Anyone who listens to regular traffic reports in London will be familiar with the words ‘Hanger Lane Gyratory System’ and now it has been named as the road junction most feared by drivers.
Negotiating this infamous system was top of the fear list for 28% of people questioned in a new survey.
Second place went to the to Birmingham’s Spaghetti Junction, with 26% saying it was the junction they hated most.
Next up was the puzzling Marble Arch in London, which can be made even more tricky if you are staring at all the nice cars on show.
The survey also found that women were apprehensive about negotiating the junctions than male drivers. Asked if they avoided particular junctions regularly, 17% of female drivers said yes compared with 9% of male drivers. Age had no discernable effect on levels of anxiety.
The survey was conducted by insurer Highway Insurance and managing director Chris Hill said: ‘I’ve driven round Hanger Lane many times and understand completely why people find it so daunting.
‘Anxiety has a significant impact on drivers’ behaviour so it’s interesting to see how motorists react to these major junctions. I suspect that for many people, the thought of these junctions is actually worse than the reality of driving around them.’
1. Hanger Lane Gyratory System, London (28%)
2. Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham (26%)
3. Marble Arch, London (25%)
4. Elephant and Castle, London (23%)
5. South Mimms, A1/M25 (19%)
6. M4/M5 interchange, Bristol (18%)
7. Magic Roundabout, Swindon (17%)
8. M8 junctions through central Glasgow (14%)
9. Mancunian Way junctions, Manchester (13%)
10. Sheriffhall Roundabout, Edinburgh (11%)
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