Latest news with #ruralroads
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Farmers warn of 'toe curling' risks on roads
Farmers have urged motorists to be patient when travelling on rural roads during the harvest season after "several scary moments". Henry Moreton, who farms near Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, said he had encountered multiple incidents of drivers attempting to overtake his tractor and combine harvester when it is not safe to do so. "It does make your toes curl up," he said. "You're better getting home two minutes later than not getting home at all. There are too many accidents, head on collisions with tractors and machinery. Just be vigilant." Jason Butler, the owner of Pumpkin Patch Produce in Bewholme, East Yorkshire, said: "You do see some daft things - people overtaking on blind corners and taking unnecessary risks. "If everyone went a bit steadier and had a bit more patience, then everyone would get there safely." A spokesperson for insurer NFU Mutual said collisions between agricultural vehicles and third parties were 65% more likely between the start of May and the end of September, compared with other months. Mr Moreton, who is Lincolnshire county chair of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), described a "terrifying wincing moment" when a minibus with children on board attempted to overtake him on a blind bend. "The thing is, we will have to deal with the consequences," he said. "We're the first responder. We're going to be the people getting people out of those cars or that bloke out of the hedge on his motorbike. It's a really scary thing. It's terrifying really." NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: "We'll do our best to make sure we have safe loads, that we're not holding up the traffic too much, but this is a two-way thing. There needs to be a bit of understanding from everybody." According to the Highway Code, if you are planning to overtake a large vehicle you should: Drop back, make sure there is enough room, and do not cut in too quickly Be aware large vehicles may need extra space when turning Do not cross double white lines where the line nearest you is solid unless it is safe and you need to enter an adjoining premises or road You can also cross double white lines to overtake a vehicle traveling at 10mph (16km/h) or less If you are driving a large vehicle: Do not hold up a long queue of traffic Check your mirrors frequently and, if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass Vehicles with a maximum speed of 25mph (40km/h) or less must use a flashing amber beacon on unrestricted dual carriageways Mr Moreton said: "We will pull over if we can, but in certain conditions, we can't. "We're very proud to serve the British public by growing food, so if the British public could give us a minute or two of their time, we will get out of the way as quick as possible." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices Related internet links National Farmers' Union Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership
Auto Blog
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
America's Deadliest Roads Aren't Where Most Drivers Think
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The overlooked risk in collision data reporting Allstate recently released an updated report highlighting where America's best and worst drivers are by number of collisions using data related to claims in the U.S.'s 200 most-populated cities. The study displays some interesting trends, but these reports can cause drivers to overlook the dangers of rural roads. Statistics suggest that drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents on rural roads than their urban counterparts. In 2023, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) published a report noting that although 20% of U.S. residents live in rural areas and 31% of miles traveled occur in these regions, 41% of crash deaths occur there. Rural counties contain a greater share of land area, with more miles of roads, increasing the opportunities for accidents. Emergency responses can also be longer in rural areas. In 2022, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.5 times higher in rural areas than in urban areas, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Full screen The top 10 best value used cars in 2025 Watch More A vehicle stationary on a rural roadside — Source: Getty Still curious to see which U.S. cities have the highest collision risks? Allstate ranked Boston, Massachusetts, as the city where drivers are most likely to experience a collision, followed by Washington D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, Worcester, Massachusetts, Springfield, Massachusetts, Glendale, California, Los Angeles, California, Oakland, California, Providence, Rhode Island, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While a handful of West Coast cities made this top 10 list, seven out of 10 were located in the Northeast. Brownsville, Texas, was rated as the safest place to drive, but this wasn't the only city in the Lone Star State with a favorable grade. Texas cities Laredo, McAllen, and Corpus Christi also made the top 20. Allstate has been conducting this study annually since 2005, and in the past decade, Texas cities like Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, and Dallas have advanced toward safety. Drivers in Pacific Northwest regions such as Washington, Oregon, and Alaska have seen some of the most significant collision reductions nationwide over the past 10 years. More specifically, Bellevue, Washington, has experienced the most improvement, moving up 133 spots since 2015. Other noteworthy cities include Anchorage, Alaska, and Portland, Oregon. Boston drivers in a school zone — Source: Getty Several Midwestern cities have fallen in Allstate's list over the past decade. St. Louis, Missouri, declined the most, dropping 90 spots to 175, while Des Moines, Iowa, fell 89 places to 108, and Kansas City, Missouri, moved back 84 spots to 101. Other Midwestern cities mirroring this trend are Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Omaha, Nebraska, and Indianapolis, Indiana. There's a long way between Boston, Massachusetts's spot at 200 and first place with Brownsville, Texas, and this gap is widening, with 75 of the riskiest cities recording a 25% increase in crash rates since 2015. In Boston, drivers are nearly three and a half times more likely to be involved in a collision than the national average. Final thoughts City crash data often grabs headlines, as more people live in urban areas than in rural ones, but this reporting can overshadow the risks associated with the latter. In addition to longer stretches of roadway and slower emergency response times, rural areas have drivers traveling at higher average speeds, and these motorists are less likely to wear seatbelts, according to FinanceBuzz. Single-vehicle crashes are also more common in rural regions, which can involve running off the road or rolling over, increasing fatality risks. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. About the Author Cody Carlson View Profile
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
AI cameras set to be used in rural road assessments
Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be used to survey the conditions of rural roads. Gloucestershire County Council has been working with the Department for Transport( DfT) to implement the AI-based camera assessment on the road networks. It comes as councillors raised concerns over a lack of data from the last two years on unclassified routes in the county, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports. The scheme is currently under development, according to the council. More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Speaking at a cabinet meeting on June 18, Minchinhampton councillor Chloe Turner said the data is "crucial" for motorists using rural roads. Conditions on larger unclassified roads were previously assessed with a specialised scanner vehicle every three years. "Since the last assessment period in 2023 when DfT removed both the reporting requirement and standard by which to measure unclassified roads, all authorities have been working with DfT to implement an AI based camera assessment of their networks," Mr Harris said in a written response to Ms Turner. "This remains under development, but is likely to be the agreed method to be implemented in 2026," he added. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. AI scanner used to detect potential potholes AI to be used to spot potholes and aid repairs Pothole repair machine competition ends in a draw Local Democracy Reporting Service Gloucestershire County Council
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Condition of rural Gloucestershire roads to be checked by AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be used to survey the conditions of rural County Council has been working with the Department for Transport( DfT) to implement the AI-based camera assessment on the road networks. It comes as councillors raised concerns over a lack of data from the last two years on unclassified routes in the county, the Local Democracy Reporting Service scheme is currently under development, according to the council. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on June 18, Minchinhampton councillor Chloe Turner said the data is "crucial" for motorists using rural roads. Conditions on larger unclassified roads were previously assessed with a specialised scanner vehicle every three years."Since the last assessment period in 2023 when DfT removed both the reporting requirement and standard by which to measure unclassified roads, all authorities have been working with DfT to implement an AI based camera assessment of their networks," Mr Harris said in a written response to Ms Turner. "This remains under development, but is likely to be the agreed method to be implemented in 2026," he added.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Brutal outback photo sparks warning to Aussie drivers: 'Consider the legalities'
An experienced outback traveller is urging Australian motorists to stay vigilant on rural roads, especially in regions with roaming livestock — highlighting not just the serious safety risks of animal collisions, but the potential legal consequences for drivers as well. Simon Christie is a well-respected voice in the 4WD and touring community in Australia and shared a disturbing example that highlights the dangers. A photo taken at the time of the incident shows a cow that was killed on an outback road northeast of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, after it was obscured by a cloud of dust created by a passing truck before it was ultimately hit by the driver of a ute. Simon snapped a photo of the collision aftermath when it happened last year but recently shared it with a caravanning community page online before describing the confronting scene to Yahoo News. "A truck was coming the opposite way, and a dual-cab ute was heading the same way as us, just in front. In the dust behind the truck, a cow suddenly stepped out onto the road," Simon said. "The ute had a proper steel bull bar fitted and was travelling at a safe speed, but it couldn't avoid the cow. It hit it head-on, and the impact instantly killed it. "The cow landed in the middle of the road, and the driver pulled over safely, and we were able to pull up behind them. Thankfully, they were medically fine, and the vehicle only had minor damage — it was completely driveable thanks to the bull bar." Simon said this reflects how conditions can change in an instant, especially on dark, outback roads, and it highlights the life-saving benefits of having a proper bull bar fitted. "We helped drag the cow off the road using a recovery chain attached to the back of my caravan, because leaving it on the road would have been incredibly dangerous — especially at night," he said. "Someone else could have hit it, including a semi-trailer, which could cause a major crash. Plus, the carcass could attract predators like foxes and dingoes, creating more road hazards." Simon, of 4WDTV, arrived at "just the right time to help" and was able to tow the animal off the road despite also towing a caravan himself. But, "incidents like this are actually quite common", and he encouraged drivers to be aware of how they can stay safe in the event of similar scenarios. Calls grow for total 4WD ban on Australian beaches Outback neighbours in bitter $400,000 battle over 28km fence Air crew makes exciting 'once-in-a-lifetime' discovery in outback "If someone hits livestock, and they're equipped and know what they're doing, moving the animal off the road is the right and responsible thing to do. A lot of four-wheel drivers carry recovery gear, like winches and drag chains, and can do it safely," he said. "Night-time adds to the risks — poor visibility makes it harder to spot animals. That's why our vehicles are fitted with steel bull bars and a lot of aftermarket lighting — front, side, and corner lighting. It's basically as close to daylight as we can make it." He said the overarching message is simple: be aware, understand the risks, and drive to the conditions. "If that means slowing down, then slow down," he said. "And if you need to drive at night, make sure your vehicle is properly equipped — bull bars and lighting are essential. Factory headlights alone aren't enough out here." It's also important to consider the legalities, Simon said, adding that in some states, if livestock is on a road and is hit, the driver may be liable for the animal's death — or vice versa. "If the road is fenced and the animal got through a broken gate or fence, the farmer might be liable. But on unfenced roads with cattle grids, like in the outback, it's your responsibility to drive with caution, the animals are allowed to roam," he said. Drivers "should absolutely report these incidents", either to local authorities or the nearest town. "That can help with insurance, too, and it makes sure others are aware of the hazard," Simon added. A spokesperson from the Everything Caravan and Camping group, who shared the photo initially, echoed Simon's plea. "The key message for caravan owners, and all travellers, is to stay vigilant, particularly in outback areas where conditions can change quickly and visibility can be poor," a spokesperson told Yahoo. "Hitting an animal can be tragic and extremely dangerous, not just for the driver but for anyone else on the road. "And while every incident is different, we always encourage travellers to act with care and responsibility. If it's safe and legal to do so, removing roadkill can help prevent further harm to others, as Simon and his team did in this case." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
