A huge rise in fatal road crashes across the British countryside is predicted this summer as townie drivers take to rural roads for the first time in years.

The recession and plunging pound has led to record numbers booking holidays at home this year. At least five million people who holidayed abroad last year will stay here this summer, says Visit Britain.

And that will lead to a welter of smashes as a generation of townies, accustomed to being stuck in traffic jams, forget the most basic skills needed to drive safely in the countryside, road safety experts fear.

Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety, predicts the chaos will start with next week’s half-term holiday.

He said: “There’s going to be a lot of inexperienced drivers who no longer realise just how dangerous driving in the countryside can be.

“Country lanes are the most dangerous part of a journey; 62 per cent of fatalities happen on a single carriage roads compared to just six per cent on motorways.

“Townies are used to doing as little as 11mph but in the country they can do 60mph yet they have lost the ability to judge speed and overtake safely.

“City drivers don’t even realise simple things like a tractor driver often wears ear defenders so it’s pointless tooting your horn. Then people will get impatient and overtake at the wrong place.

“Some drive so slowly that others get frustrated and overtake recklessly.”

Mr Howard warns that railway level crossings will be a major problem.

He said many motorists have little experience of long journeys and no idea how to deal with hazards such as animals straying on to roads.

Walking on the wrong side of country lanes without pavements causes 50 per cent more accidents than facing oncoming traffic, warned Mr Howard.

A recent poll of 2,500 drivers found that 47 per cent had no idea what some road signs mean, with the most misunderstood being ‘No Through Road’.

Millions of motorists get caught out by driving up dead ends.

By Neil Thomas