Killer Roads

[SimonMac]

I assume its all realtive, the M25 is deemed safe as the deaths per x number of journeys are lower than the likes of Snake Pass etc

[DodgyAgent]

I notice all the dangerous roads are in the North. Is this because most of the cars are nicked and driven dangerously?

[NickFitz]

Roman roads are famous for their twistyness.

Good point

The Fosse Way is the straightest road in Britain, so it's rather odd seeing it decried for its twistiness

From my experience of maniacs accelerating towards me on the wrong side of the Fosse Way, the real problem is the long, straight stretches. There's always some idiot four cars behind a caravan who completely misjudges the overtake because they can see a long way ahead and apparently fail to take account of the fact that the traffic coming towards them is going at 60mph. I've sometimes had to slow down to less than 30mph just to make sure they have a fighting chance of getting in front of the caravan-towing car before they end up in the front of mine, and they frequently only make it by a whisker. They never seem to think of braking and slotting back in midway, either.

[VectraMan]

The Fosse way, in parts, and some of the Cotswolds have the worst records as they are twisty and carry far slower machinery, like tractors and such like.

Roman roads are famous for their twistyness.

[Howser]

It is indeed volume which makes motorways look all fairly safe. The Fosse way, in parts, and some of the Cotswolds have the worst records as they are twisty and carry far slower machinery, like tractors and such like. It encourages a bit of bravado in getting past them. I recall one road north out of Oxford featuring high on deaths/volume because of that.

I once read a P J Rourke book* in which, iirc, he said he gauged the difficulties of bends in 3rd world countries by seeing how many crosses were up as you approached the apex, the only time to worry he said, was when it was a double apex and more crosses appeared. It's bouquets of flowers in the UK.

*Holidays In Hell.

[DaveB]

It's worked out as a scale of death and serious injury against volume of traffic carried. The motorways may have more accidents on them, but for the volume of traffic they carry the ratio of accidents per vehicle journey is a lot lower.

[northernladuk]

Big difference between 'Killer Roads' and 'Accident Prone Roads'.

Am surprised the A65 to Kirkby Lonsdale is only Amber though.

[OwlHoot]

The M25 etc are designed for high speed and bringing you more or less safely to a stop.

Compare hitting a Crash Barrier and a tree.

Crash barriers you are likely to walk away from, they are designed to crumple and slow your speed.

Trees/Walls/Bridges/Streetlights etc tend to be less forgiving.

Also the M25 doesn't allow Pedestrians or Cyclists, just people encased in metal designed to save their occupants.

Opposing traffic Flows minimises speed differential.

Multiple lanes and you have somewhere to go.

WHS - Twisty turny A roads are _way_ more dangerous than motorways.

One hiccup on a foggy might or a slippery corner, and you're in a head on

[Scrag Meister]

Download of map showing the dangerous roads in Britain.

I was surprised that the M25 is deemed safe, have they not seen the loons that drive there?

Just had a look at the map, and have ridden a few of the red and black ones.

Maybe it should be renamed the best motorcycling roads in the UK.

[vetran]

The M25 etc are designed for high speed and bringing you more or less safely to a stop.

Compare hitting a Crash Barrier and a tree.

Crash barriers you are likely to walk away from, they are designed to crumple and slow your speed.

Trees/Walls/Bridges/Streetlights etc tend to be less forgiving.

Also the M25 doesn't allow Pedestrians or Cyclists, just people encased in metal designed to save their occupants.

Opposing traffic Flows minimises speed differential.

Multiple lanes and you have somewhere to go.

[cojak]

The M1 around Sheffield green - really?!?

[MyUserName]

Download of map showing the dangerous roads in Britain.

I was surprised that the M25 is deemed safe, have they not seen the loons that drive there?

Yeah but most of the time you cannot go fast enough to hurt anyone because of the traffic - believe me, I have tried.

[Halo Jones]

Download of map showing the dangerous roads in Britain.

I was surprised that the M25 is deemed safe, have they not seen the loons that drive there?