The most dangerous road in the UK is the Cat and Fiddle between Macclesfield and Buxton according to the Road Safety Foundation (RSF) with the equivalent of nearly five fatal or serious injury crashes per mile.

The RSF report 'Simple Measures Save Lives' claims that more than 300 people are alive or have avoided serious injury because just 15 roads have had simple improvements made to them including clearer signs and design of junctions; reviewed and enforced speed limits; resurfacing with high-friction, anti-skid surfaces; and installing central safety barriers.

Dr Joanne Hill of the RSF says: "These are practical, largely inexpensive solutions, which will pay back the costs of investment in an average of 10 weeks. Much of this remedial work can be done as part of routine maintenance."

This year's most improved road is a stretch of the A4128 through Buckinghamshire from Great Missenden to High Wycombe. Over the last two RSF surveys it has seen fatal and serious accidents drop from 19 to 2.

The most common causes of crashes were single vehicles losing control at bends and rear-end collisions at junctions. Often rural, single-carriageway roads with frequent and challenging corners and sweeping bends, with fewer vehicles allow higher speeds making them popular with enthusiasts, although restricted opportunities for safe overtaking can increase frustration.

Improvements to the infrastructure alone might not be enough suggests IAM director of policy and research, Neil Greig: "There is no replacement for experience on as wide a range of roads as possible when learning to drive though. Five star roads and five star cars are essential, but without five star drivers the road safety system is incomplete."
Dr Joanne Hill concludes: "Busy, high-risk roads can be eliminated affordably. 'Simple Measures Save Lives' details the success stories in reducing the most serious crashes and shows how affordable investment in simple measures works."

Carlton Boyce - 23 May 2011