The most common cause of road collisions is driver and rider errors or reactions with 985 crashes between 2012 and 2021, according to a new assessment of accident statistics. Failing to properly observe the road and surroundings is the second leading cause of road collisions. After this, behaviour or inexperience ranks as the third most significant reason.
This is based on a review performed by OneSureInsurance and provided to Digital Journal. The findings reveal that the most common reason for road collisions in the UK is driver and rider’s errors or reactions.
The data is drawn from information collated by the Department for Transport for the UK, from 2012 to 2021, to discover which contributory factor were the top causes of reported road collisions and casualties.
The leading cause of road collisions with 650,506 crashes from 2012 to 2021 is driver and rider’s errors or reactions. Distracted driving, impaired judgment, and reckless behaviour significantly contribute to this category.
In second comes the driver and rider’s failure to look properly, with this being the cause of 375,594 collisions in the 10 years leading to 2021. Examples of practical behaviours that fall into this category are neglecting to check blind spots, misjudging distances, and failing to yield the right of way.
Behaviour or inexperience is the third most common reason for collisions with 221,483 occurrences. Behavioural issues, including aggressive driving, impatience, and inexperience, are significant contributors to road collisions. Moreover, novice drivers and riders, often lacking the skills to handle challenging situations, are particularly vulnerable.
The top ten reasons are:
Top 10 most common reasons for a collision in the UK | ||
Rank | Contributory factor reported in accident | Total (2012-2021) |
1 | Driver/Rider error or reaction | 650,506 |
2 | Driver/Rider failed to look properly | 376,594 |
3 | Behaviour or inexperience | 221,483 |
4 | Injudicious action | 203,312 |
5 | Driver/Rider failed to judge other person`s path or speed | 194,392 |
6 | Driver/Rider careless, reckless or in a hurry | 155,750 |
7 | Poor turn or manoeuvre | 130,793 |
8 | Impairment or distraction | 128,647 |
9 | Road environment contributed | 115,299 |
10 | Loss of control | 115,128 |
Further down on the list, injudicious actions, such as sudden lane changes, improper overtaking, and aggressive driving, are the fourth most common reason for collisions with 203,312 occurrences.
The top five closes with 194,392 collisions caused by the driver or rider’s failure to accurately judge the path or speed of other vehicles. Building these as learning points into driver instruction programs would be a start on the road towards reducing vehicle traffic accidents.
