Worst regions for car collisions revealed
- Data from the Department of Transport reveals that one in every five road accidents takes place in London
- South-east and East England see the next highest number of road accidents
- Failing to look properly is the number one cause of collisions
A recent study has uncovered the areas of the UK that see the most car accidents, with one in five of all collisions taking place in London.* This suggests the capital could be the most dangerous place to drive in the UK.
Go.Compare car insurance analysed the latest Department for Transport data on reported road collisions in the UK. The figures show that London had 21,000 road accidents in 2024, while South-east England saw 15,412, and East England saw 9,774.
Meanwhile Wales, which introduced sweeping 20mph speed limits across the country in late 2023, recorded 2,913 road collisions in 2024 – a decrease of just over 10% since the lowered speed restrictions were introduced.** The table below lists the regions and the percentage of total collisions:
|
|
Region |
Total number of accidents |
% of total accidents |
|
1 |
London |
21,000 |
19.87% |
|
2 |
South-east England |
15,412 |
14.58% |
|
3 |
East of England |
9,774 |
9.25% |
|
4 |
North-west England |
9,695 |
9.17% |
|
5 |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
9,410 |
8.90% |
|
6 |
South-west England |
9,006 |
8.52% |
|
7 |
West Midlands |
8,749 |
8.28% |
|
8 |
East Midlands |
7,896 |
7.47% |
|
9 |
Northern Ireland |
4,753 |
4.50% |
|
10 |
Scotland |
4,167 |
3.94% |
|
11 |
Wales |
2,913 |
2.76% |
|
12 |
North-east England |
2,905 |
2.75% |
As well as revealing the UK’s car collision hotspots, the study uncovered the reasons these accidents take place – with driver error being the most common. ‘Ineffective observation’ was identified as the main contributing factor in nearly 11,000 of the collisions which took place in 2024 – meaning the driver, bike rider or pedestrian involved failed to look properly.
Other common reasons road accidents took place included drivers or riders overshooting a junction, poor turns and manoeuvres, people travelling too fast for the road conditions, and aggressive or reckless driving. In fact, all five of the most common causes are due to driver error.
Tom Banks, Go.Compare car insurance spokesperson, said of the findings: “Sadly, there are a staggering number of road collisions which take place each year – though it certainly is positive that the latest figures show a significant decrease from the previous year.
“As advancements in the auto industry improve the safety of cars and we see new driving aids and safety systems introduced, we hope car collisions can continue to decrease. However, as driver error is the top cause for collisions, it’s clear we all need to be more careful on the roads.
“Looking in your mirrors may seem like a minor thing – but a few short seconds spent checking your surroundings could save you from disaster. Additionally, it’s important to adapt your driving style to the specific road conditions – so if it’s wet or icy, for instance, make sure to lower your speed and leave lots of extra distance.
“If you do suffer a crash and it’s your fault, for instance because you were speeding, there could be serious consequences. You’ll likely receive points on your licence, and your car insurance premiums will go up as a result – perhaps significantly. Additionally, depending on the cause of the accident, your insurer could refuse to pay out. Driving recklessly, driving under the influence of alcohol or using a mobile phone could all void your insurance – so stay safe, and drive sensibly.”
To read the Go.Compare UK Road Accident Report, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/news/car-collisions/.
-Ends-
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
*All data was sourced from the Department for Transport release: Reported road collisions, vehicles and casualties tables for Great Britain statistical data set. Tables ras0101, ras0102, ras0402 and ras0703 were used. These statistics were last updated 17 December 2025.
**According to the Department for Transport, there were 2,913 collisions in Wales in 2024, and 3,255 collisions in Wales in 2023. This shows a decrease of 10.5%.
For further information please contact:
Go.Compare@fdcomms.co.uk
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