RAT running down residential streets is causing road rage and risks causing a serious accident, according to residents who have been naming the worst affected areas.

Following news that commuters may face fines for cutting down the access-only Elms Drive in Marston, Oxford Mail readers have been naming more streets in the city where they feel action needs to be taken.

Old Road in Wood Farm, Bagley Wood Road in Kennington and Saxon Way in Northway were some of the roads put forward.

Jennifer Tait, who lives in Old Road, said the section between Quarry Road and Titup Hall drive was most affected with drivers coming off the Eastern Bypass and cutting through to avoid the Old Road and Windmill Road junction.

She said: “Cars literally screech in both directions along this section of road.

“Not only does the traffic well exceed the 20mph limit but often cars take the corner at speed directly into Titup Hall Drive in front of the primary school.

“There is often a lot of illegal parking at the drop off and pick up times making the rat running even more hazardous.

“It’s only a matter of time before there is a serious incident here and I have witnessed several minor accidents where cars have hit each other and on one occasion a car knocked a cyclist off her bike.”

Ms Tait said she would welcome ‘limitations’ introduced on this ‘hellish’ section of road.

She added: “There are many incidents of road rage outside our house and neighbours cars are frequently damaged with wing mirrors being broken and doors scraped as the cars race around the corner.”

On Facebook, readers named Lime Walk in Headington as another rat run, with drivers coming off the London Road and heading towards the Churchill Hospital or Oxford University’s Old Road Campus.

Villagers living in areas such as Wheatley, Horspath and Combe also complained that these places are often subjected to vast numbers of vehicles coming off nearby major roads and cutting through, often at speed.

The likelihood of accidents is made worse in these rural areas because of a lack of street lights, according to readers.

The local neighbourhood police team in Marston held a two day operation in Elms Drive after receiving complaints from residents.

Anyone using the road as a cut-through was given a warning.

Councillor for the area Mick Haines wants the force to look at other problem streets in his ward.