They are some of the most experienced drivers on Britain’s highways but now new research has revealed which roads van drivers would rather avoid. LeaseVan.co.uk asked its customers across the UK which roads they preferred to avoid when possible.
Among the responses were well known trouble spots such as A285 in Sussex and the A4 in London. Country roads such as the Horseshoe Pass in North Wales and the Snake Pass in the Peak District also made the list. The information highlighted other roads known for congestion, tight turns, poor conditions and more.
Snake Pass, in the Derbyshire area of the Peak District, has a bad accident track record thanks to its bends and blind summits. It is often closed in the winter due to snow and is also particularly susceptible to subsidence.
The Hog’s Back, part of the A31 in Surrey, earned its mention for its pesky habit of melting in hot weather.
Both the A4 in London and Manchester-based M60 were highlighted for heavy traffic – the latter also has short spaces between junctions.
Scotland’s A82 was mentioned for its poor condition and hairpin bends, while its A956 has the dubious honour of being a known accident blackspot at just eight miles long.
In Wales, the Horseshoe Pass is a beautiful, scenic and thoroughly treacherous mountain pass with a sheer drop to its continually curving side.
A spokesman for LeaseVan.co.uk said: “Tradesmen don’t have a lot of time to spare when they’re on the road, but it seems there are some routes they really do dislike having to travel.
“Sometimes it makes sense to avoid a road if there’s an alternative route that has less traffic or fewer hazards. At the same time, speed is a common factor in road accidents, so driving carefully and not too fast mitigates a lot of the dangers.”
The ten UK roads van drivers avoid (in no particular order)
- Snake Pass, Derbyshire: This aptly named Peak District hill pass crosses the Pennines. It is known as an accident blackspot, often closes in winter because of snow and is susceptible to subsidence.
- A285, West Sussex: This has been identified in the past as the UK’s most dangerous road. Stretching 12 miles from Chichester to Petworth, it has sharp corners, junctions between them and is not level.
- A82, Scotland: Connecting Glasgow and Inverness via Fort William, this road is disliked for its hairpin bends and bad surface condition.
- A52, Lincolnshire: This stretch of the A52 is a single carriageway, making it a nightmare for congestion.
- M60, Manchester: With heavy traffic and closely spaced junctions, it’s not surprising that motorists prefer to stay off this motorway.
- Horseshoe Pass, Wales: With its continual curve around the sides of a valley in Denbighshire, and steep drop to the side, not even stunning mountain views will get some van drivers on this road.
- A4, London: Drivers avoid this road when they can, but clearly not enough of them can – since it’s known for its terrible traffic.
- A956, Aberdeen: It’s not even eight miles long but it’s still an accident blackspot.
- Hog’s Back, A31, Surrey: Any road that’s known for melting in hot weather is going to be one that drivers try to stay off.
- M1 around Luton: Connecting London and Leeds, the M1 is often unavoidable, but the traffic around the Luton point is terrible.
- Anywhere with an ongoing smart motorway conversion: Smart motorways improve traffic flow, road capacity and emergency vehicle access through technology to manage speed limits and warning signs. But any motorway that’s still in the process of being converted is a driving headache.
