5,500 miles of road without a mobile signal

MORE than 5,500 miles of roads have no mobile coverage, a study shows.

It found that drivers would not be able to call for help or use phone-based navigation devices on 2 per cent of the network. A further 44,368 miles of road have only partial voice coverage – 18 per cent of the total.

The areas most affected include the Highlands, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

The research by the RAC Foundation was based on analysis of data published by the regulator Ofcom.

‘The good news is that mobile coverage has improved a great deal across our road network,’ said foundation director Steve Gooding.

‘On our motorways, which carry around a fifth of all traffic, every mile should now have voice and basic data coverage plus a 4G signal for all but a couple of miles.

‘As rapidly as the technology has advanced, so too have our expectations of enjoying uninterrupted connectivity.

‘This analysis shows that there is still work to be done to make constant and comprehensive coverage a reality.’

Just 51 per cent of the road network has full 4G coverage.