Some of the nicest roads to drive around the UK, but they come with their danger!
Some of the nicest roads to drive around the UK, but they come with their danger!
The condition of the road, the road markings, the road signs, and generally the way drivers use the roads will be a crucial part to making them enjoyable to drive or an absolute nightmare.
As much as this first image looks idyllic the next image could put an unconfident driver into melt down mode, and quite rightly so.
Generally it's a case of chalk and cheese between the two images.
Therefore, adaptions NEED to be made to the driving style.
And the likelihood is that the single track road has a limit set on it as a National Speed Limit Road, whereas the other may only have a 40mph limit on it!
There is logic behind how the highways agency or local council may set certain limits on certain roads that to some may think they've gone crazy.
What a lot of driver's tend to forget a lot of the time is that a LIMIT is just that........A LIMIT! it's not a TARGET!
Just because a road show a National Speed Limit sign, it does NOT mean that is the speed you must drive it.
Becoming a safe and sensible driver means you must adapt how your drive.
Things a good driver needs to consider in the least is
Weather conditions.
Condition of the road surface.
Width of the road.
Volume of traffic on that road.
Vision and how far along that road can you see?
The speed limit set for the road.
Your knowledge of the road.
Your experience on the particular type of road.
Your Mental condition.
Your Physical condition.
these are just basic items that need to be considered every time you get behind the wheel of a car.
So, why are National Speed Limit signs placed on roads that as a safe driver you feel they should only have a speed limit of say 30mph?
Let's look at some of the attributes of a 30mph road.
Usually they are on residential roads.
30mph roads will always have street lights on them.
There is usually a heavier volume of traffic on them.
There is usually a larger volume of pedestrians on them.
There are not as many hidden entrances.
These are just some of the more common attributes.
On a single track Rural road the above items are usually the polar opposite.
Hardly any houses (normally just farms and the occasional house dotted here and there.
Single track road with a National speed limit will NOT have street lights, and if they wanted to make it a 30mph road they would have to install them.
This would ruin the aesthetic of the countryside, cost a vast amount of money for the infrastructure to be installed for them, and then the ongoing running costs and repair cost for them.
There is usually a lot less volume of traffic on single track rural roads.
There is usually a smaller volume of pedestrians on them.
There are usually lots of hidden entrances especially onto farmers fields etc.
So, the rule makers deem that drivers will use their intelligence and drive accordingly to what they see ahead of them.
Sadly, this is not always the case, which is why rural roads are the biggest factor in regard to fatalities on UK roads yearly.
If ALL drivers did this, the roads would be a much safer place.
Therefore, when driving on Rural roads just consider some of these factors that you wouldn't necessarily come across on Urban roads.
The ability to drive faster.
Single track roads.
Lots of hidden entrances.
Wild Animals appearing out of nowhere.
Agricultural vehicles.
Hidden dips.
Narrow bridges.
Narrow tunnels
Low tunnels causing larger vehicles to be in the middle of the road.
Tight bends.
Walkers on the road.
Horse riders.
Motorcyclists on the wrong side of the road.
Cyclists in large groups.
