UK road safety issue highlighted

A major road safety issue for the UK has been highlighted by a recent study carried out jointly by the Road Safety Foundation and insurance firm AGEAS. This study has revealed that 60% of fatal crashes in the UK for the 2015-2017 period occurred on just 12.5% of the road network. Numerous studies show that rural A roads with no centre divider and just one lane in either direction have the highest rates of fatal crashes. Two roads in particular, one on the Isle of Wight and the other in Derbyshire, have part
July 8, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

A major road safety issue for the UK has been highlighted by a recent study carried out jointly by the 3375 Road Safety Foundation and insurance firm AGEAS. This study has revealed that 60% of fatal crashes in the UK for the 2015-2017 period occurred on just 12.5% of the road network. Numerous studies show that rural A roads with no centre divider and just one lane in either direction have the highest rates of fatal crashes. Two roads in particular, one on the Isle of Wight and the other in Derbyshire, have particularly alarming rates of fatal crashes. In many instances these are a single vehicle crashes involving loss of control and an impact with unforgiving road furniture or a departure from the roadway.

In a bid to tackle the problem, the UK Government is spending €113.6 million (£100 million) on improving the 50 road stretches with the worst safety records. A safety campaign highlighting the 75 most dangerous routes in the UK has also been launched. Another policy starting in 2020 will see considerable investment being put into improving the safety of the UK’s rural A road stretches. Two of the worst roads in the UK for crashes connect with the town Buxton in Derbyshire. It is of note that rural A roads managed by 8100 Highways England have on average just 25% of the crash risk of those managed by local authorities.


For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • US traffic fatalities level off to remain flat
    October 11, 2023
    Despite rises over the past five years, fatalities recorded no increase from 2021 to 2022, according to QuoteWizard.com, an on-line insurance comparison platform.
    Read More
  • Kenya’s improving road safety sees casualty figures fall
    September 4, 2018
    Kenya’s gains in road safety are helping to see a reduction in casualties. Road traffic deaths for 2017 dropped by 1.6% to 2,919 compared with the 2,965 fatalities recorded in 2016. However, there is concern at the high number of crashes on some sections of Kenya’s road network and that the number of danger points on the network appears to be increasing. There are now 273 road sections noted as having a particularly high crash rate, compared with 166 five years ago. Kenya’s congested capital Nairobi has 70
    Read More
  • Kenya’s improving road safety sees casualty figures fall
    September 4, 2018
    Kenya’s gains in road safety are helping to see a reduction in casualties. Road traffic deaths for 2017 dropped by 1.6% to 2,919 compared with the 2,965 fatalities recorded in 2016. However, there is concern at the high number of crashes on some sections of Kenya’s road network and that the number of danger points on the network appears to be increasing. There are now 273 road sections noted as having a particularly high crash rate, compared with 166 five years ago. Kenya’s congested capital Nairobi has 70
    Read More
  • New York’s safety drive is saving lives on the road
    March 10, 2017
    New York City is now working towards cutting out traffic deaths, as part of a Vision Zero programme. The strategy is already seeing major benefits with traffic fatalities having been reduced by 23% since 2013. An official report reveals that the city’s road safety programme is having a positive effect, due in part to the use of data to identify prime factors in road deaths from crashes.
    Read More

Highlighted Content