If there is one thing we do right here in Britain, it’s our road safety. Though we do have our annual pothole season and quite a share of windy and narrow country roads, the UK is still the third safest country in Europe to drive in when it comes down to statistics. That’s a great position to be in, but it doesn’t mean that all of our roads are great – there are still hotspots of both safety and danger. While most UK roads are well-maintained (after pothole-season), some inherently carry more risk.

To be able to determine which are the safest and most dangerous roads, a few key points need to be considered and understood first; it’s not a one-size-fits-all issue. Motorways with national speed limits naturally pose a greater risk than slower A-roads or country lanes. Single carriageways with a lack of a central reservation mean head-on collisions can be more likely. And some junctions consistently see a higher number of accidents due to factors such as poor visibility or complex layouts. But the road is also only as safe as the motorists drive, so be attentive, have sufficient car insurance, and make sure your vehicle is safe for the road to begin with.

Which are the safest stretches?

Recent figures show that there is a slight decrease in overall road casualties in 2023 compared to 2022. A positive and encouraging trend! Generally, motorways are in fact considered to be the safest roads in the UK, even though it might feel counterintuitive at first.

• M42: The uncomplicated stretch between Bromsgrove to Ashby-de-la-Zouch is fantastically dull without so much of an odd junction or slipway.
• M621: A loop that cuts through Leeds city centre before coming out the other end again – very easy to find yourself accidentally joining it when being on the M1, but it’s perfectly equipped to handle the daily commute traffic.
• A14(M): This relatively new stretch between Huntingdon and Cambridge has a lot of new and advanced road safety features – which seem to work perfectly!

Which are the most dangerous roads to drive on?

You should always be vigilant on roads, of course, but knowing when you’re on a high-risk road should empower you to be that slightly extra bit attentive. Here are the most dangerous roads we have in the UK, based on a fantastic recent study:

• A6: The A6, connecting Luton to Carlisle, is widely considered the most dangerous road we have – but it’s also one of the longest. If you look at the figures, there are only 0.248 fatalities per mile of road, meaning it is still and actually quite low.
• A1: The major motorway connecting London to Edinburgh sees a massive volume of traffic passing through it on a daily basis. As it connects several popular cities, its business is a huge contributor to the amount of collisions on it.
• A38: The longest two-digit road in England features a huge number of steep hills, goes around lots of tight turns, and has a high occurrence of merging lanes, making it quite challenging to drive on despite its importance for motorists.
• M25: The M25 connects basically the entirety of Greater London – including air- and seaports and commercially important centres. The biggest issue here is speeding, coupled with it being one of the busiest motorways.
• A628: The small stretch between Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire cuts through the Peak District National Park. With its high altitude and exposure to British weather, it’s prone to a lot of accidents, particularly in winter or severe conditions.
• A537: The short stretch of the Cat and Fiddle between Buxton and Macclesfield has some dangerously sharp bends and steep falls. Its excellent views but challenging bends are the reason for a very high number of accidents on only 7.5 miles of road.

How safe are the roads here in Gloucestershire?

According to a national study of where the most dangerous roads here in the UK are located, we can find ourselves in the broad middle when it comes to Gloucestershire. There are around 1.75-2.00 fatal accidents on our roads annually for every 10,000 residents – not too bad, but definitely ways to improve. We can do our part by reporting maintenance issues for any of our roads and staying vigilant, no matter where we’re driving.