Greater than half of motorists are diverting from motorways to probably much less secure rural roads to keep away from site visitors jams and congestion, in response to new analysis.
IAM RoadSmart, Britain’s main street 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 essentially the most harmful roads in Britain, with almost 1,000 deaths occurring on them yearly, in response to the Division for Transport. This compares to 84 killed on motorways and 273 fatalities on city roads in 2023. Many nation roads are slender, with restricted secure locations to overhaul, and characterised by a poor street 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 similar to U-turns in the course of a street to beat the jams, whereas one in ten (11%) confessed to working a pink gentle to save lots of time. A small minority (8%) held their arms as much as continuing past a site visitors gentle altering to pink 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 surprise that motorists are discovering different routes and diverting onto rural roads to save lots of time. Nonetheless, by doing so they might be placing themselves and others at a larger danger of a collision.
Irritating driving habits are additionally totting up the time spent on the street, with 80% reporting that that they had 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 underneath the nationwide pace restrict of 60mph within the UK, site visitors typically consists of folks travelling at a wide range of speeds, together with cyclists and farm automobiles, in addition to pedestrians.
In line with the survey by IAM RoadSmart, 64% supported reducing the pace restrict on a rural single carriageway to 50mph.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Coverage and Requirements Nicholas Lyes mentioned: “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 stunning that they’re attempting to save lots of time by selecting one other route.
“Rural roads are sometimes winding, filled with blind spots and missing in pavements. Nationwide pace limits may also lull drivers right into a false sense of safety that these are acceptable limits; in lots of circumstances, they don’t seem to be. We might encourage roads authorities to overview and the place acceptable scale back pace limits on sure sections of those roads. Additionally, whereas focus is rightly placed on bettering current roads quite than constructing new ones, Authorities needs to be ready to develop capability on congested components of the strategic street community.
“With the festive season simply across the nook, and roads more likely to be busy as folks head house 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 secure pace and anticipating different forms of street customers – significantly tractors, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians is crucial. Whereas the statistics present an elevated danger on these roads, correct coaching and consciousness can mitigate this.”
