Shropshire Star

Shropshire's A529 named one of the UK's most dangerous roads

Drivers are travelling almost 20mph below the speed limit on a road in Shropshire which has been rated as one of the UK's 10 deadliest stretches.

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The A529, which runs between Hinstock and Audlem, near Market Drayton. Photo: Google StreetView.

A study says the A529, which runs between Hinstock and Audlem, near Market Drayton, is among those where motorists are not hitting the limit, with drivers recorded doing an average of 42mph.

According to telematics firm Quartix, experienced drivers are slashing their speeds in order to stay safe on 60mph roads around the country, including the A529.

It said more education was needed for younger drivers who are always told to "stick to the speed limit" even when it's not safe to do so.

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The study focused on rural, single lane carriageways with 60mph speed limits as these account for more deaths and serious injuries than any other road type.

Single carriageway 'A roads' are eight times the risk of motorways and three times the risk of dual carriageways with running off the road the greatest cause of deaths.

A 12-mile stretch of the A285 in Sussex is the most deadly and in free-flowing traffic drivers were recorded at speeds of just 46mph.

And a section of the A44 in West Wales has an average speed of just 40mph – while the entire top 10 has averages under 50mph.

Shropshire's A529, which has witnessed several serious accidents in recent years, was named as the UK's 10th most deadliest road.

Last year a 23-year-old man died when the car he was a passenger in left the A529 and went down an embankment.

In 2015 a 80-year-old woman died following a two-vehicle crash on the A529 at the Sweet Appletree crossroads, near Hinstock.

Roads are rated by the Road Safety Foundation which names the riskiest A-roads and motorways based on rate of fatal crashes compared with traffic.

The West Midlands has the safest roads and the South East the worst – having made little improvement in the last three years.

Andy Walters, Quartix CEO, said: "This research shows that experienced drivers are ditching the statutory speed limit and driving at what they consider to be a safe speed on rural roads.

"The problem is young drivers are often taught to drive 'to the limit' and this, put simply, is dangerous and often life threatening.

"In many ways, parents telling their children to 'stick to the speed limit' is the worst possible advice they can give."

Quartix previously revealed how young drivers travelling at the speed limit – but over the average of experienced drivers – could be charged for more insurance using black box technology.