Latest research from one of the UK’s biggest motor insurance providers has revealed that fatal road crashes are on the rise.

According to the analysis from Churchill Motor Insurance there were 223,000 road traffic incidents between 2018 and 2020, with accidents resulting in death or serious injury rising from 24 per cent to 28 per cent, the equivalent of 43 more serious events per 1,000 collisions.

While driver error could technically be applied to most accidents, it officially only accounts for 66 per cent of accidents, which is by far the leading factor in road traffic accidents, well ahead of behaviour or inexperience (23%) and injudicious action (20%).

While many might complain that faulty brakes, or an engine failure led to their accident, vehicle defects only actually caused 1.8 per cent of accidents.

“The rising number of incidents on our roads leading to death or serious injury is deeply concerning. We know the main causes of these incidents are often down to errors and poor reactions, something that could easily be prevented,” said Nicholas Mantel, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance.

“Avoiding alcohol consumption, getting a good night’s sleep, and focusing on the road rather than multi-tasking, can all help motorists have safer journeys and reduce these risk factors. If all road users just take a few extra seconds to check around them for potential hazards, our roads will be a safer place for all.”

Cause group	Number of accidents in which this is a contributing factor	Share of accidents in which this is a contributing factor
Driver/Rider error or reaction	148,005	66.1 per cent
Behaviour or inexperience	51,817	23.2 per cent
Injudicious action	45,679	20.4 per cent
Impairment or distraction	34,918	15.6 per cent
Road environment contributed	26,189	11.7 per cent
Vision affected by external factors	23,127	10.3 per cent
Vehicle defects	3,920	1.8 per cent

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