Lancashire-based car leasing company has responded to news that rural driving is 11 times more dangerous than motorway travel, backing a new awareness campaign

People driving on motorways are 11 times less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those on rural roads, recently released research from the government suggests.

According to the data released by the Department for Transport, more than half of all road fatalities (60%) in the country happen on country roads, while a further 25% of drivers surveyed claimed to have been involved in near-miss collisions when travelling along country roads.

But car and van drivers aren’t just the only hazard on country roads as 40% say they’ve had trouble coming into horse and rider hazards unexpectedly and 35% admitted to have driven quickly around a corner because they were unable to sufficiently see round it.

The Department for Transport also reported that in the past year there have been 862 deaths on country roads in England and 7,537 serious injuries.

Drivers going too fast and losing control of their vehicle was discovered to be the biggest cause of rural road collisions.

In light of the findings, Think!, a government-run road safety information company, has called on British drivers to limit their driving speed, give cyclists more room and pay more attention to potential dangers further ahead.

Road safety minister Robert Goodwill explained: “Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world, but most people don’t know that motorists are nearly 11 times more likely to die in an accident on a country road than on a motorway.

“On average, three people die each day on country roads and these are needless tragedies. I want the public to understand these risks and adapt their driving to the conditions they face.”

The new campaign has also found a celebrity endorsement in James Cole, a British Touring Car Championship driver, who stressed that being cautious is essential as “you just don’t know what’s around the next corner.”

UK Carline, a leasing company located in Preston, also added to the calls for drivers to pay greater attention when driving on dangerous country roads and lanes. The company regularly reacts to car and motor related news.

A spokesman for UK Carline said: “It has long been known that the country driving is more dangerous than using motorways but that’s often not reflected in how many drive when in rural areas. Often, especially in quiet areas, drivers are more likely to take risks, driving faster than they otherwise would and putting themselves and others at risk.

“We’re hopeful these newly released figures and the push by Think! to encourage better driving practices will be taken on board by British drivers.”

UK Carline specialise in personal and commercial leasing. They deliver solutions throughout the UK and lease thousands of cars a year. They offer new models from all of the country’s most popular manufacturers. Visit their website today at www.ukcarline.co.uk to find your dream car.