5 most dangerous roads in the UK

[juliet447]

Stats from the AA out today. Quite nice that the A537 does not make a show, but the A54 does, which is on the south part of the "loop" that a lot of the bikers go around.

A682 LANCS AND NORTH YORKS BORDER
24km
Fatal/serious collisions 1998-2000 - 27
2001-03 - 27 (No change)
Fatal and serious collision rate - 266/bn vehicle km
Most common collision type - head-on (36%)

A54 CONGLETON TO BUXTON
24km
Fatal/serious collisions 1998-2000 - 17
2001-03 - 20 (+18%)
Fatal and serious collision rate - 195/bn vehicle km
Most common collision type - running off road (35%)

A84 CENTRAL SCOTLAND
44km
Fatal/serious collisions 1998-2000 - 38
2001-03 - 29 (-24%)
Fatal and serious collision rate - 156/bn vehicle km
Most common collision type - head-on (45%)

A59 SKIPTON TO HARROGATE, NORTH YORKS
30km
Fatal/serious collisions 1998-2000 - 45
2001-03 - 36 (-20%)
Fatal and serious collision rate - 152/bn vehicle km
Most common collision type - junctions (51%)

A53 LEEK TO BUXTON, STAFFS/DERBYSHIRE BORDER
20km
Fatal/serious collisions 1998-2000 - 18
2001-03 - 16 (-11%)
Fatal and serious collision rate - 151/bn vehicle km
Most common collision type - running off road (50%)

[Raify]

Apart from the one in Scotland, they're all bunched together in roughly the same area!

[off_again]

Yeah, I spotted that one on the BBC website too. Interesting that the major contributors to accidents in the most dangerous roads is NOT speed. In fact the most frequent types are head-on collisions and running off the road..... both driver skill and awareness related.....

And how many of these roads have speed cameras? Or are speed cameras useless and pathetic tax generators?

[Plotloss]

Derbyshire sounds like a cracking laugh.

[mcecm]

off_again said:

And how many of these roads have speed cameras?

I only know the A84 out of that list, it's got markings for about 3 or 4 cameras and the post at the side of the road where they should be, but no actual cameras. Been like that for at least 5 or 6 years...Only ever seen mobile units/lasers in 30 mph zones.
I can well imagine that the head to heads are due to frustrated drivers being stuck behind tourists though. Would be good to get a breakdown of the accidents per month too.

[Mr Whippy]

A59 near me is a bad road, not because of the lay of it, but the people who use it.

Just down to crap drivers imho. It's a damn good road for the most part, no poor surfacing, new junctions and sections of hashing type stuff in lots of areas, generally open and clear, and I'd say very safe if you drive right in your head! A well kept road really, better than lots of other roads in the area!

Also, it's a main tourist route to the Dales, and in summer is just packed with slow drivers and caravans etc, which puts the HGV's which are heavy users of the road, and the existing car users at a huge speed disparity. Causes lots of overtaking, and thats bad considering the nature of the road.

This road runs over moorland, steep sided snaking ravine type lanscapes, open moor tops, undulating land...
The terrain is changeable. It's a bad road if you don't know it. Weather can be bad all of a sudden can snow or rain or thick fog, it's a bad road if you want to overtake in a low-powered car, it's a road you need to respect.

If your a good driver, you'll drive appropriately, and you'll be ok!
I suppose if you drive it with respect (as you should with any road), then you'll be totally fine. It's when you decide to do something against your better judgement, it can be quite unforgiving. Ie, blind crests on straights that cars can be hiding under etc...

Bad road if your a bad driver...

Dave

>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Wednesday 9th March 11:21

[jacobyte]

Plotloss said:

Derbyshire sounds like a cracking laugh.

Not if someone you loved is one of those statistics.

[Flat in Fifth]

mcecm said:

I can well imagine that the head to heads are due to frustrated drivers being stuck behind tourists though.

Links to the full report and area maps are on this page >>

www.aatrust.com/aamotoringtrust/road_safety_pdfs.cfm
File sizes from thick end of 6Mb down to about 2Mb.

When I get more time to read the whole thing I'll be interested to see how the A52 in Lincs/Notts stacks up.

Long time since used that road but at the weekend that was one of THE most frustrating drives have had in a long time.

In Lincs anyone with a GPS system must experience it on DEFCON 1 alert about 95% of the time judging by the Gatso markings which seem to be every half mile or so.

