- Motorists are safer than 80 years ago
- Swindon’s ‘Magic Roundabout’ named as one of the world’s worst junctions
- Spaghetti Junction repair work causes chaos for commuters
With autumn upon us and the darker nights creeping in, road safety is more crucial than ever – and as the weather worsens and car care becomes increasingly important, we’re taking a look at some of Britain’s worst roads.
With miles of breathtaking backdrop and stunning scenery, driving in Britain can be beautiful, but with a network of overcrowded roads continuing to mystify motorists, it seems that not all routes in Britain are great.
Whether you love them or loathe them, Britain’s roads are a cause of controversy – and in today’s post, we’re shining the spotlight on some of the most dangerous roads in the UK.
Spaghetti Junction
It’s been a less than desirable year for Birmingham’s Gravelly Hill Interchange, as accidents and road works have led to continuous chaos. More commonly known as Spaghetti Junction thanks to journalist Roy Smith, the interchange is often the cause of irritation for drivers.
Construction began in 1968, taking 4 years to complete – and the interchange now sees up to 300,000 motorists daily. In August this year, those commuters were left stranded when a lorry stuck between the central reservation led to hundreds of drivers coming to a standstill.
While repair work on the infamous interchange might be welcomed by some, the maintenance has caused months of delays – making an already risky route an even greater cause for concern.
Swindon Roundabout
Confusing and captivating drivers for decades, Swindon’s ‘Magic Roundabout’ has been the scene of many an unwelcome accident. Constructed in 1972, the puzzling structure consists of 5 mini roundabouts which run around a central roundabout, which often maddens motorists.
The Swindon Roundabout was once named as one of the world’s worst junctions – and it’s easy to see why. While the 5 mini roundabouts follow the regular clockwise rule, the larger, inner roundabout runs anti-clockwise – causing more than slight confusion among drivers.
The ‘Magic Roundabout’ was built to replace the old Drove Roundabout – and while it was designed to improve traffic flow, the multiple routes and feeder roads connected to the roundabout often cause chaos.
Black Cat Roundabout
Named after the nearby garage which opened in the1920s, the Black Cat Roundabout is the junction between the A1 and the A421. The roundabout often causes major traffic delays on the A1 – and the country’s dangerous driving habits coupled with one of the UK’s worst roads spells a recipe for disaster.
The dangerous driving route has undergone extensive repair work over the years, with the 2005-6 maintenance work designed to incorporate a new junction – but without measures to manage the larger flow of traffic, problems have persisted. Maintenance began again in June 2014 – with a £5.6m project set to extend the roundabout and add traffic lights.
Other Risky Routes
Earlier this year, the Metro newspaper revealed some of the UK’s most dangerous motorways – with stats from 2013 proving to be particularly shocking. Roads in the South East were revealed as having 6.03 casualties per mile – making them the worst in the country.
In September this year, The Telegraph published an article covering some of the country’s most dangerous roads – with the A18 stretch between Laceby and Ludborough scooping the top spot.
While the stats are undoubtedly scary, it seems that the UK’s roads might actually be getting safer. Despite there now being more than 10 times more vehicles on the road and driverless cars paving the future of the automotive sphere, the government insists motorists are safer now than 80 years ago.
