'Confident' London drivers are far more likely to crash on country roads, study finds

"Drivers from London are much more likely to crash on country roads than the rest of the population, despite feeling more confident driving on them. A survey of 2,000 motorists from insurer NFU Mutual found that 38 per cent of Londoners had been involved in a collision on rural roads, contrasted with 23 per cent of people from the rest of the UK."

"The unique hazards found on rural roads from blind corners and junctions to inappropriate speed limits, to navigating vulnerable road users and agricultural vehicles mean that using countryside roads is fundamentally different to travelling on urban roads or motorways. Last year 956 people died in car crashes on rural roads, which was 72 per cent more than on rural roads."

London drivers are substantially more likely to have crashed on rural roads than drivers elsewhere, despite reporting greater confidence on winding country lanes. The survey figures show 38% of Londoners had collisions on rural roads compared with 23% elsewhere, and 75% of London drivers felt more confident on country lanes versus 69% in other regions. Rural roads feature blind corners, junctions, inappropriate speed limits, vulnerable road users and agricultural vehicles, and they account for a much higher share of deaths. Proposed measures include mandatory rural safety courses for offenders, rural training for learner drivers, and national strategy actions such as vision checks and seatbelt enforcement.

Read at www.standard.co.uk