The breakdown into built-up and non built-up areas based on speed limit (40mph) has often been used in the UK as if it effectively defined urban and rural areas when it does not. A more appropriate approach is to classify roads according to whether they are situated within an urban boundary rather than by speed limit. In future, the oficial road traffic estimates will distinguish traffic on urban and rural roads rather than on built-up and non built-up roads. For traffic purposes, urban roads are major and minor roads within an urban area with a population of 10,000 or more. Rural roads are outside these areas. Comparative data on accident numbers are given for the average of 1994-8. While accident numbers differ between the road classification methods, the trends remain similar. While the number of accidents on built-up and urban roads has decreased over the last four years, the accident rate for rural roads remains unchanged. There are more casualties on rural than on non built-up roads, particularly on minor roads and among child pedestrians. The category of rural roads includes those with a limit below 40 mph.
Abstract