Motorists could see new Highway Code rules introduced for countryside roads amid high collision rates

Drivers could be forced to adhere to a new Code for Countryside Roads in a bid to tackle the alarming number of deaths on rural highways.

The code, launched today by NFU Mutual in partnership with farming unions and road safety organisations, aims to tackle the disproportionate number of deaths on rural roads.

The code comes as official figures revealed that rural road collisions are four times more likely to result in fatalities compared with urban accidents, despite having fewer overall incidents.

In a bid to stop this, a new safety guide has been created following consultation with campaign partners and feedback from over 700 members of the public.

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The code outlines specific guidance for dealing with rural road hazards, including speed limits, blind corners, and agricultural vehicles. It detailed how drivers are advised that speed limits are maximums, not targets, and should be adjusted based on conditions.

The code also flagged the importance of slowing down before blind corners and keeping to the correct side of the road, even without central markings. When encountering agricultural vehicles, motorists are urged to be patient and only overtake when safe, being mindful that farmers may need to turn into unseen field entrances.

The guidance also stressed the importance of leaving at least two metres when passing vulnerable road users and slowing to 10mph when passing horses.

It comes after analysis of Department for Transport figures showed that 969 people lost their lives on rural roads in 2023. This represents 70 per cent more deaths on rural roads compared to urban highways, despite rural areas experiencing less than half the number of collisions.

The stark figures found that one in every 32 rural road collisions resulted in a death, while on urban roads the ratio was one fatality per 122 accidents. In real terms, there were 31,183 collisions on rural highways compared to 69,706 on urban roads, yet rural areas saw significantly more fatal outcomes.

Nick Turner, Chief Executive of NFU Mutual which launched the campaign, said: “Rural roads are the arteries of our countryside, vital to the rural economy and serving to connect us all to the benefits of the great outdoors. It is therefore all the more concerning that each year a vastly disproportionate number of lives are lost on rural roads. Every road death is an avoidable tragedy, and every road user has a responsibility to protect themselves and others.”

He explained that the new code aims to provide clear guidance on rural road use and is available free of charge on the NFU Mutual website.

A recent survey by NFU Mutual revealed that 13 per cent of people had experienced a collision on a rural road, rising to 19 per cent for countryside residents.

More shockingly, the survey highlighted widespread concerns, with 56 per cent of respondents worried about blind corners and 51 per cent about narrow roads. Road quality (48 per cent), driver impatience (45 per cent), and speeding (42 per cent) were also significant concerns among respondents.

Meanwhile, one fifth of those surveyed admitted feeling uncomfortable on rural roads, with this figure rising to one third among non-car owners.

A quarter of respondents expressed specific concerns about dealing with agricultural traffic. Despite changes to the Highway Code in 2022 to protect vulnerable road users, they remain at significantly higher risk on rural roads, experts warned.

Last year, 383 motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians died on rural roads, compared to 559 car and van occupants, despite travelling 19 times fewer miles.

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Motorcyclists were particularly affected, with 223 deaths on rural roads versus 88 on urban roads in 2023. However, pedestrian fatalities fell 11 per cent to 110, meaning two walkers or runners lost their lives each week on countryside roads.

Cycling deaths increased to 50 on rural roads in 2023, 35 per cent higher than urban areas. Horse riders face significant risks, with 29 per cent reporting involvement in rural road collisions and 35 per cent experiencing horse injuries or fatalities.