The result is that there are queues of traffic in SC NSLs following the 40-45 mph plodder. It only needs a couple or three vehicles too scared or not capable of overtaking and then any attempt at progress becomes even riskier than normal. Risk to licence, or risk due to extra time on wrong side. All of course not helped by failure to maintain gaps in the traffic queue.

Don't even get me started about people deliberately closing gaps to prevent others overtaking........

Also interesting to note the much lower rate in Sweden measured in vehicle kilometres. OK I know roads are much quieter and the country as a whole is less populated. Also interesting to note that the roads which are high risk Sweden are providing the Eurorap dualling system previously discussed when someone inadvisedly goes off on one of his "Well Specs have been the answer on the Stocksbridge bypass" inane ramblings.

[Size Nine Elm]

juliet447 said:

A84 CENTRAL SCOTLAND 44km Fatal/serious collisions 1998-2000 - 38 2001-03 - 29 (-24%) Fatal and serious collision rate - 156/bn vehicle km Most common collision type - head-on (45%)

Another statistic on this - over 1/3 of fatalities were bikers.
The road is a main A road, but quite twisty, with few overtaking opportunities, and also riddled with caravans and sunday-driver-tourists in the summer. I've seen many lunatic overtaking manoevres by cars and bikers, and it's no surprise there are head-ons from such. Great road for driving when its clear, but otherwise you have to be patient, and maybe need to hang back for 10 miles to wait for an overtaking opportunity.

[cuneus]

""Well Specs have been the answer on the Stocksbridge bypass" inane ramblings"

Streetcop

[jacko lah]

jacobyte said:

Plotloss said: Derbyshire sounds like a cracking laugh. Not if someone you loved is one of those statistics.

I think that was sarcasam ?

[woodytvr]

Flat in Fifth said:

mcecm said: I can well imagine that the head to heads are due to frustrated drivers being stuck behind tourists though. Links to the full report and area maps are on this page >> www.aatrust.com/aamotoringtrust/road_safety_pdfs.cfm File sizes from thick end of 6Mb down to about 2Mb. When I get more time to read the whole thing I'll be interested to see how the A52 in Lincs/Notts stacks up. Long time since used that road but at the weekend that was one of THE most frustrating drives have had in a long time. In Lincs anyone with a GPS system must experience it on DEFCON 1 alert about 95% of the time judging by the Gatso markings which seem to be every half mile or so. The result is that there are queues of traffic in SC NSLs following the 40-45 mph plodder. It only needs a couple or three vehicles too scared or not capable of overtaking and then any attempt at progress becomes even riskier than normal. Risk to licence, or risk due to extra time on wrong side. All of course not helped by failure to maintain gaps in the traffic queue.

Made that trip out to Norfolk on Friday returning on Sunday. Both days perfect sunshine, should imagine it's even worse in the wet with limited visability.

I too would love to see the stats for the same reasons. What a poorly designed crock of shite.

Plus the usual flashing of the headlights when you overtake - It's safe get over it.

[miniandy]

It doesn't mention the A77 - I would say this is much more dangerous than the A84..

[Peter Ward]

Size Nine Elm said:

juliet447 said: A84 CENTRAL SCOTLAND 44km Fatal/serious collisions 1998-2000 - 38 2001-03 - 29 (-24%) Fatal and serious collision rate - 156/bn vehicle km Most common collision type - head-on (45%) Another statistic on this - over 1/3 of fatalities were bikers. The road is a main A road, but quite twisty, with few overtaking opportunities, and also riddled with caravans and sunday-driver-tourists in the summer. I've seen many lunatic overtaking manoevres by cars and bikers, and it's no surprise there are head-ons from such. Great road for driving when its clear, but otherwise you have to be patient, and maybe need to hang back for 10 miles to wait for an overtaking opportunity.

On the radio this morning there was an acknowledgement that bikers were the major cause of the statistics. But the solutions being mentioned -- the usual cameras/lower speed limits -- would obviously be imposed on everyone.

I don't have a problem with bikers wishing to take risks because the know the consequences. I don't think it's right when they cause hurt to others, though. However, surely there must be a case here for addressing the specific bike-related issues rather than impose further blanket restrictions? Unless of course the objective was to make every driver's life a misery -- now why would I think that?

PS. The road into Stratford on Avon from the north has had a few bike deaths over the years. A camera appeared last year, 1/2 mile away from the usual crash spot, and vans have been 1 mile away in the other direction for a couple of years. Recently they've put huge chevron markers on every bend along the road -- quite the most unattractive street furniture you've ever seen. This over-the-top approach, when the most dangerous double-bend-on-steep-hill still doesn't even have a "warning, take extra care" sign on it, just seems again to be a case of punishing everyone for the sake of a minority.

