According to the Department for Transport, more than half of all fatal road accidents in Britain occur when driving in the countryside.
Driving on country roads can be fun and make a good change, but by their very nature, they're also quite dangerous.
We'll be telling you what to expect and how you can drive safely on them.
What is a Country Road?
A road that's in the country . . .
No surprises there.
But to be more exact, they're rural roads that are located away from towns and cities, and they almost always lack street-lighting.
They also tend to be a lot narrower than city streets and urban roads, with less view of your surroundings and what's coming up on the road ahead.
Speed Limit on Country Roads
Officially, country roads are classed as single carriageways, and the national speed limit for single carriageways is 60mph.
However, it's obviously not safe to be driving on country roads at that speed, so pretty much all drivers (unless you're Michael Schumacher) tend to go slower. Usually around the 40mph mark.
And remember: at the end of the day, the national speed limit and speed limits in general are after all just a limit, not a target to aim at.
Of course, you can drive up to the national speed limit if conditions allow for it, but with country roads that's clearly not the case. Hedges, blind turns and trees all interfere with your line of vision.
Overtaking and the Nature of the Road
It's fair to say that it can be quite difficult to overtake on single-track roads and rural roads.
And to be honest, your best bet is to avoid overtaking on rural roads unless it's absolutely necessary.
But if there is a slowcoach in front who really is slowing you down, then make sure you can see far ahead and that nothing is coming, before you finally move in for the kill.
Best avoided if possible, though!
Oh, and look out for potholes, ditches, and any obstacles on the opposite side of the road.
Lack of Lighting
It's no surprise that it's a lot darker out in the countryside.
That might make it a great place for stargazing, but it also means it's more difficult to see and be seen, even when driving a big metal thing with headlights.
Which is why you should consider switching to your full-beam headlights when driving on country roads, whilst of course remembering to switch back to dipped whenever an oncoming vehicle appears (as full beam lights could blind the other driver).
It'll also help to get used to switching between the two, as you might find that you often turn on the indicators instead by mistake.
But even when it's not dark, it can still sometimes be useful to switch on your dipped headlights, just in case someone doesn't see you.
Right of Way When Passing Spaces
Sometimes country roads are so narrow that they don't allow for 2 cars abreast.
Luckily, that's why passing places were invented.
Question is: who has right of way?
Well, there's no hard-and-fast rule, but generally speaking, if the passing place is on your side of the road, then it's you who should move into the passing place and give way to oncoming traffic.
In the event that there's not a passing place, then it really comes down to courtesy and who's prepared to drive a little onto the grass/mud to let the other car through.
You don't want to end up in a joust, so pay attention to the 'body language' of the other car and try to anticipate what the driver's going to do. If they're slowing down and moving off to the side, then chances are that they probably want you to drive through. On the other hand, if they're approaching with speed, it's likely you're going to have to be the one to move aside (sorry!).
The key thing is to be mindful of other road users when driving on country roads and learn to respond to what they're doing.
Tractors and Farm Vehicles
Be mindful, too, of slow-moving farm vehicles like agricultural equipment, tractors and other vehicles on country roads. These types of vehicles use country roads A LOT.
Again, if you're stuck behind one of them, best keep at a safe distance and avoid overtaking if possible.
The good news is that tractors only tend to cover short distances, so you probably won't be waiting too long for them to turn off the road or pull over.
If you do have to overtake, just bear in mind that it can take longer to overtake a larger slow-moving vehicle. And be especially wary if the vehicle is towing a trailer or other equipment, as there's a chance it could sway from side to side.
Livestock and Other Large Animals
As well as horses, it's not uncommon to come across the occasional herd of cattle, flock of sheep, or other farm animals on country roads.
That's because farmers often need to use country roads to move their livestock between fields.
If you find that the road ahead is blocked, just stop your car, turn off your engine, and wait for the road to clear. Farmers often need to use rural roads to move livestock between fields.
Wildlife
The proverbial rabbit in the headlights.
Not to mention deer and pheasants, to name a few. They're more common at night, but can also appear during the day and have the potential to seriously damage your car if hit (not to mention lose its life!).
So if you see a deer on the road ahead, the best course of action is to turn off your full-beam headlights if they're activated, so that it is less likely to become confused and freeze up.
Then slow right down and come to a full stop if necessary, maybe using your hazard warning lights to warn other drivers what you're doing.
One thing you definitely should not do though is swerve off to one side. Because instead of a dead deer, that could lead to a dead YOU.
Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Horse Riders
You won't find many pedestrians braving country roads, but the ones who do will likely be walking on the road itself. Mainly because there probably won't be a pavement!
Pedestrians on country roads could consist of hikers, joggers getting the miles in, or pet owners out stretching the legs of their furry friends.
The Highway Code says that they should be walking single file at the right-hand side of the road (and with high-vis vests if it's night-time).
But of course, not everyone reads the Highway Code . . . so be prepared to meet pedestrians at any part of the road.
Same goes for other vulnerable road users like cyclists and horse riders, although they're not actually obligated to travel on the right-hand side.
Blind Bends
As the name suggests, blind bends refer to corners that you can't see around.
And on minor routes like rural roads, you won't always be given a road sign to warn you of it, so it's up to you to keep an eye on things.
The main thing to remember is that you should approach blind corners in the same way as you would any other hazard:
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Check your mirrors
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Slow down
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Be prepared to stop
If you have a satnav, you can have a 'sneak peek' of any twists and turns coming up.
Vehicle marks on the ground can also warn you of a particularly tight bend in advance.
And of course, same as before, always be prepared for the unexpected: pedestrians, other vehicles, animals, etc.
Road Signs on Rural Roads
Needless to say, it's important to be aware of every potential road sign, but there are a few in particular that you might find on country roads:
Deer / Wild Animals
Accompanied horses
Ford ahead
Hump bridge
Summary
So, moral of the story: expect the unexpected.
Country roads can be windy and fun to drive, and although quiet on the face of it, they hide many dangers.
Drive carefully!
FAQs
How fast can you drive on country roads?
Technically, because they're classed as single carriageways, you can drive as fast as 60mph on country roads and rural roads. However, in reality you should aim to go much slower, as rural driving conditions don't really allow for that kind of speed.
Why do people drive so fast on country roads?
Many drivers tend to go fast on country roads because they're quieter and feel safer, at least on the face of it. This therefore leads to a false sense of security. In reality, country roads are really more dangerous than, for example, motorways.