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Nearly 1,000 Wrong-Way Drivers Risk Lives on UK Motorways
15 Mar
Summary
- Nearly 1,000 wrong-way driving incidents occurred on England's motorways last year.
- The M1 motorway recorded the highest number of incidents over a four-year period.
- Incidents range from accidental entries to deliberate dangerous maneuvers.
In the past year, approximately 1,000 wrong-way driving incidents have been reported on England's motorways. This averages to about 20 such occurrences weekly, encompassing a range of dangerous situations. National Highways logged 922 reports of oncoming vehicles on the English motorway network during that period.
The M1 motorway registered the highest number of incidents over a four-year period with 480 cases. It was followed closely by the M6 with 417 and the M25 with 333. These figures were compiled from reports by police, traffic officers, and the public.
Tragic incidents underscore the severity of this issue. In one case, a driver deliberately drove the wrong way on the M6, causing a fatal collision. Another incident involved a driver evading police by traveling the wrong way on the M25, resulting in multiple fatalities. Road safety organizations emphasize the need for improved signage and technological solutions to prevent these "nightmare scenarios."
