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FATAL car crashes are more likely to take place on slower speed roads of just 21 to 30mph compared to motorists, according to dramatic new research from Carole Nash.
By Luke Chillingsworth, Cars Reporter
Driving safety expert advises motorists to remain vigilant
Almost sixty percent or over 16,000 fatal crashes took place at speeds of under 30mph despite the slower speeds. Data from the Department for Transport shows that a total of 14,306 drivers were killed in 2019 on roads where the limit was just 21-30mph.
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A further 1,970 were killed on roads slower than 20mph, still higher than the number of deaths recorded on roads with speeds of between 40-50mph and 61-70mph.
The increase in fatal accidents in these areas is potentially due to its urban location meaning there are more hazards for road users to avoid
Just over one in ten fatal accidents involved a pedestrian with 10 percent of shunts including a motorcycle.
A further seven percent involved ordinary pedal cyclists suggesting that city locations come with major risks.
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Crashes are more likely on slower roads (Image: Getty)
Urban roads come with extra road hazards (Image: Getty)
Over 5,500 drivers were killed on routes with a speed limit of between 51 and 60mph, accounting for twenty percent of all fatalities.
Marc Cooper, spokesperson for Carole Nash said road users were “forgetting" that low speeds can also be dangerous.
He urged motorists to “be aware” of the road around them and remain vigilant at all times.
He said: “We all know to be extra cautious if we’re travelling at speed, but perhaps we’re forgetting how dangerous low speeds can be too.
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“Road users need to be aware of everything going on around them at all times, and it’s important to be as vigilant on a 30mph limit road as you would be on a motorway.”
This has been supported by recent data fir Choose My Car who revealed that accidents on 20 and 30mph roads accounted for two-thirds of all crashes
They revealed that over 73,000 accidents were recorded on low-speed roads in figures almost five times higher than other routes.
In comparison, just 4,500 crashes were recorded on motorways highlighting a major discrepancy in safety.
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Jess Hartley, spokesperson for the firm said: “We all know to take extra care when driving on high-speed roads.
“But roads with lower speed limits can be just as dangerous, with lots of other vehicles, pedestrians and junctions to look out for.”
Despite the risks of urban hazards, many motorists have admitted to breaking the rules in a major safety risk.
Research from BookMyGarege has revealed that just 13 percent of road users adhere to 20mph speed limits.
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Almost 87 percent of road users break 20mph speed limits (Image: Getty)
A massive 86.88 percent say they exceed limits on 20mph routes with average speeds measured at 26mph.
Spokesperson Jessica Potts has claimed that slower roads do “cut down on accidents” but were “despised by motorists”, causing many to break the rules.
She said: “It’s been proven that 20mph zones help improve traffic flow and cut down on accidents, with the DfT’s own research suggesting 20mph zones work best when the average speed is below 24mph.
“But the zones have been largely despised by motorists, who find it painfully slow going to drive through them, which is probably why the limits are being roundly ignored.”
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