Ignore sat nav diversions to unfamiliar roads when stuck in traffic, drivers told

Drivers are being urged to ignore navigation instructions directing them to rural roads.

The call from road safety charity IAM RoadSmart comes as a recent survey found 54 per cent of motorists are being diverted into rural lanes to avoid congestion on motorways, dual carriageways and other main roads.

The warning comes as 2024 figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) reveal that 60% of road deaths in Britain occur on rural roads, despite carrying only 45% of traffic.

IAM RoadSmart highlighted natural hazards: agricultural vehicles, narrow lanes and limited visibility from roadside vegetation.

He warned that unless capacity is increased on main roads more drivers risk being diverted onto unfamiliar, dangerous rural roads.

Then-prime minister Rishi Sunak canceled all future smart motorway projects in April 2023 due to safety concerns.

Smart highways, which increase capacity by turning the hard shoulder into a live lane, have been available on all lanes since 2014.

IAM RoadSmart policy director Nicholas Lyes said: “Every year, more people are killed on rural roads than any other type of road, but we are seeing worryingly large numbers of people making unplanned diversions to use them.

“Congestion is inevitable, but we would encourage people to question whether diverting onto an unclassified or single-track route is worth a few minutes, given the increased dangers they may face.

“Often other people following their sat navs change direction in a similar way and you end up with traffic volumes that exceed the design of the road.

“There is little sign of traffic growth slowing down, but without a commitment to increase capacity across the wider strategic network, we could see more traffic being filtered onto the rural road network, with potentially serious consequences.”

– The survey of 1,042 UK riders and 114 IAM RoadSmart motorcycle riders was carried out by research company Online95 in February.