Britain’s roads are far safer today than they used to be, with around 45% fewer fatalities on British roads compared to 2015. However, that doesn’t mean that Britain’s roads are completely without fault. There is a lot of work that still needs to be done and while fatalities have reduced in number considerably, the amount of accidents hasn’t. So, if you’re planning to take a tour around the roads of the UK, here is some information on how to find the safest roads.
Get The Tech
Thanks to Satnavs and numerous apps, you can get consistently up-to-date information of all of the worst effected roads by weather conditions to help you keep away from the hazards caused by bad. While you should never use this tech while you are driving, having it on hand while planning your journey can be a great help.
One of the most popular apps that people used is INRIX. This traffic app helps you plan your route no matter where you want to go and gives you live traffic updates, incident reports, parking information, weather forecasts and recommends you the best time to leave to make it to your destination on time. It automatically updates your route if there are any problems and you can even get live feed from traffic cameras to see road traffic.
Look out for speed cameras
As much as most drivers find speed cameras to be a bother, they do make a difference to your safety as both a driver and a passenger. Studies have found that in some areas with visible speed cameras, accidents have dropped by as much as 27%. While it can’t be said that roads with speed cameras will always be safer, roads with highly visible speed cameras usually convince most drivers to slow down and be a bit more cautious. While it’s not always guaranteed, it is a small precaution that might reduce the likelihood of getting caught in a traffic accident.
Avoid rural roads
Many roads around the U.K are in disrepair, but it tends to be the roads with the least amount of traffic that are in the worst condition and these tend to be the rural roads. Many of these roads are left crumbling and full of potholes and without anyone tending to them, inclement weather can make these roads exceptionally dangerous. Rain and snow can make road surfaces dangerously slippery and the absence of streetlight means that visibility is significantly reduced in foggy weather and at night time.
However, it’s not just disrepair that you need to worry about as a driver. Almost half of all fatal accidents in Britain happen on rural roads. This is usually because there are more hazards on rural roads, like blind bends and dips. These roads also tend to be quite narrow and surrounding foliage can cause obstructions that can catch drivers unawares. If you’re planning to take a trip to the countryside, take extra care when driving on rural roads and keep your speed low enough to avoid unexpected hazards.
If you are ever involved in an accident, don’t wait to make a claim. Do document as much information about the accident as possible and make a road traffic accident claim to receive compensation. While some extra cash in your bank might not save your road trip, it will save you from having to pay for the mistakes of someone else.