Country driving can be a pure delight – an unfolding canvas of scenic roads, very little traffic, picturesque villages, panoramic views. But it can also be dangerous, especially if you’re used to motorways or city streets. The key to safe and well-mannered driving in the country is patience. When roads are narrow and visibility is poor, you will find any number of hazards – from herds of livestock and slow-moving tractors to groups of hikers and horse-riders  – to slow you down. Accept that country driving is slow, sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Country Driving Essentials

•Keep to your side of the road, and don’t let reduced visibility tempt you into wandering into the oncoming lane.

•Watch your speed and observe speed limits carefully. Country driving is notable for a number of unexpected hazards, and you need to be able to react quickly. Be very wary of road surfaces: we’re beset by potholes on UK roads and country lanes, which may be liable to flooding and damage from heavy agricultural machinery, are often ill maintained and dangerous.

•Country roads are often twisting and turning; brake before you reach a corner and try and use hedges or telegraph wires to anticipate the layout of the road ahead.

• Be patient: you may be stuck behind slow-moving tractors or agricultural machinery, but this will rarely be over long distances. Remember these are country-dwellers who are legitimately going about their everyday business – the country is not a theme park, conveniently laid out for your delectation and enjoyment. Just resign yourself to moving slowly and resist the temptation to flash your headlights or swing out from behind.

•Watch out for cyclists. It’s an increasingly popular hobby and they frequently travel in packs, which makes them hard to overtake on country roads. Crawl along behind them, keep your distance and only overtake when you’re confident to do so. You may find them irritating, but honking your horn, revving your engine, or shouting at them through the car window is an absolute no no; remember that, according to the Highway Code, they have priority.

•Be very cautious around horses. If you see a horse and rider ahead, slow down to a crawl and creep behind. When it is completely safe to overtake, pull out, giving the horse a wide berth, and driving very slowly to avoid alarming the animal.

•Driving along with your windows open and music blaring out is an inconsiderate assault on rural tranquillity. It is also dangerous when, for example, encountering horses, who may well be startled by loud noises. For this reason, honking horns is frowned upon on country roads.

 •Keep an eye open for pedestrians. Walking down country lanes can be hazardous, and where there are no verges, pedestrians are often forced to walk in the road. Slow down if you see a pedestrian ahead and overtake gently. Aggressively racing past with just a hair breadth’s clearance is the height of bad manners.

•Accept that, if you encounter a car coming in the opposite direction on a narrow, single-tracked country lane, you may have to reverse to let them through. Don’t try and sit it out; the convention is that the person who is nearest to a gateway or pull-off is the person who tucks their car into the side. If you encounter a large vehicle, they take priority, and you must manoeuvre yourself out of the way.

•Nothing winds up locals more than a visitor parking in a passing place or not acknowledging someonwe who has pulled over to let them pass – a wave of a hand or raising a finger from the steering wheel is all it takes.

•Park considerately; a gateway might look like a convenient spot to pull off the road, but you may well be blocking a farmer or a resident.

Satnav Slip-ups

In-car navigation systems have prevented many a long and scenic detour, but they are not infallible: listen to that inner voice of doubt before you gamely follow your SatNav’s instruction to turn off an A-road onto a narrow dirt track. Remember, in areas with limited satellite coverage, such as remote rural areas or deep valleys, GPS accuracy may be impeded. Listen to instructions from residents and bow to their greater knowledge of rural highways and byways and always carry a physical road map; a craven dependence on technology may well leave you seriously disorientated. 

Animal Alerts

British road signs alert motorists to a number of wildlife hazards – swerving to avoid wildlife is the cause of many accidents. In 2019 the UK government introduced a ‘small mammal warning’ sign, depicting a hedgehog, intended to protect vital crossing routes, particularly on rural roads. A recent estimate suggests that as many as 335,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads a year, with numbers peaking in July, suggesting that the road deaths are linked with the breeding season. Hedgehog fatalities are highest on the suburban edges of towns and in areas where roads are bordered by grassland, so being aware of the season and terrain can help prevent needless roadkill.

One of the most dangerous wild animals for motorists is the deer. Recent research indicates an annual tally of 74,000 deer-related accidents on UK roads. Most accidents occur during the deer’s rutting season, which occurs from around October to December, with dusk and dawn being high-risk times of day. Be particularly vigilant at these times, especially on roads that run close to woods and forests and take note of deer warning signs. If you do see a deer at night, dip your headlights, which will prevent the animal from ‘freezing’.

The Unfortunate Pheasant

Exotic pheasants originated in Asia and were brought to the British Isles by the Romans, where they have thrived and become an integral part of the country scene. Unfortunatey, they are particularly vulnerable on British roads, especially in the autumn, when captive-bred birds are released from their pens. Not noted for their intelligence, such birds have little experience of living in the wild or learning from other birds; they are mainly land-based and only fly when startled, with an alarming tendency to head across roads in front of traffic.

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