Millions of drivers risk huge fines from 'hidden' speed limit signs amid 'especially concerning' warning
Drivers could be at risk of speeding fines if the signs are covered
GETTY
Three quarters of drivers are at risk of being slapped with fines as data suggests speed limit signs are the most likely type of sign to be covered by foliage.
Around 74 per cent of people say speed limit signs, particularly 30mph signs, are often covered by trees and bushes, especially in villages and street-lit areas.
A further 53 per cent of drivers reported that obscured signs are a frequent occurrence on their journeys, with four in 10 saying signs are more difficult to see in the warmer months.
Bushes, trees and other foliage can also have a dramatic impact on road safety for motorists, with 42 per cent reporting to have accidentally broken the speed limit.
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Hidden signs could cause drivers to miss vital information
PAOther offences include missing important information that compromised safety (26 per cent), missing a turn (28 per cent) and even ending up driving in the wrong direction (eight per cent).
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “In parks and gardens foliage is a welcome sign of spring, but on the roads it’s an entirely different matter if vital information like speed limit changes aren’t visible.
“It’s especially concerning that speed limit signs are often the hardest to detect and drivers are left guessing what the legal limit is before they spot a smaller repeater sign.
"Any amount of excessive speeding puts everyone on the roads at grave danger, especially on minor and local roads where there’s a greater number of pedestrians.
“Drivers shouldn’t be left to rely on their local knowledge and navigation apps to know if there’s a change in speed limit or if a junction is approaching."
She also warned about the rise of in-car systems which are designed to detect road signs and display them so the driver knows of any vital information.
The expert said that the dashboard warning is "redundant" if the driver cannot see any road signs, especially if they are warning of upcoming danger.
"Red circle" signs are the most often hidden by untrimmed trees and bushes, while 30mph, 40mph and 20mph signs were also difficult to see because of overgrown vegetation.
The minimum penalty for speeding on UK roads is a £100 fine and three penalty points on their driving licence, with disqualification becoming an option if they build up 12 or more points within three years.
Drivers who passed their tests within the last two years of passing their test could have their licence revoked if they manage to build up six or more points.
Simpson continued, saying: "Of course, it’s still the motorists’ responsibility to drive at an appropriate speed, whether a road sign is visible or not.
“While we realise local councils are under enormous pressure financially, we nonetheless ask them to inspect all the signs on their networks and do everything in their power to ensure they are clear and visible to drivers, as it’s these signs that can save lives.”
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More than half of drivers said they missed a sign because it was covered
PA
The RAC is urging drivers to use its website and the FixMyStreet postcode search where they can record any overgrown vegetation in their area.
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