Drivers have admitted to taking risky manoeuvres to avoid delays on their journeys according to a recent survey by IAM RoadSmart.
The research followed the release of new data from the Department for Transport (DFT) whichistock revealed that 333.7 billion vehicle miles were driven on British roads between September 2023 and September 2024, an increase of 1.4% compared to the previous year.
A fifth (21%) of miles travelled were on motorways, almost half (44%) on ‘A’ roads, and over a third (35%) on minor roads. Almost two thirds (65%) of miles travelled were on major roads, despite only accounting for 13% of UK roads.
The average delay on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) for the year ending September 2024 was estimated to be 11.4 seconds per vehicle per mile – a 10.7% increase on the previous year.
Potentially due to increased congestion, more than a quarter (27%) of motorists admitted to performing dangerous manoeuvres to beat the traffic, including risky U-turns. One in 10 (11%) even confessed to running a red light to save time, with 8% admitting that doing so resulted in them blocking an intersection.
Over the last 12 months, 51% of drivers have diverted onto country lanes from motorways due to congestion. Rural roads are the most dangerous roads in the UK, averaging almost 1,000 deaths annually.
With congestion on UK roads continuing to increase, it’s imperative for drivers to remain safety conscious when driving.
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