Drivers on the road this Friday afternoon in London should take extra care, as new data reveals that between 3pm-5pm, on Fridays, in November is the peak time for road traffic accidents (RTAs).

Ahead of Road Safety Week 2022 (14th-20th November), national law firm Simpson Millar analysed the latest accident data from the Department for Transport to find when most accidents happen.

The data revealed that in the last year, the majority (55%) of reported RTAs took place at low speeds of just 21-30mph.

They were also more likely to occur on single-carriageway roads, as 72% of reported accidents happened on these types of roads, with almost half (45%) also taking place on A roads.

Simpson Millar also used Crash Map to identify accident hotspots on A roads in different UK cities.

A high numbers of accidents was discovered on the A13 (city centre east) with 152 accidents (including 11 serious) reported in the last five years on Commercial Road between Signey Street and New Road.

Another hotspot was on the A23 in Brixton with 77 accidents (including seven serious) reported on Brixton Road between Brixton Underground Station and the A2217 over the same time period.

In the last year accidents have increased by 10%. However, overall accident numbers are down in the region, seeing a 8% decrease in the last five years and 5% since 2011.

Percentage of England accident total by region (2021)
· London (23%)
· South East (17%)
· North West (11%)
· Yorkshire and the Humber (10%)
· East of England (10%)
· South West (9%)
· West Midlands (8.5%)
· East Midlands (7.8%)
· North East (3.2%)

In 2021, nearly a quarter (23%) of all road traffic accidents in Great Britain occurred in London, more than five times the amount that was reported in the whole of Scotland or Wales.

In comparison, the North East had the lowest number of reported accidents, with just 3,024 taking place in 2021, accounting for 3% of the total across Britain.

The data found that despite having a higher speed limit, motorways saw the fewest number of reported accidents (3%).

It was also revealed that accidents were most likely to happen on days when the weather was ‘fine’ (82%), with just 11% of accidents taking place on rainy days and less than 2% happening in fog/mist or snowy conditions.

Perhaps unsurprisingly due to the easing of Covid-19 travel rules, road traffic accidents were found to be on the rise again across Great Britain, as there were 11% more accidents last year than in 2020.

When comparing data from each country in Great Britain, the study found that Scotland has seen the biggest drop in road traffic accidents over the last 20 years, with accidents in 2021 down 73% compared to 2001 numbers.

Wales has also seen a decrease, with 65% less accidents happening in 2021 versus 2001. When looking at all English regions, accident numbers have decreased across the country since 2001, with the North West and North East seeing the biggest decreases of 66% and 63%, respectively.

Susan Vanden, Road Traffic Accident Technical Manager at Simpson Millar commented: “As we reach the peak time for road traffic accidents it’s important to remember to take care on your trips. The aftermath of any accident can be traumatic and so it’s key to surround yourself with a team who can support you and make things easier.

If you find yourself involved in an accident you can seek legal advice on your road traffic accident claim, regardless of whether you are the driver or a passenger. You can also put in a claim for compensation if you’re a cyclist or pedestrian that has been injured by another road user. This compensation can allow you to get the care, support and treatment you may need after an accident and help you get your life back on track.”