Car accidents are more common in some UK cities than in others.
In this post we’ll list the UK cities where the most car accidents happen and share some tips on how you can reduce the risk of accidents in your fleet.
For more information on how we can help you and your fleet, get in touch with us on 020 8290 9099 or email us at commercial.motor@anthonyjones.com.
What Are The Most Dangerous Roads in the UK?
Every year, The Department for Transport shares statistics and data about reported collisions and casualties on public roads in the UK.
Multiple independent bodies have taken a deep dive into this data to reveal the most dangerous roads in the UK. The car finance specialists at CarMoney, for example calculated the total number of incidents, both major and minor, that occurred between 2011 and 2021.
While most road accidents appear to take place on major motorways, these are the UK cities where the most accidents happen:
- London – 32,164
- Birmingham – 9,025
- Leeds – 7,064
- Leicester – 6,399
- Bristol – 6,292
- Nottingham – 6,220
- Liverpool – 5,472
- Glasgow – 5,386
- Sheffield – 5,039
- Edinburgh – 4,994
The amount of annual car accidents took a dip between 2020 and 2022, as there were fewer cars on the road due to imposed government lockdowns. But the latest Department for Transport figures suggest that traffic levels have now returned to their pre-pandemic levels.
Why Are Some Roads More Dangerous Than Others?
Some roads are simply busier than others. The more vehicles that use a road, the greater the chance that two or more of those vehicles will be involved in a collision at some point.
A road’s location will also affect its safety. Roads in commercial or industrial areas will be more dangerous than roads in residential areas, as they’ll get a greater proportion of rush hour traffic. At rush hour, drivers may be tired, or tetchy, or otherwise more likely to drive in a way that could result in an accident.
Finally, the condition of a road can affect the average number of accidents. Turns, junctions, traffic lights, and crossings can lead to sudden stops, which can lead to collisions. Low light levels at night can make accidents more likely. So too can driving over potholes, or swerving to avoid them.
How To Reduce Accidents In Your Fleet
If you know about the most dangerous roads in the UK, you might reduce accidents in your fleet through discouraging your drivers from using certain routes.
You could create dedicated “crash maps” for every area your fleet serves. Share these maps with your drivers, and encourage them to find alternative routes wherever possible, so as to avoid any high risk areas.
Yet this may prove impractical. There will almost certainly be times when your drivers will have no choice but to use certain roads at certain times. So, the best way to reduce accidents in your fleet is through focusing on how your employees drive, rather than where or when they drive.
Work towards a culture of safe and sensible driving in your fleet, and look for ways to encourage employees to adopt safer driving practices. You’re more likely to get good results if you focus on rewarding good driver behaviour, as opposed to punishing poor behaviour.
Take a look at our full guide to improving driver behaviour in your fleet.
Fleet Safety Management Support From Anthony Jones
Working towards a culture of fleet safety can be an essential part of your ongoing risk management. As well as helping reduce accidents, this can also help bring down the price of your fleet insurance.
At Anthony Jones, we can provide tailored risk management advice while also helping you get the cover you need at a competitive price. For more information on how we can help you and your fleet, get in touch with us on 020 8290 9099 or email us at commercial.motor@anthonyjones.com.
