The dangers of rural roads for bikers in Britain

In the U.K., we’re lucky to have some fantastic rural roads to ride on. I myself drive through the peaks several times a month between work and my partner’s home, and it’s a fantastic drive and a real pull for both motorcyclists and push-bikers.

However, the dangers of rural roads are huge; especially on roads like those in the peaks, which lorries and vans often use for access, as well as the fact that the roads are often windy and dark in the more forested areas.

Rural roads are a real hotspot for motorcycle accidents, which is why it’s worth our comment on the topic in terms of biker’s rights in the event something happens…

Rural roads: accident hotspots

Winding roads, blind bends, darkened canopy-covered highways, and sudden junctions that can creep up on an unsuspecting driver are all top causes for motorbike accidents on rural roads. It’s tempting for drivers to not slow down enough when navigating windy roads, and there are those who are guilty of concentrating on the spectacular scenery as opposed to the road ahead.

These are just a few of reasons as to why rural roads are accident hotspots for bikers.

Whether it’s a driver going too fast, or a driver going through a junction they’ve failed to spot, or a slow lorry emerging from a junction without properly checking for oncoming bikers, accidents can easily happen on Britain’s rural roads. It’s no wonder they are one of the top hotspots for biker crashes.

No excuses

The rules of the road must always be followed. There are no excuses for drivers driving too fast, even where the road may allow for a higher speed. The conditions and the twists and turns in the road may demand a lower speed, and there is usually plenty of signage for driver’s to know when they need to carefully slow down and manoeuvre a bend without overshooting it and verging on to the wrong side of the carriageway; and therefore in to the path of an oncoming biker.

As glorious as the sun-soaked valleys may be in summer, drivers must keep their eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead. Very rarely is there a case of a poorly-marked junction, so it’s about drivers upholding their duty of care and not endangering themselves and other road users through poor concentration.

The same rules apply on rural roads, whether it’s for junctions, bends, or otherwise.

Speed is key

If a driver cannot see beyond an approaching hill or bend, the solution is simple; slow down!

Drivers cannot expect there will be no bikers around a bend or on the other side of a hill. Many rural roads operate speed limits of 50mph and above, but it’s worth remembering that these limits are by no means targets at all; they’re limits! Drivers must still slow down and adapt their driving and speed to the surroundings, which often means going much slower to negotiate winding roads and blind bends.

The dangers are real

Rural roads are one of the most common places a biker is injured. The same rules of the road apply, so any biker injured in an accident caused by another road user has the right to claim for compensation.