Weather warnings as Eleanor hits the UK
The Met Office says winds will reach speeds of 80mph throughout Wednesday.
As Storm Eleanor fast approaches the UK, new research from leading breakdown provider Green Flag reveals 65 per cent of Brits believe Eleanor sounds like a 'low to moderate' storm name, despite the fact it is anticipated to cause widespread damage and destruction across the UK over the next 24 hours.While 35 per cent of Brits would describe the threat of Storm Eleanor as low, mild or minor, only 6 per cent would describe it as dangerous, devastating or deadly, based on its name.In fact, Brits are so influenced by a storm's name, that nearly half of UK drivers (46 per cent) want storms to be named according to how severe they are, rather than alphabetically, which is the current system employed by the Met Office.Commissioned following a string of chaotic storms across the world, the new research found 'Storm Trump' to be the most deadly sounding storm name, with 17 per cent of British drivers believing a 'Storm Trump' would signal maximum devastation, while just 13 per cent thought the same for Katrina, which inflicted long lasting damage across New Orleans in 2005, and only 5 per cent for Irma which wreaked havoc across the world earlier this year. 'Storm Simon' topped the list as the least threatening storm name, with 70 per cent of Brits saying it sounded like a low to moderate storm, andover one in five (22 per cent) saying they'd carry on driving during it.When it comes to driving in stormy conditions, over two thirds (67 per cent) of drivers only occasionally check storm and weather warnings before driving and, worryingly, one in ten (10 per cent) never check storm and weather warnings before driving.A change to naming storms by severity could see a dramatic decrease in Brits driving during storms. While 65 per cent of drivers would carry on their journey during an official storm name such as Eleanor, Dylan or Caroline, just 55 per cent of drivers would persevere in a more severe sounding storm such as Hades, Medusa or Poseidon.A further 60 per cent of drivers would carry on driving during historic storm names including Katrina, Irma & Harvey – highlighting the impact more severe sounding storm names would have on drivers.In fact, the difference a storm name makes can be up to a staggering 20 per cent - two thirds (66 per cent) of drivers stated they'd continue driving during 'Storm Simon', while just under half (46 per cent) of drivers would have the nerve to attempt to drive during 'Storm Katrina'.Simon Henrick, Head of News at Green Flag, commented: "While it is clear British drivers are influenced by the name of a storm, the reality is that all storms cause difficulty for drivers and must be approached with caution."It's worrying that one in ten of us never check storm and weather warnings before driving, as storms dramatically alter conditions on the road."We always advise drivers to check the weather conditions and make sure their car is road ready before driving."
Published: by Radio NewsHub