Britain’s rudest road signs get a modesty makeover

A funny road name might raise a smile, but new research from Asda Money reveals it can also take drivers’ eyes off the road.

Almost two thirds (65%) of Brits admit to being distracted by a rude-sounding road name, while 60% say they’ve laughed so hard at a funny road name that they’ve missed a turn or exit. One in three (33%) say they’ve even had a near miss after being distracted by something amusing on the road.

When it comes to Britain’s rudest road names, the Midlands and Worcestershire are clearly giving the rest of the country a run for its money. Bell End in Rowley Regis and Minge Lane in Worcestershire both make the top 10, with 36% and 32% of Brits respectively picking them out, while Cock Hill Lane in Birmingham also features with 25% of the vote. Wetwang in East Yorkshire rounds out the top 20, alongside North Piddle in Worcestershire – another town that Brits admit is difficult to ignore from behind the wheel.

To put the research to the test, Asda Money headed to some of Britain’s most distracting roads this September, temporarily erecting green velvet ‘modesty’ curtains over some of Britain’s most “eye-catching” signposts. Travelling the country, from Yorkshire through to Birmingham and Worcester, across Minge Lane, Bell End, North Piddle, Wetwang and Cock Hill Lane – they are helping drivers keep their eyes on the road and giving them one less reason to look twice.

It’s no wonder that more than half (53%) think the UK has some of the funniest road and village names in the world, with 53% believing that our unusual, and sometimes rude, place names are what makes the country quirky and unique.

The research shows just how much Britain’s unusual place names capture the public imagination. 63% have deliberately taken a detour to see a funny street name in real life, while 58% have pulled over to take a picture of a comedy road sign. A further 41% have shared one in a group chat or on social media, and almost a third (29%) have even used a funny place name as a reason to visit an area.

The campaign is a helping hand from Asda Money which launches its new car insurance this month in partnership with Allianz. Asda Rewards customers can currently also get £25 sent to their Cashpot when they buy Asda Car Insurance. And on top of that, Asda rewards members can also get exclusive member savings for an even better price*.

“Britain’s road signs might make us laugh, but keeping drivers covered is serious business,” says Jenny Maden, Head of Insurance, at Asda Money. “Our partnership with Allianz, brings ‘Asda Car Insurance’ to our customers, with guaranteed exclusive rates available for Asda Rewards members – as well as a £25 Cashpot contribution, for a limited offer period.”

And funny road names are just one of the distractions competing for drivers’ attention. Overall, 76% admit they get distracted behind the wheel, doing so an average of five times during an hour-long journey. Alongside road signs, talkative passengers (32%), stunning scenery (30%), passengers continuously pointing things out (27%), yawning or tiredness (26%) and singing along to the radio (25%) all make the list.

So, while Asda Money can’t control everything that catches a driver’s eye, it can at least take a few of the funniest road signs out of the equation. Asda Money offers car and home insurance, in partnerships with Allianz. Quotes are available at money.asda.com/insurance/car-insurance/

BRITAIN’S RUDEST PLACE NAMES
Sluts Hole Lane, Norfolk – 38%
Butthole Lane, Leicestershire – 37%
Bell End, Rowley Regis– 36%
Twatt, Orkney – 35%
The Knob, Northamptonshire – 33%
Minge Lane, Worcestershire – 32%
Sandy Balls, New Forest – 32%
Cock-A-Dibby, Berkshire – 31%
Slag Lane, Merseyside – 30%
Fanny Avenue, Derbyshire – 29%
Cocks, Cornwall – 29%
Back Passage, City of London – 28%
Shitterton, Dorset – 28%
Titty Hill, West Sussex – 27%
Fanny Hands Lane, Lincolnshire – 26%
Happy Bottom, Dorset – 26%
Cock Hill Lane, Birmingham – 25%
Titty Ho, Northamptonshire – 25%
Fingringhoe, Essex – 24%
Wetwang, Yorkshire – 24%
Crotch Crescent, Oxford – 23%
Slack Bottom, West Yorkshire – 23%
Jackass Lane, Kent – 20%
Dumb Woman’s Lane, East Sussex – 20%
Pratts Bottom, Greater London – 20%
Great Snoring, Norfolk – 19%
Twatling Road, Birmingham – 18%
Fine Bush Lane, Ruislip – 17%
Butt Hill Road, South Yorkshire – 17%
Hornyold Road, Worcestershire – 17%
Letsby Avenue, South Yorkshire – 15%
Nickey Nackey Lane, Surrey – 14%
North Piddle, Worcestershire – 12%
Penistone, Barnsley, South Yorkshire – 10%
Piddlehinton, Dorset – 7%