) confessed to working a purple gentle to avoid wasting time. A small minority (8%) held their arms as much as continuing past a 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 visitors jam over the previous yr, it’s small marvel that motorists are discovering different routes and diverting onto rural roads to avoid wasting time. Nevertheless, by doing so they might be placing themselves and others at a higher danger of a collision.
Irritating driving habits are additionally totting up the time spent on the highway, with 80% reporting that they’d been delayed momentarily ready for a driver that had failed to point at a junction or roundabout.
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 beneath the nationwide velocity restrict of 60mph within the UK, visitors usually consists of folks travelling at a wide range of speeds, together with cyclists and farm autos, in addition to pedestrians.
Based on the survey by IAM RoadSmart, 64% supported decreasing the velocity 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 visitors jams. Many individuals lead busy lives and it’s not stunning that they’re making an attempt to avoid wasting time by selecting one other route.
“Rural roads are sometimes winding, stuffed with blind spots and missing in pavements. Nationwide velocity limits may lull drivers right into a false sense of safety that these are acceptable limits; in lots of instances, they aren’t. We’d encourage roads authorities to assessment and the place acceptable scale back velocity limits on sure sections of those roads. Additionally, whereas focus is rightly placed on bettering current roads somewhat than constructing new ones, Authorities ought to be ready to increase capability on congested components 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 ought to be conscious of congestion and poor climate situations, and plan forward to keep away from travelling in peak occasions.
“Travelling at a secure velocity and anticipating different varieties of highway customers – significantly tractors, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians is important. Whereas the statistics present an elevated danger on these roads, correct coaching and consciousness can mitigate this.”
