Country roads ‘deadliest’ in Britain
Three people are killed on Britain’s country roads every day, making them the deadliest roads nationwide.
Figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) reveal a total of 1,040 people were killed and 9,051 seriously injured on country roads last year.
Some 348 of the fatalities recorded during the 12-month period occurred on a bend.
In light of the shocking statistics, DfT’s road safety project THINK! has launched a new country roads campaign in a bid to encourage drivers to anticipate hazards and brake before they reach a bend, not on it.
Almost a quarter (23%) of motorists in England and Wales admit to braking too late on bends, according to separate research, while two-fifths (41%) claim to have swerved to avoid something in the road.
Among those aged 18 to 24, almost a third (32%) admit reaching a bend too fast, plus a further 14% even take the so-called racing line by crossing into the opposite side of the road to complete a turn faster.
Road safety minister, Andrew Jones, hopes the campaign can persuade drivers to watch their speed and take care when approaching a bend.
