Greater than half of motorists are diverting from motorways to probably much less secure rural roads to keep away from visitors jams and congestion, based on 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 a substitute.
Statistically, rural roads are essentially the most harmful roads in Britain, with practically 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 slim, with restricted secure locations to overhaul, and characterised by a poor street floor and blind bends.
The analysis additionally exhibits 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 Street Security Report admitted to performing harmful manoeuvres corresponding 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 palms as much as continuing past a 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 visitors jam over the previous 12 months, it’s small surprise that motorists are discovering different routes and diverting onto rural roads to save lots of 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 street, 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 driving 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 pace restrict of 60mph within the UK, visitors usually consists of individuals 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 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 visitors jams. Many individuals lead busy lives and it’s not shocking that they’re making an attempt 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 can even lull drivers right into a false sense of safety that these are applicable limits; in lots of instances, they aren’t. We might encourage roads authorities to evaluate and the place applicable cut back pace limits on sure sections of those roads. Additionally, whereas focus is rightly placed on enhancing current roads fairly than constructing new ones, Authorities needs to be ready to broaden capability on congested elements of the strategic street community.
“With the festive season simply across the nook, and roads more likely to be busy as individuals head residence for Christmas, individuals needs to be conscious of congestion and poor climate situations, and plan forward to keep away from travelling in peak occasions.
“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 danger on these roads, correct coaching and consciousness can mitigate this.”
