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

  • Motorway madness
    September 24, 2019
    A cyclist was recently spotted on the UK’s busy M25 motorway pedalling along the hard shoulder in the wrong direction. Police were alerted by a CCTV operator who saw the rider as he rode past a camera. Officers quickly responded and escorted the cyclist to a place of safety after providing a few words on safety. Cycling is banned on the UK’s motorways.
    Read More
  • Urban gridlock for UK capital?
    March 8, 2017
    The UK’s capital London suffers from some of the worst traffic congestion in Europe, with only Moscow registering far worse conditions on a regular basis. Traffic speeds along key routes in the centre of the city have long had a reputation for being low but recent research shows that they have fallen yet again. According to Transport for London (TfL), average traffic speeds in the centre of the city are just 12.5km/h, roughly the same as they were in the 19th century when the majority of road traffic was ho
    Read More
  • Urban gridlock for UK capital?
    March 8, 2017
    The UK’s capital London suffers from some of the worst traffic congestion in Europe, with only Moscow registering far worse conditions on a regular basis. Traffic speeds along key routes in the centre of the city have long had a reputation for being low but recent research shows that they have fallen yet again. According to Transport for London (TfL), average traffic speeds in the centre of the city are just 12.5km/h, roughly the same as they were in the 19th century when the majority of road traffic was ho
    Read More
  • Brake and Direct Line survey: UK drivers flout traffic laws
    April 28, 2015
    Half of UK drivers in a recent survey admitted to breaking traffic laws and half of these drivers said they did it with intention. Of the drivers who willingly broke the law, half acknowledged they did it because they believed there was little chance of getting caught, or they simply did not agree the law and saw no reason to obey. Road safety charity Brake and vehicle insurance company Direct Line said the survey reveals a worrying attitude by many road users toward safety on highways. Brake said that U
    Read More

Highlighted Content