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 accordance with new analysis.
IAM RoadSmart, Britain’s main street 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 an alternative.
Statistically, rural roads are essentially the most harmful roads in Britain, with practically 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 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. Almost one third (27%) of the two,000 individuals polled for the 2024 IAM RoadSmart Highway Security Report admitted to performing harmful manoeuvres resembling U-turns in the course of a street to beat the jams, whereas one in ten (11%) confessed to working a purple mild to avoid wasting time. A small minority (8%) held their arms as much as continuing past a site visitors mild 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 12 months, it’s small surprise that motorists are discovering different routes and diverting onto rural roads to avoid wasting time. Nonetheless, by doing so they might be placing themselves and others at a better threat of a collision.
Irritating driving habits are additionally totting up the time spent on the street, with 80% reporting that they’d 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 below the nationwide pace restrict of 60mph within the UK, site visitors usually consists of individuals travelling at a wide range of speeds, together with cyclists and farm autos, in addition to pedestrians.
In response to 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 stunning that they’re attempting to avoid wasting 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 circumstances, they aren’t. 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 bettering present roads moderately than constructing new ones, Authorities must be ready to increase 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 individuals head house for Christmas, individuals must be conscious of congestion and poor climate circumstances, and plan forward to keep away from travelling in peak instances.
“Travelling at a secure pace and anticipating different varieties of street customers – notably tractors, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians is important. Whereas the statistics present an elevated threat on these roads, correct coaching and consciousness can mitigate this.”
