Getting into an accident is a stressful experience whether you have a car on finance or own one outright. Accidents can happen anywhere, from the motorway to a country lane, but you might wonder where most accidents occur.
In 2019, research by Moneybarn showed that Kent, Surrey, and Birmingham had the highest number of accidents. But is this still true in 2023?
Using accident data from the Department for Transport, Moneybarn identified the areas with the most road accidents, considering factors such as urban vs. rural areas and road characteristics that make an area more or less dangerous. They also revealed the speeds at which most accidents occur and the types of junctions that see the most accidents.
The top 3 areas with the most accidents
1. Kent (excluding Medway towns): 3,457 accidents
The southeastern county of Kent had the most accidents in 2023, with 3,457 in total.
Surrey had the second-highest number of accidents, with 2,783 taking place in 2023.
3. Birmingham: 2,383 accidents
The urban area with the highest number of accidents is Birmingham, with 2,383 reported accidents in 2023.
The areas where accidents have decreased over time
Stoke on Trent recorded a 72.70% decrease in accidents since 2019, followed by Inverclyde in Scotland with a decline of 65.98%, and the Western Isles of Scotland, where accidents were down by 64%.
The areas where accidents have increased over time
Calderdale, a metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, recorded the highest increase in accidents since 2019, by 48.71%.
What types of roads do accidents take place on?
Moneybarn’s analysis showed that there are twice as many accidents in urban areas than in the countryside. However, accidents on rural roads are likely to be more serious, according to road safety charity Brake.
The speeds at which most accidents happen
Most accidents (53.98%) occur within the 21-30 mph speed range, indicating that speed isn’t the only factor when collisions occur.
The junction types with the most accidents
Almost half of accidents (41.56%) occur within 20 meters of junctions.
Methodology
The data used in the study is accurate as of September 2023. All figures are from the Department for Transport’s road traffic statistics road safety data download tool and refer to road accidents reported to the police in 2023 where at least one person is injured.