The Queen’s London residence has been named as one of the most dangerous landmarks to drive past in a new report - and Prince Philip is not to blame!
According to data obtained by Select Leasing, Buckingham Palace has seen a total of 203 accidents on its surrounding roads putting it at the top of the list of tourist sites which include Brighton Pier, the Houses of Parliament, Stonehenge and Blackpool Tower.
The high likelihood of rubbernecking is said to be to blame for the high accident rates, with drivers slowing down to take in the sights and causing those behind to collide. The report used data from the Department for Transport around 50 of the country’s most iconic sights and even used Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium as an example of how attractions can cause accidents.
Crash rates around the high-tech Premier League ground were analysed before and after the stadium was built with a 39 per cent increase in accidents when the stadium was completed in 2019.
According to a statement on the Select Leasing website, rubbernecking is one of the main causes of accidents in the UK: ‘As each car slows to take a look, the motorist behind the rubbernecker will not be expecting the car in front to reduce its speed, creating significant potential for a nasty landmark-induced accident.
‘Add to the mix many roads surrounding some of the UK's most prominent landmarks operate at high speeds, there's the risk of a serious or fatal collision. In a recent report published in the Accident Advice Helpline, Rubbernecking was highlighted as the third most common cause for an accident.
‘The advice is clear on passing landmarks - when you’re driving, keep your focus and watch the car in front. They may be tempted to slow down to view the passing monument or attractions. It’s also important that your own eyes aren’t drawn from the road towards the landmarks, or it might be you who causes the accident. Drive safe!’