Drivers taking risks to avoid increasing congestion

With Britain’s roads getting busier, drivers have admitted to employing hazardous manoeuvres to avoid delays to their journeys, new research suggests.

New figures from the Department for Transport (DFT) show that 333.7 billion vehicle miles were driven on Great Britain’s roads in the 12-month period ending September 2024. 

This was up 1.4% compared to the year ending September 2023.

Cars accounted for 76% of all motor vehicle traffic on Great Britain’s roads, while van traffic has increased in recent years, now accounting for 18% of all motor vehicle traffic.

A fifth (21%) of motor vehicle miles travelled were on motorways, almost half (44%) on ‘A’ roads, and more than a third (35%) on minor roads. 

That means almost two-thirds (65%) of motor vehicle miles travelled were on major roads (motorways and ‘A’ roads) despite comprising only 13% of the road network by length.

As a result, 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, compared to free flow, a 10.7% increase on the previous year.

Meanwhile, the average speed was estimated to be 56.2 mph for the year ending, down 1.7% from September 2023.

Research from IAM RoadSmart shows that drivers engaged in hazardous manoeuvres to avoid congestion. 

More than a quarter (27%) of the 2,000 drivers, polled for the 2024 IAM RoadSmart Road Safety Report, admitted to performing dangerous manoeuvres such as U-turns in the middle of a road to beat traffic jams, while one-in-ten (11%) confessed to running a red light to save time. 

A small minority (8%) admitted to proceeding beyond a traffic light changing to red only to end up blocking an intersection.

DfT data shows that more than half of motorists are diverting from motorways to potentially less safe rural roads to avoid traffic jams and congestion.

IAM RoadSmart found that over the past 12 months, 51% of drivers have diverted from a congested motorway and headed for a country lane instead.

Statistically, rural roads are the most dangerous roads in Britain, with nearly 1,000 deaths occurring on them annually, according to the DfT. 

This compares to 84 killed on motorways and 273 fatalities on urban roads in 2023. 

Many country roads are narrow, with limited safe places to overtake, and characterised by a poor road surface and blind bends.

With more than three quarters (83%) reporting that they have had more than 30 minutes added to their journey because of congestion over the past year, IAM RoadSmart says it is small wonder that motorists are finding other routes and diverting onto rural roads to save time. 

However, by doing so they may be putting themselves and others at a greater risk of a collision.

Frustrating driving habits are also totting up the time spent on the road, with 80% reporting that they had been delayed momentarily waiting for a driver that had failed to indicate at a junction or roundabout.

Traffic jams and delays are manifesting in impatience, with more than a third (31%) beeping their horn to get the driver in front to hurry up. 

IAM RoadSmart director of policy and standards, Nicholas Lyes, said: “It is extremely concerning but somewhat understandable that more than half of motorists are diverting onto country lanes to avoid traffic jams. 

“Many people lead busy lives and it’s not surprising that they are trying to save time by picking another route.

“Rural roads are often winding, full of blind spots and lacking in pavements. National speed limits can also lull drivers into a false sense of security that these are appropriate limits; in many cases, they are not. 

“We would encourage roads authorities to review and where appropriate reduce speed limits on certain sections of these roads. 

“Also, while focus is rightly put on improving existing roads rather than building new ones, Government should be prepared to expand capacity on congested parts of the strategic road network.”