Five things you should know about driving on rural roads

Roads are essential to our everyday lives. Sadly, every year on the Isle of Wight, there are road traffic accidents which result in people being seriously injured or killed.

More than half (52%) of fatal crashes in Britain occur on country roads. Per mile travelled, country roads are the most dangerous roads for all kinds of road user. Car occupants are twice as likely to be killed on a rural compared to an urban road, while cyclists are almost three times more likely to be killed in the countryside.

However, road deaths and injuries are not inevitable. Here are five things you should know about driving on rural roads:

1. Speed is a major factor in country road crashes. A study of rural single-carriageway roads estimated that a 10% increase in average speed results in a 30% increase in fatal and serious accidents.
2. While most rural roads have a 60mph limit this may not be a safe speed to travel. Country roads are often narrow, single lanes and can feature very sharp or blind bends, steep inclines and no pavements or cycle paths for vulnerable road users. They may not be as well-maintained as urban and city roads. Drivers travelling in rural areas need to adapt their driving according to the road conditions.
3. You need to expect the unexpected, particularly in rural areas. Drivers should be aware that there could be a number of hazards on country roads from slow-moving vehicles such as tractors and caravans to pot holes and debris such as fallen branches. Rural roads may also suffer more from wet and icy conditions. These factors mean that if a driver is going too fast, they may lose control of their vehicle.
4. Accidents can occur when drivers get impatient and try to overtake. If you get stuck behind a slow-moving vehicle, it’s important to be patient. Dips in roads, sharp bends and other junctions joining your road often hide oncoming vehicles. In rural areas, avoid overtaking unless it’s absolutely essential.
5. If you are seriously injured in a road traffic accident and it wasn’t your fault, contact expert solicitors. Whether you’ve been injured on a country road or a busy urban route, you need a specialist legal team behind you that understands the complexity of personal injury compensation claims. Novum Law specialises in helping people who have been involved in serious accidents and can help you secure maximum financial compensation. We can also provide access to the best medical experts and care and support providers available to assist with your recovery.

Novum Law is a supporter of ‘Isle Drive Safe’ the Isle of Wight road safety charity launched by families of people killed in road traffic accidents on the Island. It is run by Neal Staley, father of Evey Staley who was sadly killed in August 2012, aged just 10 years old, by a speeding driver who was twice the drink/drive limit.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a road traffic accident Novum Law can help with your serious injury compensation claim on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis with no financial risk. Please call us in confidence at our Newport office on: 01983 216 964 for free expert advice or email: dosullivan@novumlaw.com.