The Automobile Association (AA) is warning that badly designed rural roads are continuing to pose a high risk to motorists.
The AA Motoring Trust has published its second league table of the most dangerous roads in Britain, with the worst three roads all in north-west England.
But the AA does say improvements introduced on rural roads following similar research last year has saved at least 20 lives
What has been your experience? Which do you think is the worst road in UK? Send us your comments.
The following are a selection of comments sent by you.
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Your reaction:
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There are no "dangerous roads" only "dangerous drivers"
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There are no "dangerous roads" only "dangerous drivers".
And while we go on wearing our blinkers and thinking that speed is the only thing that determines how safe or dangerous your driving is, we will continue to suffer from them.
Simon Moore, EU
Having driven extensively through much of the UK, I would say poor signage in and near the towns/cities is a problem, at least for visitors.
Garth,
Canada
I doubt that the proliferation of 20mph speed zones will make roads safer, it encourages pedestrians not to use designated crossings as they are told the road will now be much safer.
Bob, UK
The speed camera debacle has helped create a society where dangerous, careless drivers are - so long as they slow down before the camera - extremely unlikely to be taken off our roads.
Jon Hansen,
England
As a highways engineer I agree some roads could be much better, but many roads have evolved from being nothing more than rural tracks 200 years ago that meandered around private field boundaries, long since lost or have been shoe horned in to urban areas restricted by buildings and other obstructions. It's only in the last sixty years or so roads have been constructed for cars and not carts.
A solution? Rebuild the roads. No, not build new ones but rationalise and improve existing routes to remove dangerous geometry, bottlenecks and poor visibility particularly in rural areas. The former roads can then be returned to nature and the amount of 'tarmacing over the countryside' is balanced.
Ian, UK
I'd nominate the A19 between York and Thirsk. It's a single carriageway, 20-mile stretch with lots of blind summits, adverse cambers, deceptive bends and junctions from which vehicles are trying to join a 60mph carriageway from a standing start. If, like me, you actually obey the speed limit, you are being constantly tailgated by constant stream of idiots (including lorry drivers) seeking to enforce their belief that the law does not apply to them, a process which usually culminates in a reckless overtaking attempt. They should put some speed cameras on that road, and the sooner the better.
Leo Enticknap, UK
Pretty much all of Oxfordshire. The County Council seems to have come up with the idea of spending the roads budget on painting cycle lanes green, bus lanes red and the roads just before roundabouts tan.
They've killed two birds with one stone, by not maintaining the roads they save money and all of the potholes act as inverted speed humps
Rufus, Oxford, UK
Firstly, I have moved from India and have lived in UK for about 5 years now. Since then I have felt that roads in UK are quite narrower then India and most of the people park their car on the pavement. Unfortunately, I felt that driving in UK is as tough as driving in India. This was a bit of shock since you expect UK to have far better roads then other countries.
Nisha, UK
Roads do not cause accidents, people cause accidents, be they walking cycling, riding or driving. Speed is not the enemy either, it is the dangerous drivers that speed cameras can never detect. As for blaming the road it is pathetic, it is like blaming the hammer when you hit your thumb.
Mike Hall,
UK
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The roads on all new housing estates are dreadful
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The roads on all new housing estates are dreadful. Far too narrow with poor visibility at junctions. Cars parked half on the pavement due to new garages being too small to accept a standard family car. Children are definitely not taken into account when these developments are designed.
Tony H, UK
How about the A1 as it goes through the East midlands? In a few miles it can vary from a modern 4 lane motorway to a potholed dual carriageway with bus stops and tractors pulling out in front of you.
Peter, UK
The worst junction I have came across, is the Junction from Louden Theme Park, turning on to the A77 going towards Glasgow. There is no slip road, and because of the theme park it is a very busy junction. I had to cross this in a van, which involved driving across two busy lanes of fast moving traffic to the gap in the middle, due to the length of the van I had to sit at an angle, making sure the rear of the van was clear of traffic behind me, while waiting for a gap in traffic. Due to the large blind spot of a van it made judging gaps in traffic extremely difficult. It's not a junction I would even attempt with a bus full of children, but many drivers have to. Why this junction was never included with the motorway upgrades I will never know.
Donald, Scotland
Pretty much any road when you are a cyclist.
Ian,
UK
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Britain has a general problem with poor road design leading to accidents
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I would say that Britain has a general problem with poor road design leading to accidents. Too many roads, especially around towns, are designed on the assumption that all users will be well aware of all the idiosyncrasies, and will know well in advance when to change lane or take some other action to get in the right position. For locals, this may well work. For others, though, it is a case of having to concentrate on both driving and navigating an illogical and counter-intuitive road layout at the same time. The results are often inevitable, and nothing to do with poor driving.
David Hazel, UK
Downs Court Rd Purely, Surrey (boy racer country) - Wing mirror on my car broken off by a passing car - whilst my car was parked. I have nearly been hit (standing on the pavement) by a speeding, out of control car whilst walking home. I have also witnessed two serious collisions between cars and parked cars. Cars regularly hit 60mph, on this residential road. The road is covered with skid marks, many of which mount the pavement. And I've only lived there for about 3 months!
Dan,
UK
I nominate the A55 in Anglesey. This road is a death trap. The surface is incredibly smooth and has caused me to skid once or twice. The views are nice though.
Barry, UK
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It's the drivers that cause accidents, not roads
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I agree with you Andy, I was a Road Traffic Police Officer for 28 years, and never dealt with an accident that was caused by a road, it's the drivers that cause accidents, not roads.
Lester Stenner, UK
A23 through Brixton and Streatham, south London. Do that trip twice a day on a motorbike and you'll learn the definition of dangerous road!
Doug, UK
It's not the roads that are dangerous it's the drivers who can't drive safely!!!
Andy, UK
Cars now have anti-lock breaks and traction control systems and too many drivers think this will allow them to defy the laws of physics, with the inevitable end result.
Lee, Gloucester, UK
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I've witnessed people driving like maniacs
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It's got to be the M25 - I've witnessed people driving like maniacs.
John, UK
The worst road in Britain has to be the M6. There is always bad traffic at Spaghetti Junction and once you are through that traffic jam there is always an accident. A three hour journey to Manchester once took me over six hours because of traffic and then an accident.
Nina, London, UK
My parents live in the North West of England. A couple of Christmas' ago, the weather was freezing, it started to rain, and the rain froze on the roads, forming black ice. I was unfortunate to be driving at the time, and I was amazed at how treacherous the normally safe roads had become. The roads near where my parents live are twisty and windy, great for driving in normal conditions, but on that night 10mph was too fast! I later found out that two people had lost their lives on the same road I had been driving down.
Richard, UK