The road issue causing ‘frightening’ number of drivers to be involved in near-misses

One in six drivers (16 per cent) have reported a near miss with another vehicle due to faded road signs, according to a new study.

The RAC, which commissioned the survey, described the result as “frightening” and called on the government to work with councils to “put this right”.

The survey of 1,693 drivers found that the problem was perceived to be worsening; 72 percent of respondents said the problem of lost road signs has worsened over the past five years.

The consequences for drivers are varied and worrying.

Three in five (63 per cent) said faint markings forced them to guess their lane position, while 38 per cent reported staying in the wrong lane.

Another 13 percent admitted that they overshot an intersection because they could not see the necessary signs on the road.

Road signs include vital elements such as lines separating traffic lanes, directional arrows, stop lines at intersections and speed limit signs painted directly on the carriageway.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It is frightening to think that almost one in five drivers experience a near miss due to faded road signs and more than one in 10 drivers overshoot a junction.

“It makes no sense to just leave these most vital signs to erode.

“While there is clearly a cost to sustaining them, the cost of allowing them to disappear is beyond thought.

“While the government has just published the country’s first road safety strategy in over a decade, this is an important area that should not be forgotten.

“We call on them to work with councils to remedy this situation.”