Know Your Money has analysed brand new road casualty data in the UK (released 30 September 2020) to determine the most dangerous cities and London boroughs to drive in. The research also looks into the most common causes of accidents and the best and worst countries to drive in across the globe based on road deaths, congestion levels, and speed limit data.

The UK alone has nearly 40 million vehicles driving across the country, and with roads varying in quality, location, and speed limit, which are the most dangerous areas to drive-in?

The top 10 most dangerous cities to drive in the UK are:

Unsurprisingly, the capital, London, ranks as the UK city with both the highest total casualty rate at 30,051 and the number of casualties per square mile at 50. Bournemouth ranks as the city with the second most dangerous roads, with a casualty rate per square mile at 45. This is over double the likes of Glasgow and Plymouth, which have casualties of 20 and below per square mile. The third most dangerous city is Nottingham, followed by Luton.

Birmingham is second with around a tenth of the capital’s figures at 3,551, followed by Leeds (1,908) and Manchester (1,209)

London’s most dangerous areas to drive

The capital’s roads are not only known for their famous black cabs, but also for their congestion and traffic levels, as millions of cars drive through the city each day. But which London boroughs had the highest number of casualties per square mile on their roads?

1. City of London – 305 per sq. mile
2. Westminster – 214 per sq. mile
3. Tower Hamlets – 169 per sq. mile
4. Kensington & Chelsea – 156 per sq. mile
5. Hackney – 143 per sq. mile
6. Lambeth – 136 per sq. mile
7. Islington – 133 per sq. mile
8. Hammersmith – 131 per sq. mile
9. Camden – 126 per sq. mile
10. Southwark – 116 per sq. mile

The City of London takes the top spot as the most dangerous London borough to drive in with a staggering 305 casualties per square mile. Following in second is Westminster with 214 casualties per square mile.

What are the biggest causes of casualties on UK roads?

Accidents on the road can be caused by hundreds of reasons, from misjudging another vehicle to fatigue and poor weather conditions. But what are the main causes of casualties on UK roads?

The most common factor that contributes to road casualties is driver’s error or reaction to a particular incident on the road. Driver inexperience comes in third, causing a total of 26,445 casualties in 12 months and 425 deaths. In addition, many of us have been late when driving to a destination, however it’s important to continue to uphold safe driving, as reckless driving is one of the nation’s biggest casualty causes, killing 290 people each year and seeing a total of 18,713 casualties.

Whilst not in the top 10, the consumption of alcohol causes 133 deaths and 6,278 casualties across the UK, with aggressive driving causing over 4,000 casualties and 123 deaths. With the weather getting colder, and roads expected to get icier over the coming months, it’s important that we are being extra careful, with slippery roads causing nearly 8,000 casualties each year.

The best and worst countries to drive in across the globe

When driving abroad, it’s not only important to ensure you are driving on the right side of the road, but also to be aware of road regulations, as they differ from country to country. But which locations are home to the best and worst roads?

Analysing road deaths, speed limit data, and congestion levels, Norway takes the crown with the world’s best roads, with just 108 road deaths in one year. Known for its small population it’s unsurprising this Nordic country is safe for drivers. Interestingly, England ranks as the fourth-best country to drive in, followed by Northern Ireland and Scotland.

When it comes to the worst places in the world to drive, the US sits in the bottom 10, with 36,120 road deaths, which is 110 per million people, a figure that is five times higher than that of the UK. Slovakia ranks as the country with the most congestion, and Ireland follows in third with 74 hours lost on average per vehicle in traffic.

Do you drive on some of the most dangerous roads?

John Ellmore, Co-Founder at  Know your Money, comments,

“Whilst road casualties and accidents have been on the decline over the last few decades thanks to road improvements and additional regulations, it is still crucial for drivers to be taking extra care on the roads, particularly those that have not been driving for as long.

“With winter weather conditions having a great impact on the roads, it’s really important for drivers in the UK and the rest of the world to be extra vigilant when travelling to their destination to protect themselves and others.”