Research released today by the Institute of Advanced Motorist (IAM) in the UK shows that during 2014 lanes were closed over 440,000 times on Motorways and major A-roads. These road closures are said to cost the UK exchequer an estimated £1 billion.

IAM has discovered that there were 44 main reasons for lane closures. Unsurprisingly the main cause is cars breaking down (41%). Other causes include planned road works (14%), traffic collisions and obstructions.

Findings from the report show that other reasons for lane closures include; pedestrians walking on a motorway (12,759) – 122 of which include unsupervised children; animals loose on the road network (3,990); abandoned vehicles (2,598); suicide and attempted suicides (856); and 567 cases where people were driving on the wrong side of road.

Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said: “There are many worrying things that emerge from this information. Firstly, people are putting their own lives at risk and those of others by not maintaining their vehicles properly to the point they break down on our busiest roads.

While we appreciate that a few breakdowns are unavoidable, such as a tyre blow out, the vast majority can be avoided or dealt with before taking a vehicle onto a key route.

It also shows people do not treat our key economic arteries with the respect they deserve. Pedestrians, unsupervised children and objects thrown on the road should never be happening. It is clear an education and awareness campaign starting at school age is badly needed.”