The A3055 between Ryde and Freshwater has been ranked as the second most perilous rural A-road in Britain, with another Isle of Wight road also in the Top 10.
A report by the Road Safety Foundation has revealed shocking statistics that show the main road from Ryde through Brading, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Military Road to Freshwater is the second most dangerous stretch of A-road in the entire country.
A total of 65 fatal or serious crashes occurred on the 49km stretch of road between 2012-2017, giving the A3055 a EuroRAP risk rating of 119. Of these collisions, 24% involved motorcyclists and 32% involved pedestrians or cyclists.
The A5004 in Derbyshire has been ranked the most perilous with a EuroRAP rating of 122. Interestingly, 16 fatal or serious crashes occurred on this road during the 6-year period looked at compared to 65 on the Island’s A3055.
Also in the Top 10 list of Britain’s persistently highest risk rural roads is the A3054, which runs from Ryde through Wootton, Newport, Shalfleet and out to Yarmouth. This road is ranked the 9th most perilous with 69 fatal or serious crashes on the 29km stretch between 2012-2017. It has been given a risk rating of 98.
On the A3054, 26% of the crashes involved a motorcyclist and a staggering 59% involved a pedestrian or cyclist. That means that of all fatal and serious crashes on this road in just 6 years, 85% of them involved a motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian.
A wake up call to Island Council and Road Safety experts. Time for action? Traffic calming, speed limits. education and more robust enforcement?
or better drivers.
Traffic calming ? Speed limits? they tried that in Brading , still doen’t work!
Surely people should take more responsibility and drive more safely. Why is it always down to the council of government.
Only 2nd! Island never wins anything!!
Guessing I was number 65, wouldn’t change a thing
Oh how many times? The ‘road’ is not dangerous!
Agree with Cath Hicks the roads “aren’t” dangerous. It’s the drivers pure and simple. Beyond me why so many people keep on about these so called dangerous roads. Why can’t people just drive according to conditions? Still think driving instructors are making money too easily. They don’t even teach the basics like mirror/signal/manoeuvre. Seen countless instructions by themselves not indicating. Wrong position in road and speeding. A lot of people now have dash cams so personally think why not teach people how to drive correctly. Wouldn’t be nowhere near so many “incidents “
I agree with you that the physical tarmac that makes up a road is not dangerous, however a road that does not evolve with the vehicles that are using it is dangerous. Surely roads should be reviewed often and updated as vehicles become wider, faster, the road is used more often? or would you prefer if we all drove around classic bangers at 15mph.
Of course they are, didn’t Bob Seely describe our roads as “19th century”? However, despite this awareness neither Bob nor his Tory chums on the IWC have done anything to bring our dangerous roads up to modern, safe mainland standards.
The IW Council want to put another junction on the A 3021 in East Cowes between Crossways and Barton roundabout, for a new housing estate. That should get them 3 dangerous A class roads in the top 10. It will be carnage in the morning rush hour just like the junctions near Whippingham Forge.
No such thing as dangerous roads just terrible isle of Wight drivers!!!!!
All rural roads are potentially dangerous. Empty stretches encourage speed, but unforeseen hazards like sharp bends, cyclists, horses and wandering animals are everywhere. I agree with the statements made by others that the way forward is education on how to anticipate these things.
Reduce maximum speed limit on the Island to 50mph?
Lol, thought it was a straight 40mph, lots of very very retired people who’s driving is so bad, last minute signalling, sudden unnecessary braking, no signalling, poor road positioning who drive 40mph no matter where it is. 40 in a 60, 40 in a 50, 40 in a 30……need i go on! 50mph would be a bonus!!
Extend the Off road cycle track network.
Many of the country roads are dangerous for cyclists.
Good work everyone
Remember, only cowards use indicators, speed limit signs are simply there to challenge you, you absolutely CAN turn right coming out of McDonalds despite what the sign says and Beaper Shute was originally designed to be a rally circuit
Keep it up
I have driven a few thousand miles on the island, and on both roads, and not found the dangerous sections that leads out to sea without any warning signs!! is it a new scenic route?!! lol.
the main problem seems to stem from lack of experience of car drivers. they don’t know the length, width, and speed to take corners. and the what if? factor. and driving on the here, now, and what I can see. then got to swerve because they haven’t thought about the what if?
so to call any road dangerous, then about the only thing that would class a road dangerous would be sink holes, and landslides. otherwise it would be dangerous drivers, and not the roads themselves.
so drive sensibly, talk to the passengers, but don’t take your eyes, and concerntration off the road ahead, and think about what you are doing, then you and the poor other person lives for another day even if they are in the wrong. and always be prepared and trained to stop in an emergency.