By Elaine Blackburne
Copyright dailyrecord
Across the UK, there are roads with reputations that could make even the most experienced driver second-guess a late-night journey. Ghostly figures appearing from nowhere, phantom vehicles, and unexplained accidents have long been reported by drivers. The tales of spooky sightings have made some roads notoriously haunted. These range from rural lanes to bustling motorways and have become part of local folklore. But while they can be seen as a lighthearted diversion – driving on them can pose additional risks for some. According to one vehicle expert heightened awareness of the ghostly surroundings can even increase your risk of making a mistake at the wheel. Kazimieras Urbonas, Supplier Excellence Manager at European used car parts firm Ovoko , explains: “Roads with haunted reputations often share a pattern: they are poorly lit, lined with trees or hedges, and have a history of accidents. When driving at night, it’s easy for the mind to misinterpret shadows or fleeting movements as figures, especially when local stories are well-known. “Maintaining your focus, reducing speed, and taking regular breaks are practical ways to navigate these stretches safely. Psychological factors, like fatigue and heightened awareness, can amplify the sensation of seeing something supernatural, so it’s wise to remain alert and cautious rather than distracted by the stories themselves. “While ghostly tales are entertaining, the real hazard is your reaction behind the wheel. Swerving to avoid what might be a shadow can lead to genuine accidents. Respecting the road, keeping a steady speed, and knowing the route are the safest strategies, regardless of whether the legends are true.” The firm has now compiled a list of the UK’s most haunted roads, where driving at night can be an experience that’s equal parts eerie and unnerving. Here’s its top eight routes: Dubbed Scotland’s most haunted road, the A75 winds through Dumfries and Galloway and has a history of bizarre sightings. Drivers have reported phantom trucks appearing out of nowhere, ghostly pedestrians stepping onto the tarmac, and spectral animals darting across the road. One chilling story involves two truck drivers who crashed into what they thought was an oncoming lorry, only to find nothing but empty road when they recovered. The A75 has been home to supernatural encounters for centuries, making night driving here an unnerving experience for even the bravest. The shadow of the Pretoria pit disaster in 1910 still seems to linger along Platt Lane. Drivers recount seeing glowing eyes peering out from the roadside hedges and ghostly miners hauling carts as if trapped in an eternal shift. Those who have driven here at night describe a feeling of unease, as if unseen workers are walking alongside the car. The stories of spectral miners are so vivid that some locals avoid this stretch after dark entirely. The Oldnall Road is a straight B-road between Halesowen and Stourbridge, and it’s earned a reputation as an accident ‘blackspot.’ “A ‘blackspot’ is an area of road which sees a statistically high rate of accidents,” says Kazimieras. “These areas are often identified by engineers using statistical analysis in order to implement targeted safety measures.” Accidents here have been attributed to drivers swerving to avoid apparitions, most frequently children dressed in Victorian clothing, who vanish just as suddenly as they appear. Despite the road’s lack of sharp bends or poor visibility, reports of collisions caused by these ghostly interruptions continue to puzzle both locals and traffic authorities. Just a couple of miles from Oldnall Road lies the A456, home to sightings of a cavalier in full tin-hatted regalia. One of the most famous encounters was reported by a local Detective Constable, who swore he saw the figure riding along the roadside before disappearing entirely. Drivers here often report a sense of being followed or watched, though no tangible threat has ever been identified. Nicknamed the Devil’s Highway, the A666 stretches between Bolton and Pendlebury with a long history of eerie encounters. Drivers have described dense, inexplicable fog rolling across the road, shadowy figures darting between the trees, and hauntings by a hunched-over figure or white creature. One story that has persisted for decades is that of a woman appearing on the roadside, only to vanish the instant cars slow down. “In the UK, the first number of an A road is given based on the area in which it starts, which is how the A666 ended up with its first six,” says Urbonas. “The other numbers are assigned at random. Despite its reputation, the number was likely not given to this road intentionally.” Known as just one of the roads haunted by the ‘Girl in White’, the A229 has been the site of unnerving encounters for generations. Witnesses recount a bride-to-be, dressed in her wedding gown, stepping in front of vehicles and vanishing before any impact. One particularly account tells of a driver who covered her body with a blanket, only for her to disappear, leaving the blanket behind. The M6 is not your typical haunted country lane. Spanning multiple counties, it is the longest motorway in the UK, and its length and history support an astonishing number of ghostly reports. Particularly notorious is the stretch between junctions 16 and 19, where drivers have glimpsed shadowy figures seemingly crossing lanes before disappearing into thin air. Historical tragedies from the English Civil War and Roman times may explain the apparitions of soldiers sometimes reported here, giving drivers an unsettling feeling of the past brushing against the present. Dartmoor’s B3212 is famous for the legend of the Hairy Hands, with reports dating back to the early 1900s. Drivers recount unseen hands seizing control of steering wheels and even bike handles, forcing motorcycles, bicycles, and cars to veer off-road despite their drivers’ best efforts. The stretch between Postbridge and Princetown is lined with tors, ruins, and ancient stone circles, creating an eerie backdrop that only heightens the unsettling tales. “It has been suggested that the real explanation for these incidents is that the B3212 is a narrow, winding road that is often hard for tourists, who are unfamiliar with it, to navigate in the dark,” says Urbonas.
