Unmarked crossroads are the least popular type of road junction among UK motorists, according to new research from the AA.

Despite public attitudes towards them, they are not where most road casualties occur.

No road marking engenders driver nerves, but careful attention too.

A crossroads

A survey carried out by the organisation’s Accident Assist team found that 23% of drivers said unmarked crossroads were their least preferred junction type.

They ranked ahead of yellow box junctions (19%), staggered junctions (12%), mini roundabouts (9%) and slip roads (6%).

However, official data from the UK Department for Transport paints a different picture when it comes to road danger.

The figures indicate that T-junctions, which only 2% of drivers said they disliked the most, along with staggered junctions, are responsible for the largest number of casualties.

In 2024, more than 34,000 people were killed or injured at those junction types, far exceeding the 12,544 casualties recorded at crossroads and the 7,454 at roundabouts.

Safety experts say the mismatch between perception and risk highlights how drivers often judge roads based on how stressful they feel rather than the actual collision data and potential dangers involved.

Fear of the unknown

Unmarked crossroads can feel unpredictable because they usually lack clear priority signs or road markings, meaning drivers must assess who has the right of way themselves.

These junctions are more commonly found on rural roads, where visibility, speed and unfamiliar layouts can make motorists uneasy.

Yet the very features that cause discomfort may also make them safer.

According to the AA, drivers tend to slow down and approach a junction with greater caution when there are no clear instructions.

This behaviour can reduce the likelihood or severity of collisions.

In contrast, more familiar junction types may encourage complacency.

T-junctions are extremely common across the UK road network, meaning drivers navigate them frequently and sometimes too quickly.

Left right

The Department for Transport data also highlights a particular manoeuvre that carries significant risk: turning right across oncoming traffic.

In 2024, there were 19,469 casualties linked to drivers attempting this movement, compared with just over 6,500 incidents involving left turns.

That gap reflects the difficulty of judging speed and distance when crossing traffic flows, particularly on faster roads or in complex junction layouts.

Younger drivers and motorists in urban areas expressed slightly different concerns in the AA survey.

Yellow box junctions were especially unpopular among drivers in London and among younger age groups.

Researchers believe this may be linked to enforcement cameras and fines for stopping illegally within the yellow box markings.

Coming together

Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said junctions remain one of the biggest sources of road collisions.

“Junctions can become crash hotspots, particularly if drivers don’t take the time to assess the situation properly,” he said.

“While unmarked crossroads are the most hated by drivers, it seems the lack of signs and road markings is creating the right behaviours by slowing down traffic and forcing people to look before they drive.”

Rankin added that the key lesson for road safety is behavioural rather than structural.

“We now need to replicate this attitude at all junctions to reduce crashes and casualties. There are too many instances where slowing down and taking more time to look would’ve avoided a crash, especially at T and staggered junctions.”

Sharing is caring

Road safety analysts say the findings could influence how junctions are designed in the future.

The “Shared Space” concept, developed in Sweden to reduce road crashes and road casualties, has proven successful.

These junctions are a form of “shared space” or “simplified streetscape,” a design philosophy that removes physical cues to encourage drivers to be more vigilant and to negotiate with other users.

Some planners have already explored “minimal signage” layouts or shared-space concepts that rely more heavily on driver awareness and lower speeds rather than strict traffic control.

While such approaches remain controversial, the AA’s research suggests that when motorists feel uncertain, they may actually drive more carefully, a factor that could shape how junctions evolve as authorities continue trying to reduce casualties on Britain’s roads.