Blind bends often lead to crashes in the countryside

Four out of every 10 Londoners asked thought fewer accidents happened on rural roads because they were quieter.

But 63% of road deaths happen on rural roads, with more than 16,000 people killed or seriously injured in 2003.

The Department for Transport, which commissioned the poll of 422 drivers, is launching an advertising campaign to remind motorists of unforeseen hazards.

Animals in the road, rain, blind bends and other drivers' headlights often lead to crashes in the countryside.

The AA Motoring Trust said it was pleased the survey had been done because the public perception of urban danger versus rural safety was so widespread.

It is only right we highlight the dangers and urge motorists to take the same care as they do when driving in urban areas Road safety minister David Jamieson

"The number of arguments we get against speed cameras because they are on 'safe rural roads' is unbelievable," said head of road safety Andrew Howard.

"The fact that there are unguarded trees lining the road, that you can have a head-on collision at up to 100mph, and that other vehicles can pull out from nowhere doesn't seem to register."

He said accidents during over-taking and crashes involving vulnerable road users such as horse riders and cyclists were also more common in the countryside.

An added risk was the relatively long distance to the nearest ambulance station, he told BBC News Online.

But four out of 10 men and 24% of women think fewer accidents happen on rural roads because they are quieter, the survey indicates.

One out of every three drivers in south-east England asked believed it, as did 39% of those in north-east England and Yorkshire and 30% in the Midlands.

But in Scotland, where 71% regularly drive on rural roads, only one in five agree, according to the survey.

Younger drivers

Just 7% of Scots think it is safe to speed because there are fewer people around, compared with 13% of men overall and one in 50 women, the survey suggests.

The study found 7% of Scots also think it is safe to speed at night because they can see oncoming cars' headlights, compared with one-third in Wales, 21% in the north-west of England and 18% of Midlanders.

One-third of younger drivers thought fewer crashes happened in the countryside because the roads were quieter.

Welsh drivers were most likely to consider themselves skilful enough to handle their cars at high speeds on rural roads.

Taking the most risks were the younger drivers and those who had been driving for less than a year.