Your essential guide to enjoying a safe summer on our rural roads

Cycling, rambling, horse-riding, caravanning and camping – or just a car or motorbike ride in the countryside.

The rural roads of Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire are getting busier, as record numbers of day-trippers, staycation holidaymakers and sports enthusiasts take to the long and winding highways and byways.

All great news for the economy, but with the increased traffic and people come significant dangers as the rural infrastructure is not designed to cope. Add farm machinery, along with the odd animal or two into this mix and you have a dangerous combination of possible hazards.

Collisions and accidents do happen; but many of these are so easily avoidable. Simply by paying heed to both the written and unwritten laws surrounding rural roads can help limit any risk.

Easy steps can be taken by road users to protect themselves, and their loved ones, from the unthinkable happening. The impact of an accident can be mitigated against by the conscious actions of all of those on the roads to try and prevent incidents in the first place.

• Cyclists, horse riders or walkers: make sure you can be seen both day and night, stay in single file on narrow roads and bends, ensure you can hear what’s around you, watch out for potholes and uneven or covered surfaces, and be aware of unmarked junctions. Wear your helmets!

• Drivers/motorcyclists: please remember where you are. Potholes, ruts, hidden junctions, narrow highways and unexpected farm and animal traffic! These, combined with speed, are a toxic mix. The speed limits on rural roads are limits not targets. Many of the road surfaces, at the moment, have been resurfaced with chippings – the 20mph limits you see are advisory, and are there for a reason, to prevent you skidding out of control. Always drive to the conditions.

• Remote roads rarely have witnesses on hand to verify who did what, when and to whom. Many people now carry/wear cameras and/or have dash cams installed in their vehicles - they can provide compelling evidence to support a claim for compensation, so they are to be recommended.

• Satnavs: please don’t blindly follow them, observe the road ahead and around you all the time!

• Rule 154 of the Highway Code – read it, understand it and follow its advice.

For further information, please contact Steve Hennegan on 01472 253948 email steve.hennegan@wilkinchapman.co.uk or visit wilkinchapman.co.uk.