The sun is shining and you want to hit the road to explore a bit of Northern Ireland. While the main roads like the M1 might get you most of the way to your destination, there are times when you’ll likely have to venture on a more rural road. It is during these times that certain dangers may arise that you might not be aware of.
Rural roads may feel safe but they can be far more dangerous than you think. According to Brake, over half of fatal crashes in Britain happen on rural roads. Statistically speaking, rural roads are the most dangerous roads for all road users. In fact, ten times more people die on rural roads than on motorways.
In order to protect you on your journey across northern Ireland, we have come up with a few tips that you may find helpful!
Avoid Taking Risks
It is always best to prepare for the unexpected, especially if you are unfamiliar with the road you’re travelling on. If you’re coming around a corner too quickly you may miss an important obstacle ahead of you. Best practice is to simply assume that there may be someone either cycling or walking ahead of you. Just don’t take the risk. It’s better to get to your destination a little late than get involved in a preventable accident.
Don’t Speed
Speed is by far the biggest factor that leads to accidents on rural roads. While most roads have a 60mph limit, this speed can be unsafe. According to recently released figures, over two-thirds of people killed in speed-related accidents were killed on rural roads.
You should be extra cautious and slow down when you’re driving at night or in rainy conditions as your visibility will be significantly reduced. Make sure to pay extra attention if you’re overtaking or at a junction. Once again, don’t take the risk.
Speaking about the dangers of rural roads, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said “Every 1mph reduction in average speeds causes, on average, a 5% reduction in collisions. This could be the difference between life and death. So please slow down.”
Be Vigilant and Avoid Distractions
Many people assume that rural roads are more secure because they don’t have the same level of traffic and distractions as a city road, but this simply isn’t true. You need to be as vigilant as ever as tractors and even animals may appear out of nowhere. The best way to avoid an accident is to keep yourself focused on the road at all times.
We are car accident specialists with over 50 years of experience in dealing with accidents on rural roads. If you were involved in a road traffic accident please contact us today.
