Insurance Firm Publishes New Driving Code for Rural Roads

An insurance provider has issued a new set of guidelines aimed at reducing fatalities on the United Kingdom’s rural road network. NFU Mutual introduced the Code for Countryside Roads following recent data from the Department for Transport (Dft), which indicated a 70% higher death toll on rural routes compared to urban thoroughfares, even though the number of accidents was less than half. This code serves as a directive for drivers, assisting them in navigating rural roads “safely and respectfully.” Andrew Chalk, who specializes in rural road safety for the insurance firm, stated: “The golden rule is patience – you’re not going to lose much time if you slow down.” The 2024 Rural Road Safety Report by NFU Mutual revealed that accidents on rural roads have approximately four times greater likelihood of leading to a death. During an interview with BBC Radio Wiltshire, Mr. Chalk highlighted that rural roads present “unique hazards,” particularly during the colder months. He remarked: “You’ve got to think of things like ice and rain, compacted leaves and low winter sun – it’s a cocktail for disaster essentially.” He further advised: “Our message to people would be drive or ride or walk according to condition – don’t treat the speed limit as a target.” A survey conducted by NFU Mutual involving over 2,000 individuals indicated that 21% confessed to feeling uneasy when driving on rural routes. Mr. Chalk attributed excessive speed frequently to either a “lack of confidence or over confidence” among drivers on these roads. “Either one can be disastrous,” he stated. He elaborated: “They [members of the public] might have grown up in the city of they might not be fully comfortable using rural roads and they don’t actually have the skills or knowledge to handle the hazards that come their way. “Conversely, a lot of people may have lived in the countryside for a long time, they know the roads, they know where they’re going and that can cause their speed to creep up or for them to take a little bit less care.” Regrettably, the consequence of these behaviors is the loss of lives. The safety expert further noted that reducing speed would not significantly affect one’s daily schedule, but “it could save your life or the life of someone else.” BBC Radio Wiltshire interviewed residents in Bradford-on-Avon to gather their perspectives on operating vehicles on rural roads during the winter season. One interviewee commented: “I probably drive slower than the speed limit on country roads.” They added: “If I’m driving round a bend you can’t see and the road is narrow.” The individual also observed: “It tends to be the people in the SUVs, supposedly country cars, that really hog the road.” A different motorist expressed reassurance from the proximity of emergency services. He stated: “I am comfortable driving on the roads in rural Wiltshire. I think we’ve got a great road infrastructure in the UK and so personally I’m quite happy.” For updates, follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.