rural roads - iam roadsmart

motoring trust

www.iamtrust.org.uk

- the biggest killer

An independent voice for responsible motoring and road safety research

Rural roads

� �

On an average day, nine people die on Britain’s roads; six of them are killed on rural roads. But why are roads in the countryside the biggest killers; what are the ingredients in those crashes that make them more dangerous than roads in towns and cities; what are the common factors that point to the causes?

The IAM Motoring Trust asked road safety researcher Jean Hopkin to find out by looking at the official data of over a quarter of a million fatal and serious injury crashes over the six years, between �000 and �005. Her extensive analysis compares all the relevant factors of crashes on rural roads in England, Wales and Scotland.

Two-thirds of fatal and serious casualties on rural roads happen on 60 or 70 mph speed limit non-motorway roads. No matter how skilled and conscientious the driver, the determinants of death, serious or slight injuries on these roads are the impact speed, the EuroNCAP “star rating” of the car, and what the car hits.

Car manufacturers have invested heavily in crash protection so that today new cars are driven out of the showroom with 4 or 5– star crash protection ratings. But not even a 5-star car can protect its occupants in a crash on a 1-star rural road; most are sub-standard in safety and crash protection making them potentially lethal when things go wrong.

But that is now changing. The new science and engineering of “road protection” can make roads more forgiving when a crash happens. The road authority

safety engineers in England, Wales and Scotland have the skills to transform the safety of Britain’s rural roads. Without political support and the resources they can’t do it, but with them hundreds of lives and ten times as many disabling injuries would be saved every year.

The IAM Motoring Trust welcomes a debate on the facts and the issues that Jean Hopkin’s analysis presents. Please let us know what you think should be done to reduce deaths and injuries on Britain’s rural roads.

You can contact us at [email protected] GreigDirectorIAM Motoring Trust

Six years of deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads – the big pictureMore than a quarter of a million roads users were killed or seriously injured on all of Britain’s roads – urban and rural – in the six years between �000 and �005, most on roads in England

Rural roads: the biggest killerIn Wales and Scotland, three-quarters of fatalities occur on rural roads, compared with two-thirds on rural roads in England; more than half of serious injuries are on rural roads in Wales and Scotland, compared with less than half in England.

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0%

43%

57% 64

%

36%

58%

42%

Serious Injuries

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

RuralRoads

0%UrbanRoads

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

62%

38%

76%

24%

75%

25%

Fatalities

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

Two-thirds of those killed or seriously injured on rural roads are car drivers and passengers; a fifth are motorcycle riders

England

In a car63%

RidingMotorcycle

20%

Walking or cycling11%

Others6%

Wales

In a car64%

RidingMotorcycle

19%


Others5%

Scotland


Others7%

In a car66%

RidingMotorcycle

15%

Where, when and why are people killed on rural roads?

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

8,637 18,424

177,971

0

Seriously Injured

1,000

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

17,264

1,057 1,899

0

Killed

In a carTwo-thirds of car occupants killed or seriously injured on rural roads are car drivers; almost a quarter are front seat passengers

Car occupants killed or seriously injured on rural roads

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Drivers0%

Passengers

66%

Front Rear

22%

12%

DriversPassengersFront Rear

63%

24%

13%

DriversPassengersFront Rear

63%

24%

13%

Front

Rear

Passengers

Drivers

% of GB total

England 87%Wales 4%Scotland 9%

Killed Seriously injured

Total 20,220 205,032

2000 – 2005

View the full report at: www.iamtrust.org.uk

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0%

43%

57% 64

%

36%

58%

42%

Serious Injuries

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

RuralRoads

0%UrbanRoads

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

62%

38%

76%

24%

75%

25%

Fatalities

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

RuralRoads

UrbanRoads

4 5

On a pedal cycleThe proportion of pedal cyclist casualties aged 5 to 11 years is twice as high in rural Wales and Scotland than in England

England Wales Scotland

12 - 16yrs15%

5 - 11yrs9%

17 - 24yrs11%

25 - 39yrs22%

40 - 59yrs29%

Over 60yrs14%

Over 60yrs8%

5 - 11yrs15%

12 - 16yrs21%

17 - 24yrs11%25 - 39yrs

22%

40 - 59yrs23%

Over 60yrs11%

5 - 11yrs18%

12 - 16yrs15%

17 - 24yrs7%

25 - 39yrs21%

40 - 59yrs26%

Age A third of fatal and serious injury casualties on rural roads are in cars driven by young drivers, twice as many as in cars with a driver over the age of 60


17 - 25yrs33%

26 - 39yrs28%

40 - 59yrs24%

Over 60yrs15%

Over 60yrs15%

17 - 25yrs36%

26 - 39yrs24%

40 - 59yrs24%

17 - 25yrs31%

26 - 39yrs27%

40 - 59yrs27%

Over 60yrs14%

Three-quarters of rural motorcyclist fatalities and serious injuries are riders aged between �5 and 59


