Overgrown hedges ‘a danger to drivers’

More than 400 casualties, including three deaths, have been reported in national figures provided by the Department for Transport where overgrown vegetation was given as a contributory factor during 2015.

And Tom Stokes, from Shrewsbury, said there are plenty of examples in Shropshire.

Mr Stokes, a freelance travel editor, has spotted incidences around the county through his work.

Drivers are running the risk of fines and accidents because many critical road signs are hidden behind overgrown foliage, according to scrapcarcomparison.co.uk

Mr Stokes said: “There are lots of signs which are covered by hedges and trees.

“It took almost five months to cut down foliage around the sign on A458 in Much Wenlock.

“Also last month drivers said a temporary roadwork sign located on A458 in Shrewsbury was blocking the view and causing delays for drivers joining off A5.

“It puts new businesses off setting up in an area if the most basics – like road sign maintenance – are neglected.

“It can also impact on tourists as they rely on the signs to find their way and if they are covered they could miss their turning.”

Signs for speed limits, particularly along country roads, bridge height warnings, and stop and give way signs are hidden behind uncut trees and hedges up and down the country.

Even along many major roads, overhanging foliage reduces the time that drivers have to read directional signs and other important roadside information.

The website blames ever decreasing council budgets for highways, with a further expected shortfall nationally of £162 million expected for 2017/18 compared with last year, combined with the mixed wet and warm weather.

This raises the likelihood of drivers slowing down unexpectedly or carrying out sharp manoeuvres which has led to three deaths and 88 seriously injured according to figures provided by the Department for Transport for 2015.

A further 319 were slightly injured during an incident where overgrown vegetation is given as a contributory factor.

The website says the Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management says that issues should be recorded during inspections and treated accordingly.

A spokesman for scrapcarcomparison.co.uk said: “The rural areas are claiming vehicles weekly as drivers are not aware of junctions, bends or speed limits.

“We’ve had drivers writing off their cars in the past week due to overgrown vegetation. One lady missed signs for a bend and ended up in a field. Luckily she was okay - but her car was written off. There’s been a few drivers writing off their cars in areas they’ve never driven before and have no knowledge of the roads – so hidden signs become an increased danger.”