Uswitch reveals the safest and most dangerous roads in the UK
Kent named the most dangerous region in the UK, with 3,844 reported casualties since 2015[1]
8 out of the 10 safest areas were found in either Scotland or Wales, with Clackmannanshire coming out on top, reporting just 61 deaths or serious injuries[2]
Over half of road accidents occur at speeds between just 21-30mph[3]
T-junctions highlighted as incident hotspots, with 37,133 casualties over the past 5 years[3]
Study from Uswitch analyses data from the Department for Transport, looking at 131,369 casualties on UK roads over the past 5 years[4]
Kent has been revealed to have the most dangerous roads in the UK, according to new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
The study, which analysed data from the Department for Transport, looked at the 131,369 deaths and serious injuries which took place on UK roads between 2015 and 2019, split out by local authority area[4].
The South East of England is home to the most dangerous roads in the UK, with three out of the five local authority areas reporting the highest number of casualties[5].
Meanwhile, results for Scotland and Wales revealed that both countries had some of the safest roads in the UK, with eight out of the ten local authorities recording the fewest number of reported casualties. Bracknell Forest and Hartlepool were the only two English regions to appear in the top ten[2].
The results of the study show that the majority of incidents involved people aged between 24 and 55 years old, with almost half (46%) of all recorded casualties falling within this age bracket[6]. The data also highlighted a gender split, with 7 out of 10 (69%) accidents involving men, compared to just 3 out of 10 (31%) involving women[7].
It was also found that over half of road casualties occur at speeds between just 21-30mph, with T-junctions being danger hotspots as 37,133 deaths or serious injuries were reported at this type of junction over the last 5 years[3].
Florence Codjoe, car insurance expert at Uswitch.com comments: “With tens of thousands of people killed or seriously injured each year in traffic accidents, road safety is something drivers should always keep in mind, wherever they are.
“And as weather conditions get worse moving into winter, drivers need to be even more conscious of their surroundings.
“Rain and snow on the road can reduce your grip and increase stopping distances, while the darker days can impact your visibility while driving. It’s vital drivers remain aware, even with fewer cars on the road than usual.”
Explore the data in full and find out how safe the roads are where you live here.
Notes to editors:
1. Based on data gathered using the Department for Transport’s online road traffic tool, which showed that Kent had 3,844 reported casualties between 2015 and 2019, compared with the second highest region of Essex, with 3,770 reported casualties. 'Casualty' refers to someone who has either died or been seriously injured, as defined in the data - it doesn't include slight injuries.
2. Clackmannanshire (61 casualties), Merthyr Tydfil (71), East Dunbartonshire (79), Torfaen (82), Blaenau Gwent (83), West Dunbartonshire (119), Vale of Glamorgan (137) and Isle of Anglesey (154) were all in the top 10 regions with the lowest reported casualties between 2015 and 2019, according to data from the Department for Transport’s online road traffic tool.
3. According to data from the Department for Transport, there were 68,640 reported casualties within the 21 – 30mph speed limit, compared to the second highest figure of 28,077 at 51 – 60mph and 37,133 reported casualties at T-junctions between 2015 and 2019, compared to the second highest figure of 10,613 reported casualties at crossroads.
4. Data gathered using the Department for Transport's online road traffic tool, looking at casualties on UK roads by local authority for the period from 2015 - 2019. Data released in and accurate as of September 2020. Data on locations and road user type is collected at the scene, and may not always be consistent. Data only includes cases that have been reported by the police - the true number of road casualties is more difficult to track, but estimates based on insurance claims and hospital data suggest the actual number is significantly higher.
5. Kent (3,844 casualties), Hampshire (3,561) and Surrey (3,445) were all in the top 5 regions with the highest reported casualties between 2015 and 2019, according to data from the Department for Transport’s online road traffic tool.
6. According to data from the Department for Transport, 60,119 reported accidents between 2015 and 2019 involved people aged between 24 and 55 years old, out of a total of 134,316, making up 44.7%.
7. According to data from the Department for Transport, 91,225 reported accidents between 2015 and 2019 involved men and 40,121 involved women, equalling 69.5% (men) and 30.5% (women) of the 131,316 total count.
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.