GETTY
Over 8million of motorists said they rarely drive on motorways
Over 8m of the UK’s 38m licenced motorists say that they rarely drive on the nation’s motorways, with a further 380,00 saying that they never venture on to them.
Research by the RAC found that 22% of respondents – which would amount to 8m motorists, if the sample is representative of the entire population – rarely drive on motorways.
Of those 6% say that they aren’t keen to, while 12% say that they generally rely on others to drive them, while the rest claim that they never need to use a motorway where they make their journeys.
Despite motorways statistically being some of our safest roads, several people still seem to rely on partners, friends and family when they need to use one
Simon Williams, RAC spokesman
A number of reasons were given by those motorists who avoid motorways for their choice: 68% said they found the speed at which traffic moves was daunting; 52% felt that they were more at risk of being involved in a crash; 42% lack the confidence to drive on the M-roads; while 32% just find motorway driving too monotonous.
It’s clear from the safety concerns of several drivers that there’s a common perception that motorways are dangerous: however, despite the fact that this type of road accounts for around 21% of all the UK’s traffic volume – in the year to September 2015 vehicles travelled an estimated 65.4bn miles on them – only 96 of the 1,775 fatalities (5.4%) recorded in collisions on Britain’s roads and 4.7% of injuries happened on motorways.
The research also showed, though, that special driving lessons – which no licence holders have to undergo before driving on them – would persuade 29% of those who don’t drive on motorways to venture on to them.
GETTY
12% of motorists say they generally rely on others to drive on motorways
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “While there are several parts of the country where our 2,300 miles of motorway don’t stretch to, it is surprising to find out that so several motorists don’t, or won’t, drive on a motorway.
“Despite motorways statistically being some of our safest roads, several people still seem to rely on partners, friends and family when they need to use one. And with only 29% of reluctant motorway drivers saying they are open to taking motorway lessons, it seems that for the remainder (71%) a three or four-lane road with speeds of up to 70 mph is sadly just a step too far.
“The message to them has to be: with the right instruction and advice, plenty of care and practice, confidence in motorway driving can easily grow; at the same time, it is also important from a road safety perspective that people drive within their comfort zones so for some it may be best to stick to local roads where they are most confident.”
GETTY - POSED
Research found that special driving lessons would persuade 29% of motorists to drive on motorways
- Daily Express