Drivers in Carmarthenshire are being urged to think ahead and reduce their speed on bends on country roads.
Figures show that 60 per cent of all road fatalities occur on rural roads and in 2014 alone, 10,091 people were killed or seriously injured in the UK.
The most common reason for these incidents is loss of control which is frequently associated with inappropriate speed at bends.
Bends can hide unexpected hazards around the corner, such as animals or large oncoming vehicles.
The THINK! country roads campaign encourages drivers to anticipate the hazards that may lie ahead and ‘brake before the bend, not on it’.
Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “The number of people killed on country roads is 10 times higher than on motorways; and worryingly, a third of all fatalities on country roads happen on bends.
“The message is simple; give yourself time to react to unexpected hazards and slow down on bends. Even if you’re familiar with the road, never take it for granted as the conditions can be different every time.”
Advice for driving on country roads:
- Read the road ahead and anticipate potential hazards.
- Drive at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you can see to be clear.
- Stay in control and give yourself time to react by braking before a bend, not on it.
- Respect other users of country roads; give cyclists, walkers and horse riders plenty of space when overtaking.
For more information and advice on driving on country roads please visit the THINK! campaign website which is run by the Department for Transport.
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