Education and information instead of punishment, please!

Edit: sorry, didn't mean to use "overkill" in such a discussion -- hardly tasteful.

>> Edited by Peter Ward on Wednesday 9th March 15:48

[Mr Whippy]

All those new so called "usefull" road markings are also the last thing a biker wants when pushing on... Can you imagine hitting an array of chevrons that are a bit slippy?!

I dunno, but personally, all those red strips that go 3 - 2 - 1 into a slower zone really pee me off. What is the point?
If you can't or have not seen the 30 sign in the first place you really shouldn't be driving.

Uh well... the shite hole of a country we live in now. Run by retards who know bugger all!

Dave

[chassis 33]

off_again said:

Yeah, I spotted that one on the BBC website too. Interesting that the major contributors to accidents in the most dangerous roads is NOT speed. In fact the most frequent types are head-on collisions and running off the road..... both driver skill and awareness related..... And how many of these roads have speed cameras? Or are speed cameras useless and pathetic tax generators?

Raify said:

Apart from the one in Scotland, they're all bunched together in roughly the same area!

The A534 from Wrexham out to Congleton, via Crewe was rated 7th a few years back, again another twisty road with few overtaking opportunities, from the English border to Natwich (~20mniles) its a constant left right twist.

From Wrexham to the far side of Crewe theres only one camera, (a GATSO about half way betweent he A41 and A49 incase youre interested), the only problem is most accidents in that particular region happen 1/4mile up the road as cars lose control when they go light over the crest of a hill thats also a corner, most accidents occur coming towards the camera...

Seeing as its one of the main routes from the M6 to north wales there are lots of lorries and its not uncommon for people to get frustrated being stuck behind a 30mph lorry and try a pass with limited forward visibility, leading to head-on's, especially if you dont know the road.

Regards
Iain

[HarryW]

I see on the same site the AA formal view on the governments 'speed review' is there, see

AA said:

Summary of AA Views * Road hierarchies should be more clearly defined, and linked to how a road is used – as a through route, a local distributor, a residential road, and so on. * All speed limits should be reviewed in a formal programme with a timetable and budget. Getting the right speed on the right road is the single most pressing road safety issue – the benefits of a review are more than proportionate to the costs. * Speed limits should be reconciled to the character of the road (and vice versa). * Where the character of the road and the limits must be at odds, there must be an explanation of why the limit is what it is (eg “deceptive bends”). * The link between the 30mph limit and streetlights should end - it is not understood. * Repeater signs should always be permitted. * The “derestricted” sign should go and be replaced with the speed limit in force. * The national maximum speed limits should be retained at their present levels. * The enforcement practice on motorways must not change without a further review of the speed limit. * Cameras must not be deployed so that the enforcement of speed limits is perceived to be for revenue raising rather than casualty reduction. * Where the hierarchy permits, lower speed limits can reduce casualties and improve the quality of life – but 20mph limits must be self-enforcing through investment in the streetscape. * Authorities must implement speed limits that respect the integrity required of a national system. If they set speed limits too low and ignore police objections, they undermine motorists’ acceptance. * Formal quality assurance processes, including audit, should be applied to all speed limits. * Innovative approaches to speed limit signing, variable speed limits, and helping the driver adopt the right speed for the road should be researched and developed.

Agree with most of what they are saying which is mainly along the lines of 'appropriate speed limits', but disagree with the Motorway limit remaining the same.

Harry


>> Edited by HarryW on Wednesday 9th March 16:51

[Pies]

How can a road be dangerous,its a static object?

[MR2Mike]

Pies said:

How can a road be dangerous,its a static object?

So is a mountain but climbing it is quite dangerous. A hidden mineshaft is static, but dangerous if you fall down it. A stick of dynamite could be static, but still very dangerous.

[rsvmilly]

off_again said:

Yeah, I spotted that one on the BBC website too. Interesting that the major contributors to accidents in the most dangerous roads is NOT speed. In fact the most frequent types are head-on collisions and running off the road..... both driver skill and awareness related..... And how many of these roads have speed cameras? Or are speed cameras useless and pathetic tax generators?

I hate speed cameras as much as the next man but its hard to argue that speed wasn't involved in people running off the road. Going too fast for their abilities?

(God, I never thought I'd be arguing this point)