12 - 16yrs5%

17 - 24yrs20%

25 - 39yrs43%

40 - 59yrs29%

Over 60yrs3%

12 - 16yrs3%

17 - 24yrs13%

25 - 39yrs47%

40 - 59yrs32%

Over 60yrs4%

12 - 16yrs3%

17 - 24yrs14%

25 - 39yrs49%

40 - 59yrs32%

Over 60yrs3%

Cars driven by younger drivers that are involved in rural fatal and serious injury crashes are more likely to have three or more car-occupant casualties than any other age group

17-25 yrs

26-39 yrs

40-59 yrs

60-69 yrs

70+ yrs

5%

10%

15%

20%

0%

17%

11%

9% 8%

5%

19%

12%

10%

7% 7%

17%

12%

10%

7% 6%

Dri

vers

in K

SI a

ccid

ents

wit

h 3

or m

ore

casu

alti

es in

car

On a motorcycleRiders/passengers on more powerful motorcycles are the biggest group of rural road biker deaths and serious injuries

England

Up to 50cc7%

Over 125cc80%

51-125cc13%

Wales

Up to 50cc3%

51-125cc10%

Over 125cc87%

Scotland

Up to 50cc3%

Over 125cc85%

51-125cc12%

On foot There are few pedestrian crossings and refuges on rural roads and so only a small proportion of fatal/serious injury accidents happen where they are available

England

Crossing at or near a pedestrian crossing

6%

Wales Scotland

Crossing elsewhere

64%

Walking/standing/playing on road

30%


5%

Crossing elsewhere

66%


29%


5%

Crossing elsewhere

71%


24%

Fewer pedestrians who follow the Highway Code advice to walk along the road facing traffic are killed or seriously injured (KSI) than those who walk with their backs to traffic

% o

f all

pede

stri

an K

SI c

asua

ltie

s

5%

10%

15%

20%

0%

11%

6%

9%

6%

9%

5%

Walking facing traffic

Walking with back to traffic

Men v womenAlmost three-quarters of car occupants killed or seriously injured on rural roads are in cars driven by male drivers; most motorcycle casualties are on bikes ridden by male riders

As pedestrians or cyclists, more men are killed or seriously injured in rural road crashes than women

Male Pedestrian

Male Cyclist

20%

40%

60%

80%

0%

100%Riders / passengers

– male rider

Car occupants - male driver

72%

72%

94%

KSI c

asua

ltie

s w

ith

mal

e dr

iver

/ ri

der

& K

SI m

ale

pede

stri

ans

and

cycl

ists

66%

85% 95

%

70%

66%

94%

96%

66%

82%

72%

94%

KSI = Killed or Seriously Injured

6 7

Days of the weekFriday, Saturday and Sunday are the worst days for rural road deaths and serious injuries


Mon13%

Tues12%

Wed13%

Thur13%

Fri16%

Sat16%

Sun16%

Mon12%

Tues12%

Wed12%

Thur12%

Fri16%

Sat16%

Sun19%

Mon13%

Tues13%

Wed12%

Thur13%

Fri16%

Sat17%

Sun16%

Single carriageway roads – the most deadlyEight in 10 casualties killed or seriously injured on England’s rural roads are on single carriageway roads; an even greater proportion of deaths and serious injuries occur on these lower standard roads in Wales and Scotland

Motorway and dual carriageway

roads

Singlecarriageway

‘A’ roads

‘B’, ‘C’ and unclassified

All single carriageway roads

10%KS

I cra

shes

/ ro

ad t

ype

20%

40%

60%

80%

0%

100%

82%

41%

41%

18%

90%

55%

35%

90%

55%

35%

11%

Lower hierarchy roadsYounger drivers have a higher proportion of crashes on lower hierarchy roads (B, C and unclassified) than drivers in all other age groups

37%

32%

29%

25% 29

%41%

31%

29%

25%

25%20%

40%

60%

45%

17-25 yrs

26-39 yrs

40-59 yrs

60-69 yrs

70+ yrs

36%

35%

35%

36%

KSI c

rash

es /

ages

of d

rive

rs

0%

Speed limitsThree-quarters of fatal and serious injuries on rural roads in England, Wales and Scotland are on 60 or 70mph speed limit roads

0%

3%53

%15

%

3%50

%12

%11

%20%

40%

60%

8%

Motorways

‘A’ roads

‘B’ Roads

‘C’ & u/c roads

40%

11%

14%

80%

Total: 73%Total: 76%

8%

Total: 79%

% o

f KSI

cas

ualt

ies

60 or 70mphspeedlimits

Casualties in single and multi-vehicle crashesA third of fatal and serious injuries in rural road accidents are in single-vehicle crashes; half involve two vehicles


