Risks of rural roads exposed in new research
Rural roads have been identified as the most dangerous in the UK, with the A698 between Kelso and Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders topping the list.
RAM Tracking analysed more than 1,500 vehicle alerts to pinpoint the roads that pose the greatest risk, with vehicles on the A698 recording an average of 19.25 alert events each.
Each alert was the result of sharp braking caused by sharp bends, limited visibility and concealed junctions.
Meanwhile, the A6 through Darley Dale in the Derbyshire Peak District recorded 18.50 alerts per vehicle, with almost all due to harsh cornering. Other locations featuring in the top five were Dunfermline and Edinburgh with an average of 11 alerts per vehicle. By comparison, London averaged just 3.69 events per vehicle.
Across the UK, harsh cornering was the most frequently triggered alert accounting for 715 of the 1,567 total events, followed by harsh braking (671) and harsh acceleration (181).
Greatest risk
Richard Blown, chief technology officer, RAM Tracking, said: “Most people would assume London is the most dangerous place to drive in the UK, but our data tells a different story.
“When you look at the rate of dangerous driving events per vehicle, it’s actually roads like the A698 in the Scottish Borders and the A6 through the Peak District that pose the greatest risk. These roads see far fewer vehicles, but the ones that do travel through are significantly more likely to encounter hazardous conditions.
“For businesses with fleet drivers covering rural routes, this data is a wake-up call. Investing in vehicle tracking and driver behaviour monitoring gives fleet managers the visibility to identify problem areas and take action, whether that’s adjusting routes, providing targeted training or simply having a clearer picture of the risks their drivers face.”
