12 December 2007, London: Following years as a constant fixture in traffic bulletins, London’s Hanger Lane Gyratory System has been named by motorists as the road junction they most fear negotiating.

According to a new survey of British drivers by motor insurer Highway Insurance, more than a quarter (28%) of those asked said that Hanger Lane was the junction they felt most apprehensive about having to face.

Second place on 26% went to Birmingham’s Spaghetti Junction and third placed on 25% went to Marble Arch in London.

The survey of 500 drivers was conducted on Highway’s behalf by leading independent market researchers GfK NOP.

Commenting on the results, Highway’s managing director Chris Hill said: “I have driven around Hanger Lane many times and understand completely why people find it so daunting.

“Anxiety has a significant impact on drivers’ behaviour so it’s interesting to see how motorists react to these major junctions.

“I suspect that for many people, the thought of these junctions is actually worse than the reality.”

The survey also reveals that more women are apprehensive about negotiating the junctions than male drivers. Asked if they avoided particular junctions regularly, 17% of female drivers said yes compared with 9% of male drivers.

Age had no discernable effect on levels of anxiety.

Scottish drivers were most nervous of the junctions on the M6 through central Glasgow, whilst Welsh drivers named Spaghetti Junction as their number one fear. Drivers in the South West voted for the M4/M5 interchange.

The Hanger Lane Gyratory System is a large, complex roundabout system in North West London at the junction of the A40, the North Circular (A406) and Hanger Lane itself. The centre of the roundabout contains Hanger Lane Underground Station and a nature reserve. At its maximum, the road around the gyratory system is eight lanes wide.