Single Vehicle34%

Two Vehicles50%

Four Vehicles5%

Three Vehicles

11%Single Vehicle

38%

Two Vehicles49%

Three Vehicles

10%

Four Vehicles3%

Single Vehicle40%

Two Vehicles48%

Three Vehicles

9%

Four Vehicles3%

Weather, daylight, darknessTwo-thirds of fatal and serious-injury accidents on rural roads are during daylight hours, on dry roads and in good weather conditions; casualties in Scotland are more likely when the roads are wet than in England and Wales

20%

40%

60%

80%

0%

66%

62%

100%

33%

69%

59%

35%

69%

51%

42%

Daylight

Fine weather, dry road

Raining/wet road

KSI c

rash

es /

wea

ther

and

day

light

Darkness (unlit)23

%

23%

20%

Time of dayA third of rural road casualties are in accidents during the morning and evening peak hours, a third during the day between these peaks, and a third at night


Peak hours7 - 10am

&4 - 7pm

35%

10am - 4pm32%

7pm - 7am33%

Peak hours7 - 10am

&4 - 7pm

33%

10am - 4pm36%

7pm - 7am31%

Peak hours7 - 10am

&4 - 7pm

35%

10am - 4pm34%

7pm - 7am31%

SeasonSummer is the peak season for rural road deaths and serious injuries, particularly during the holiday months of July and August


Winter23%

Spring24%

Summer27%

Autumn26%

Winter22%

Spring24%

Summer30%

Autumn24%

Winter22%

Spring23%

Summer29%

Autumn26%

Car pre-crash manoeuvresA third of fatal and serious injuries to car occupants on rural roads occur when the car is being driven on a bend and around a half occur on straight roads


Tues12%

On a bend31%

Going straight ahead50%

Overtaking5%

Turning right or left

7%

Other7%

On a bend38%


Overtaking6%


5%

Other7%

On a bend36%


Overtaking4%


6%

Other5%

Jean Hopkin BA (Honours)Independent research consultant

Jean Hopkin worked for more than 20 years as a researcher, project manager and team leader at the Transport Research Laboratory, specialising in social policy research in transport and road safety. Since 1995 she has worked as an independent research consultant on a wide range of public sector projects at local, national and EU level. More recently she has also returned to TRL on a part time basis, while at the same time maintaining her independent consultancy role.

Her road safety research has included work on under reporting of road accidents, a national hospital based recording system for road casualties, research into the costs and consequences of road accidents and valuation of accident and casualties. She also worked extensively with road safety practitioners across the UK to develop Vocational Qualifications for professionals in road safety and for all transport professionals.

Jean Hopkin has a degree in Geography, and is married with two teenage children.

Casualties at night and overnightHalf of the fatal and serious-injury crashes on rural roads that involve younger drivers occur in the evening and overnight (7pm to 7am) compared with a third for drivers in the �6 to �9-year-old age group

Motorcycle pre-crash manoeuvresThe proportion of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured when overtaking another moving vehicle on rural roads is twice as high as for car occupants


Overtaking11%


3%

Other7%


On a bend33%

Overtaking11%


2%

Other4%


On a bend47%

Overtaking10%


2%

Other4%


On a bend39%

The four main crash typesThree-quarters of all fatal and serious-injury accidents on rural roads can be grouped into four types


Pedestrian/cyclist13%

At junction30%

Running off the road

20%

Head-on9%

Other28%


At junction27%


20%

Head-on12%

Other26%


At junction24%


24%

Head-on12%

Other25%

Cars running off the roadFour in 10 car occupant casualties on rural roads are in cars that leave the road and hit a roadside object; trees and ditches are significant rural roadside hazards

5%KSI i

n ca

rs r

unni

ng o

ff t

he r

oad

20%

40%

60%

80%

0%

100%

39%

12%

9%

40%

3%

38%

9% 5%

% of all car occupant casualties

Run into a Ditch

Hit a Tree47

%30

%24

%16

% 8%

45%

33%

22%

14% 9%

48%

17-25 yrs

26-39 yrs

40-59 yrs

60-69 yrs

70+ yrs

34%

27%

19% 11

%

KSI c

rash

es a

t ni

ght

/ age

s of

dri

vers

20%

40%

60%

80%

0%

100%

Research by Jean Hopkin

Summary report by Bert Morris

Design by TGDH.co.uk

An independent voice for responsible motoring and road safety research

IAM TrustIAM House510 Chiswick High RoadLondon W4 5RG

motoring trust

www.iamtrust.org.uk

The IAM Motoring Trust is the research, policy and advocacy arm of the Institute of Advanced Motorists LimitedRegistration in England 56�5�0Registered Charity �4900�

View the full report at: www.iamtrust.org.uk

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