Greater than half of motorists are diverting from motorways to probably much less protected rural roads to keep away from site visitors jams and congestion, based on 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 an alternative.
Statistically, rural roads are probably the most harmful roads in Britain, with almost 1,000 deaths occurring on them yearly, based on 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 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 course of a highway to beat the jams, whereas one in ten (11%) confessed to working a crimson mild to avoid wasting time. A small minority (8%) held their fingers as much as continuing past a site visitors mild altering to crimson 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. Nevertheless, by doing so they might be placing themselves and others at a better 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.
Site visitors jams and delays are manifesting in impatience, with greater than a 3rd (31%) beeping their horn to get the driving force in entrance to rush up. This has the potential to result in these drivers on the receiving finish making dangerous or unwise choices 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 folks travelling at quite a lot of speeds, together with cyclists and farm automobiles, in addition to pedestrians.
In accordance 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 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 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 present roads relatively than constructing new ones, Authorities must be ready to develop 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 must be conscious of congestion and poor climate situations, and plan forward to keep away from travelling in peak occasions.
“Travelling at a protected pace and anticipating different forms 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.”
