Road accidents down on ten years ago

Road accidents across Great Britain have fallen by 34 per cent over the past ten years (2001-2011), according to a new report from Post Office Car Insurance.

The report shows a decrease in the number of accidents across all regions in Britain between 2001 and 2011. The biggest decrease occurred in the North West where numbers fell by 44 per cent, followed by the West Midlands which saw a decrease of 40 per cent and Yorkshire and The Humber where they fell by 34 per cent. The East Midlands saw the smallest decline, with the number of road accidents falling by just over a quarter (26 per cent).

In 2011 London (16 per cent) and the South East (16 per cent) were identified as accident hotspots, accounting for 32 per cent of all accidents across Great Britain. The fewest accidents last year took place in Wales (four percent) and the North East (four per cent). Both London and the South East were also the only regions to see an increase, albeit small, in the number of accidents between 2010 and 2011; 2.3 per cent in the South East and 1.3per cent in London.

Paul Havenhand, head of insurance, comments: "It's good to see the number of road accidents in Great Britain has decreased by over a third in the past decade; however this doesn't mean drivers should become complacent on road safety. Measures to improve road surfaces, visibility on roads, car safety devices and performance have clearly had an impact, but drivers must take the necessary precautions at all times to ensure they are driving safely, especially in adverse weather conditions and on unfamiliar or more dangerous roads around the country."

In addition, the report highlights a reduction in accidents on both motorways and minor roads, with 36 per cent less accidents on motorways and 34 per cent less accidents on minor roads in 2011 compared to 2001. Last year accidents involving two or more vehicles accounted for 69 per cent of all accidents.

To find out more about Post Office Car Insurance, visit postoffice.co.uk.