The Roads May Be Quiet…But There Are New Hazards

With UK roads eerily quiet during the lockdown, some motorists maybe drifting into bad and potentially dangerous habits.

As there’s so little traffic around at the moment, it is easy to find yourself going too fast and not paying as much attention as you should to road safety.

Keep an eye on the speedometer

While wide-open road space might be like a red rag to a bull for some drivers, you do not have to be a boy (or girl) racer to fall foul of speeding laws.

With so few vehicles on the roads, and very few traffic situations to slow you down, it is all too easy to find your speed creeping up without noticing it. To stay safe and within the law, keep a close eye on your speedometer at all times. Town and city centres are incredibly quiet but look out for takeaway delivery drivers on bicycles and scooters. They are still on the streets, so make sure you are always bike-aware.

Daily exercise guidance also means that there are more cyclists about, especially on country roads. Look out for joggers, runners and families walking with young children and dogs. They might step into your path without thinking.

Penalties for speeding

Lockdown is no excuse for putting your foot down, and motorists caught speeding can still be handed a £100 fine and three penalty points. Speed cameras and camera safety vans remain in operation and police forces will act if people flout the law. Classroom-based speed awareness courses are currently suspended, but drivers already booked on one might be given the option to take part in an online class.

Police forces across the UK have reported numerous incidents of drivers ignoring speed limits and treating rural roads as “racetracks” during the travel restrictions.

One motorist was caught driving at 151 mph on the M1 near London, while on the A168 in North Yorkshire, police clocked a driver travelling at 132 mph on a stretch of carriageway with a 70-mph limit.

Driving during lockdown update

Strict rules apply about travelling during the current pandemic. You can use your car to get to work if absolutely necessary and when shopping for essentials, seeking medical help and looking after vulnerable people. You are not allowed to leave your home to just “go out for a drive”.

In an update on lockdown restrictions in mid-April, however, it was confirmed that you can drive for the purpose of exercise. Latest guidance issued to police officers in England by NPCC, the National Police Chief’s Council, sets out what constitutes a reasonable excuse to leave the place where you live.

It says that it is “likely to be reasonable” to drive for a walk, (but where  far more time is spent walking than driving). It also says that driving for a prolonged  period with only brief exercise is not likely to be reasonable under the coronavirus regulations.

Whatever the (valid) reason for your journey – stay safe. The NHS doesn’t  need the added burden of traffic-related accidents and injuries, so try to be even more careful when you are out and about on the roads.