'Most dangerous' roads revealed

Researchers say better road layout can help prevent accidents
Britain's most dangerous road is a section of highway linking Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales, a survey says.

The 15-mile stretch of the A682 has had almost 100 deaths or serious injuries in the last decade.

The report was compiled by the Road Safety Foundation for the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP).

Head researcher Dr Joanne Hill said a further 16 road sections were adjudged to present a persistent "medium to high risk" to road users.

The section of the A682, between junction 13 of the M65 and Long Preston, was the only road in the highest risk category.

The survey found that the second worst road was the A54 Congleton to Buxton in Derbyshire, with the third worst being the A683 from junction 34 of the M6 in Lancashire to Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria.

UK'S MOST DANGEROUS ROADS

• A682 from junction M65 in Lancashire to A65 at Long Preston, North Yorkshire
• A54 Congleton to Buxton, Derbyshire
• A683 from junction 34 on the M6 in Lancashire to Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
• A62 from Diggle to Huddersfield, Yorkshire
• A671 from Burnley to A59 at Whalley, Lancashire
• A653 Dewsbury to junction 28 of the M62 south of Leeds
• A1079 from Market Weighton to Kingston upon Hull
• A53 Leek to Buxton
• A726 from junction 3 of the M77 to Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland
• A46 from Market Rasen to Grimsby

Map and details of the roads

Dr Hill said: "The good news from the survey is that many of Britain's authorities have brought in countermeasures to tackle the higher risk routes in their areas.

"Most are quick, simple and cheap, involving little more than adopting modern signing, hazard markings and junction layouts."

Dr Hill said that the A682 "fails on every collision type".

Rail crash equivalent

These included junction and access road crashes, collisions with rigid roadside objects, overtaking crashes, pedestrian and cyclist collisions and motorcycle crashes.

"The death-toll on this stretch of road is the equivalent of five major rail crashes within 10 years," she said.

"The foundation's consultation with local authorities over the past four years has consistently shown that lack of funding is the principal reason why they do not tackle accident numbers on their roads on the scale that could make a major difference.

"Other local authorities have undoubtedly saved lives - often by the simple application of white paint."

EuroRAP chairman John Dawson said: "The UK is now falling behind those countries it used to lead only a few years ago because its pace in applying the results of research into safe road design lags behind the best.

"Cutting road deaths requires combined action to improve driver behaviour, to improve vehicle crash performance, and to provide safety features on the roads themselves.

"We need five-star drivers in five-star cars on five-star roads."

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