Loathing the fast lane

Driving along the lanes is fun... for the motorist

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has spoken up for Britain's increasingly clogged rural back lanes.

Despite a government initiative already in place to create a network of 'Quiet Lanes', the CPRE says more needs to be done.

So off I drove to talk to lane lovers menaced by the encroaching motorcar - locals and others who love to stroll, canter or cycle.

Traffic intimidates those travelling by foot, horse and bike on our rural routes, and a forecast of up 25% more wheels will make things much worse.

Often these drivers are bad-tempered and in a hurry Resident Elaine Campling Push for quiet lanes

It links up two small villages to the east of Guildford, in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Admiring the sun-dappled leafy landscape from the comfort of my car I soon spotted a horse rider up ahead.

But after pulling alongside and introducing myself through the sunroof I committed a cardinal sin.

Abusive drivers

Dancer, it transpired, was shocked to see a talking car and according to his rider he came close to rearing onto the bonnet.

"I just wish cars would slow down and there be a few less abusive drivers please," said the horsewoman.

"The amount of people that stop and abuse - they need more consideration."

Dancer's owner was less concerned with the volume of traffic, which varies widely depending on the time of day.

"It's not the amount of traffic that's the problem in my opinion. It's simply the speed," she added.

Dancer and her rider get regular abuse from drivers

While traffic calming measures are being played down, the government body has emphasised it is attitudes to different road-users which need to change.

Further along I pulled in to the drive of a modest looking mansion - Surrey is an area of outstanding wealth as well as beauty.

Elaine Campling was working from home and keeping an eye on her son and his friend as they played.

"People use this road as a hack-through.

"It's extremely good for that - for commuters it cuts out the Guildford stretch and makes a nice short-cut onto the A3 and M25.

"The road is incredibly narrow and twisty with hair-pin bends and because it comes off the Surrey Hills we get all the Rambling and Cycling clubs," she said.

But if you are going to use it in rush hour - forget it.

"It's all to do with the speed. Often these drivers are bad-tempered and in a hurry", she said.

Calming rejected

And yet as a local resident she said using the road by car was of course vital.

"We've a major lack of public transport in the area. It's inaccessible and you do need a car. It's a fact of life," she said.

Mr Buckland thinks calming measures would be intrusive

It set my heart a flutter for all the wrong reasons.

Mike Buckland, a potter who has been living in the area since he was 18, laughed when I asked if he had noticed much change in traffic over the years

"Who could not notice the increase? At certain times of the day now it's very difficult just pulling out of my drive".

But his face dropped when I suggested traffic calming measures.

"That would be a bit intrusive wouldn't it?" he said.

As I pulled back on to the A3 - the giant artery linking the southern Home Counties with London - I was already missing the thrill of the winding road and flashing green forest I had left behind.

Clearly it is the mentality of drivers that must change, because to most motorists, Tarmac is only there to be driven on.

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