Road accidents happen for any number of reasons. Drivers could be distracted by something on the road (or their phones), they could be under the influence of alcohol or they could be contending with some severe weather conditions. Either way, the result remains the same and across the UK, even with some of Europe’s strictest safety laws, there were 1,784 road deaths reported in 2018 alone.
The majority of those fatalities were in cars, though there were also 456 pedestrian deaths in 2018 and 354 motorcycle deaths. There were actually only 99 bicycle deaths, though, which proves that it’s a safer mode of transport than might initially have been believed. What’s really interesting, however, is when you examine accidents by county.
Region by region
Statistics reveal that the South East is the deadliest region in the UK. Almost 3,000 fatal accidents have been reported in the last decade. By county, however, Lincolnshire is the worst offender, with more fatalities recorded than any other country at 56.
More specifically, it was Kent, Surrey and Lancashire that emerged as the crash hotspots in the country. In happier news, there were only 3 road-related fatalities in London and just 518 casualties in Wales. Casualty numbers were also high in the West Midlands (particularly Birmingham) and the East of England.
Is it all about the speed?
You might understandably assume that the majority of accidents took place in areas where the speed limit was higher. However, a whopping 57% of accidents actually happen in 30mph zones. Granted, this might be due to people driving too fast in these zones but it’s still a pretty sobering statistic.
It could also be because on motorways and dual carriageways, drivers tend to be more focused and alert, whereas they are more likely to ‘switch off’ when driving on more leisurely 30mph roads. Also, it’s worth noting that there are more 30mph zones in the UK than any other speed zone, so the odds were always stacked in its favour, so to speak.
What can be done?
As the problem varies so drastically from region to region and country to county, it can be difficult to recommend any specific overall improvements that can be made. However, it’s worth noting that the vast majority of accidents are fatality-free and, in the event that you’re part of one of these unfortunate accidents, it’s always handy to discuss any potential issues with legal specialists to gather their opinion and what are the next best steps.
It’s the call that none of us ever really want to make but in the event of an accident that leaves you out of pocket, it’s a call you’ll be glad to have made!