Men are being urged to use their head and not lose it at the wheel, as a survey out today by Brake and Direct Line reveals almost one in four (24%) risk catastrophic head-on crashes by overtaking blind, while more than four in 10 (44%) admit speeding at 60mph-plus on rural roads.

Men are much more likely to take these deadly risks than women, according to the survey, and more than twice as likely to have been involved in an overtaking near-miss or incident.

The Brake and Direct Line survey of 1,000 UK drivers found:
• Almost one in four men (24%) and one in six women (18%) admitted overtaking when they couldn't be certain nothing was coming, in the past year.
• One in five men (20%) and one in 10 women (9%) have been involved in an overtaking near-miss or incident while driving in the past year.
• More than half of all drivers (54%) have witnessed an overtaking near-miss or incident by another driver in the past year, with one in five (19%) experiencing a vehicle approaching on their side of the road.
• Over half of women (52%) have been afraid when travelling as a passenger when their driver has overtaken another vehicle in the past year, compared to 44% of men
• More than four in 10 men (44%) have broken a 60mph limit on a rural road, compared to one in four women (24%) and men are twice as likely to do this monthly or more (20% compared to 9%).

Drivers are urged to make Brake's pledge to show their commitment to keeping themselves and others safe.
Brake is also pressing for government and local authority action to lower speed limits on rural roads to 50mph or lower and implement measures to deter speeding and overtaking, especially on crash black-spots and road that pass through rural communities.

Ellen Booth, senior campaigns officer at Brake said: "Overtaking dangerously or driving too fast on rural roads puts yourself and others in grave danger, risking needless deaths and injuries. Some people kid themselves they can get away with excessive speeds and dangerous manoeuvres, because they know the road.

"Yet driving on rural roads is highly unpredictable, and the consequences of risk-taking often horrendous. Every mph faster you go, you reduce your chance of being able to react in an emergency. Overtaking is an especially risky manoeuvre, because it's impossible to be 100% sure you have enough free road ahead.

"That's why our advice is avoid overtaking unless essential, stay well within limits, and slow right down for bends, brows, in bad conditions and in communities. Hang back, slow down and chill out. Prioritising safety above arriving a few minutes faster could spare your family or someone else's a huge amount of heartache."

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