M6 named Britain's dullest motorway

Oct 24 2006 By Ben Hurst, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM'S M6 has been declared the most boring road in the land, sparking fears it is so dull drivers could drop off at the wheel.

Insurance company Cornhill Direct said their research of 3,000 motorists discovered Europe's busiest stretch of road is also the most tedious.

Doziness is behind ten per cent of accidents on roads, and crashes caused by a sleeping drivers are more likely to result in death and serious injury than high speed smashes because the driver fails to brake before the impact takes place.

The insurance giant has even warned drivers not to use the M6 between midnight and 6am.

Mark Bishop of Cornhill Direct said: "If a driver begins to feel drowsy, they should find a safe place to stop and if they can, have a cup of coffee.

"Motorists have admitted that driving on dull roads for long periods has caused them to fall asleep because the sheer boredom has made them feel tired. We would advise drivers to avoid making long trips on these roads, particularly between midnight and 6am."

Motorists said that rather than stop, they resort to turning the music up really loudly to distract them when on a boring road. Others chat to fellow passengers, whilst a fifth either sing or start talking to themselves.

The M6 which was opened by Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan in 1958 as the Preston by-pass, came top of the boring road poll.

The motorway got its own toll road alternative in 2003 to help manage the 180,000 vehicles which passed through during rush hour - despite only having the capacity to hold 72,000.

But despite this, it continues to be one of the worst roads for traffic jams, accidents and frequent hold-ups and traffic has now returned to the same level as before the M6 Toll opened.

The A30 between Devon and Cornwall was the next most tedious drive with third place awarded to the M1.

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