Black box data reveals the day drivers are most likely to have an accident
Brace yourself for some interesting results
ANALYSIS OF black box vehicle data has identified the day of the week drivers in the UK are most at risk of being involved in a car accident.
The research shows accidents become more likely as the week progresses, with the biggest spike in the rate of accidents occurring on Friday.
Unsurprisingly, the data gathered by ITS – Telematics Solutions throughout 2019 shows the highest chance of having a crash comes while the roads are at their busiest: from 6am to 9am and from 4pm to 7pm, when commutes are in full swing.
The findings are partially corroborated by official Department for Transport (DfT) reported road accident data, which shows a spike in the number of casualties between 4pm and 6pm each day. From 2008 to 2018, an annual average of around 33,000 people were killed or injured in crashes that took place during that two-hour time window.
Friday at 4pm is the peak time for accidents, according to the black box analysis, with the number of crashes being double the level during the same time on Monday afternoon.
The ITS analysis also discovered the areas in the UK that have been hot spots for car accidents this year. Again, it’s no surprise that the busy streets of London came out on top, with another major city, Birmingham, taking the runner-up spot.
Not all the places in the top five were large cities, though. The town of Chadwell in Essex was ranked third overall for car crash frequency, ahead of Manchester in fourth place, with the small village of Woodmansterne in the North Downs coming in with the fifth highest number of crashes in the UK so far this year.
Adam Gooch, commercial director of ITS, said: “People who live in big cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester are accustomed to busy roads with congested traffic. Accidents can happen in these conditions. However, big city dwellers forget that many in this country drive from home to work and vice versa on a daily basis.
“So, taking this into account, perhaps it isn’t so surprising to see the likes of Chigwell and Woodmansterne make the hot spot list. All I can say is to drive safely, no matter where you are – countryside or city centre.”
Separate research on car accidents carried out in February 2019 found that accidents involving company cars were more likely to occur on a Tuesday, with LeasePlan saying 18% of fleet collisions happen on the second day of the week.
The research also suggested evening rush hour commutes in January were especially treacherous, due to factors such as the slipperier road conditions and the low light levels at that time of year.
