Driving for Work: Mythbusters
52 common misconceptions – and the facts employers and drivers need to know
Myth 19: High speed motorways are dangerous – I stick to rural routes
Motorways are statistically the safest roads in the UK on a per-mile-travelled basis. Their design, with everyone travelling in the same direction, and barriers separating opposing flows of traffic, dramatically reduces collision risk compared to rural or urban roads.
Close to two-thirds of all injuries happen on urban roads due to the high volumes of traffic, junctions and many vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians, leading to frequent injury collisions. Rural A-roads are significantly more dangerous, combining high speeds, narrow carriageways, hidden junctions, and vulnerable road users. Well over half (around 60%) of road fatalities occur on rural roads.
Drivers who avoid motorways believing they are taking the safer option may actually be increasing their risk exposure considerably. Employers should consider route risk as part of their journey planning process.
Driver takeaway:
Do not avoid motorways because you assume they’re more dangerous. Per mile travelled, they are the safest roads in the UK.
The rural A-road you take instead may carry significantly higher risk.
Manager takeaway:
Include route risk in your journey planning processes.
Where drivers routinely choose slower but statistically more dangerous routes, consider whether scheduling pressure is a factor and address it at source.
