A study has revealed that accidents on Britain’s roads cost us a staggering £36 billion each year – more than GP services and primary schools combined. Here, we let you know the 10 roads you should avoid.
The EuroRAP (European Road Assessment Programme) assesses motorways and A roads outside of urban areas. It's ranked roads that are ‘persistently higher risk,’ with the A537 from Macclesfield to Buxton coming out on top. EuroRAP assessed data by UK county between 2010-12 and 2013-15.
These are the roads that EuroRAP has rated as ‘persistently higher risk.’ They've seen no significant improvements over the two data periods – 2010-2012 and 2013-2015 – and have been rated as 'high' or 'medium-high' risk during both time frames.
Road | Fatal and serious crashes (10-12) | Fatal and serious crashes (13-15) |
---|---|---|
1. A537 – Macclesfield to Buxton | 11 | 12 |
2. A254 – from junction with A28 in Margate to junction with A255 near Ramsgate | 8 | 15 |
3. A259 – from junction with A2036 at Glyne Gap to just outside Ore | 21 | 31 |
4. A588 – from Lancaster to junction with A585 outside Poulton-le-Fylde | 20 | 29 |
5. A6 – from junction with A589 in Lancaster to M6 junction 33 | 25 | 26 |
6. A32 – from M27 J10 to Delme Roundabout; Quay St roundabout to Gosport ferry | 28 | 38 |
7. A3055 – junction with A3054 in Freshwater to junction with A3054 in Ryde | 31 | 36 |
8. A21 – from junction with A2100 to junction with A259 at Hastings | 14 | 15 |
9. A18 – junction with A46 near Laceby to junction with A16 near Ludborough | 13 | 11 |
10. The A4 – from junction with Huntercombe Spur to junction 5 of M4 | 26 | 26 |
The EuroRAP ‘persistently higher risk’ category is a category given to roads that are "busy higher risk roads where serious crashes are little improved or worsening."
EuroRAP wants to ensure that road safety remains high on the government’s agenda, pushing for investment into Britain’s roads to make them safer.
The Road Safety Foundation has launched a risk map of the UK’s most dangerous roads, the Road Crash Index, which lets you see road crash data by county.
The risk map then gives you the opportunity to get in touch with your local MP over email or Twitter.
Here are the five most dangerous counties to drive in, looking at the average annual total cost of crashes between 2010-2012 and 2013-2015.
County | Cost of crashes (10-12) | Cost of crashes (13-15) |
---|---|---|
1. South Glamorgan | £105 million | £115 million |
2. Somerset North and Bath | £91 million | £98 million |
3. North Yorks and Teeside | £73 million | £76 million |
4. Surrey | £52 million | £60 million |
5. Devon | £109 million | £105 million |
The EuroRAP report also highlights the 10 most improved roads over the same time period, which include the A1451 in the South West and even the infamous M25, which showed a 73 per cent improvement in fatal and serious accidents from 2010-12 to 2013-15.
Tallying up the number of hours Britons have lost to traffic is enough to make anyone weep, as is the subsequent cost to the UK economy.
But this is exactly what the folks at traffic analysts Inrix have been studying, according to the BBC.
Inrix have revealed that:
Lost hours caused by traffic disruption can be very costly and with some roads proving more dangerous than others, being mindful could help you stay safe.
Some safety measures go without saying – keeping your vehicle safe to drive (for example by knowing when your MOT test is due), not using your mobile phone while driving, and wearing a seatbelt aren’t just recommendations, they’re legal requirements.
Over the next few years, keeping up to date with vehicle technology could help make Britain’s roads safer.
In its 2017 five-year road safety strategy, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) noted that in the next four years we could start seeing vehicles that you can park with line-of-sight remote control.
In terms of avoiding traffic, the RAC suggests some relatively straightforward advice. This includes leaving earlier or later than when most cars will be on the road, avoiding main roads during peak hours, and looking for alternative routes when possible. The RAC also suggests avoiding common congestion hotspots, for example shopping centres, DIY superstores, and beaches.
How do you stay safe on Britain’s roads? Let us know in the comments below.
As the UK's biggest business insurance provider, we specialise in public liability insurance and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored tradesman insurance quote?
Start your quoteWe create this content for general information purposes and it should not be taken as advice. Always take professional advice. Read our full disclaimer
Keep up to date with Simply Business. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on social media.
Subscribe to our newsletter6th Floor99 Gresham StreetLondonEC2V 7NG
Sol House29 St Katherine's StreetNorthamptonNN1 2QZ
© Copyright 2022 Simply Business. All Rights Reserved. Simply Business is a trading name of Xbridge Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Registration No: 313348). Xbridge Limited (No: 3967717) has its registered office at 6th Floor, 99 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7NG.