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THE MOST DANGEROUS UK AREAS FOR PEDESTRIANS
1 Jul 2024 12:17:33
New research has revealed the most dangerous UK areas for pedestrians, with the City of London area coming out on top. The study by Howden Insurance analysed the latest data from the Department for Transport Statistics on road collisions to see which areas had the highest percentage involving pedestrians on average each year between 2013 and 2022. It found that the City of London area is the most dangerous area in the UK for pedestrians. Between 2013 and 2022, 28.15% of all accidents involved pedestrians, the highest of any area in the UK. Statistically, 2018 was the most dangerous year for pedestrians, with 32.49% of collisions involving them. Dundee City comes in second place and is also statistically the most dangerous area in Scotland for pedestrians. On average, 23.98% of collisions each year between 2013 and 2022 involved pedestrians. 2018 was the most dangerous year for pedestrians in the area, with 29.67% of collisions involving them. Third place goes to another London area, Westminster. On average, 23.43% of all accidents each year between 2013 and 2022 involved pedestrians. 2013 was also found to be the most dangerous year for pedestrians, with 29.7% of collisions involving them. Oldham ranks fourth on the list, with 22.63% of all accidents involving pedestrians on average between 2013 and 2022. It comes in as one of four North West areas to feature. Oldham's most dangerous year for pedestrians was found to be 2022, with 32.81% of all collisions involving them. Rounding out the top five is the Glasgow City area, which comes in with 22% of all accidents each year between 2013 and 2022 involving pedestrians. Statistically, the area's most dangerous year for pedestrians was 2013, with 24.62% of collisions involving them.
POTHOLES TOP LIST OF UK DRIVERS' BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS
1 Jul 2024 12:16:32
A survey on Britain's biggest driving frustrations in 2024 has revealed that potholes are the leading annoyance for motorists. YourParkingSpace surveyed over 2,000 drivers and discovered that seven in ten (69 per cent) respondents ranked potholes as their top frustration. In the South East of England, drivers voiced the highest frustration with potholes (80 per cent), followed by motorists in East Anglia (77 per cent), Northern Ireland (76 per cent), and Wales (also 76 per cent). The next biggest frustrations were found to be other drivers not indicating (57 per cent), followed closely by tailgating (54 per cent) and the cost of insurance (48 per cent). The findings come in the wake of a damning Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) report declaring that Britain's roads are at now “breaking point” due to potholes, with repairs at an eight-year high. In fact, the problem is now so vast that the amount needed to fix the backlog of local road repairs has reached a record £16.3 billion, up 16 per cent from £14 billion a year ago. * Brannan Coady, CEO at YourParkingSpace, commented: “The likes of speeding, middle lane hogging and tailgating are not uncommon experiences on Britain's roads, so for potholes to be ranked top of our list shows just how big of a problem poor road condition has become. “As well as being an annoyance, potholes are also a major safety hazard. Our roads deserve better maintenance to ensure the safety and satisfaction of drivers.”
ONE IN SIX MOTORISTS HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF CAR CRIME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS
1 Jul 2024 12:14:38
Car crime, ranging from vehicle theft, break-ins and unreported damage, continues to blight UK motorists, according to new research from The Green Insurer. The findings reveal that one in six (17%) UK car owners has been the victim of car crime in the past three years, this figure doubles to 34% in London. Motorists living in the East of England were the least likely to have suffered car crime, with only 7% saying they had been a victim. One in three (31%) Brits believe that car crime has increased in their area over the past three years, compared with just 14% who think that it has decreased. The research highlights that 30% of people are aware of vehicle crime having taken place in their street or immediate local area, this figure rises to a staggering one in two (49%) Londoners who state their area has been a target for car crime. In terms of the type of local car crime experienced by Brits, the most common was car break-ins (stated by 13%), followed by smashed windows or malicious damage to paintwork (8%), unreported damage by another vehicle (6%), car stolen from outside home (6%), theft of catalytic converter (4%) and tyres being slashed (4%). The findings reveal that Brits are taking steps to fight back against the crime with more than one in two (56%) saying they are taking various measures to try and prevent their cars being targeted by criminals. The most popular action being taken is to install security cameras (22%), followed by keeping their keys in a Faraday pouch or similar signal-blocking container to prevent key cloning (14%) and having a tracking device on their car (14%). Anti-crime measures taken by British car owners Action taken Percentage of UK car owners Installed security cameras to monitor parked car / driveway 22% Installed a tracking device 14% Keep car keys in Faraday pouch / signal-blocking box to prevent key cloning 14% Place steering wheel lock on car 11% Park car in lockable garage 11% Used wheel locks to prevent its removal 7% Installed a ghost immobiliser 6% Installed retractable driveway bollard 3%
MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CONVINCE COMBUSTION CAR BUYERS TO SWITCH TO ELECTRIC
1 Jul 2024 12:12:30
Despite electric vehicles becoming more prevalent, many potential buyers remain to be convinced about switching from their petrol or diesel vehicles, according to new research from The Green Insurer. Fewer than one in three (32%) petrol or diesel car owners say they intend to buy an electric or hybrid car when they next purchase a car, and a further 27% said they were “indifferent” about the type of fuel their new car would use. However, the findings also reveal that once owners have made the move over to an electric vehicle, there is no going back to fossil fuel, with the vast majority (92%) of electric drivers surveyed saying that their next purchase would be another electric car. Just 2% of EV owners said they would consider buying a petrol or diesel car. The main reason cited by motorists who say they won't be considering an electric car purchase is concerns over not being able to find convenient charging points (68%). However 58% point to the perceived additional cost of an electric model compared to its petrol or diesel equivalent and 57% to worries over having to keep their car charged when travelling long journeys. Reasons given by motorists for not considering a switch from petrol/diesel to an electric vehicle Percentage Concerns over not being able to find convenient charging points 68% Affordability of electric model versus petrol/diesel equivalents 58% Concerns over having to keep charging the car over long journeys 57% Future cost of having to replace the electric battery 56% Happy driving a petrol / diesel, so no need to switch 53% Concerns about finding a location to charge car overnight 42% Belief that car insurance premiums are higher for electric cars 24% In terms of what steps can be done to accelerate the adoption of EVs and encourage more people to swap their diesel or petrol for an electric alternative, the research reveals that financial incentives, such as a removal of the 12% Insurance Premium Tax from all electric car insurance premiums would encourage almost one in two (47%) to consider purchasing an EV.
WOMEN DRIVERS CONSIDER AGGRESSION ON THE ROADS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM
1 Jul 2024 12:08:50
A recent survey led by Czech online magazine Zena v aute.cz for women drivers contacted 1,485 female drivers worldwide in an online questionnaire. It revealed that 78% of women drivers consider aggression on the roads to be a serious problem and 69% respondents think that aggressive behaviour on the roads has been increasing. The survey was carried out during May 2024 in 20 countries around the world (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, UK, and USA). What are women drivers afraid of when driving? According to the study, there are three main topics about which women drivers have concerns: aggressive drivers (22%), accidents (20%) and driving in reduced visibility (20%), followed by skidding (13%) and collision with animals (9%). About 16% of those interviewed think there is to worry about. It is interesting to look at answers that vary from country to country. For example, aggressive drivers as a main concern while driving was mostly stated by respondents from USA (82%), Spain (31%) and Poland (38%). Accidents as a main fear was represented in answers from Italy (51%), Poland (35%) and Germany (31%). Driving in reduced visibility is a subject of concern mainly for women drivers from UK (52%), Germany (50%) and Poland (20%). The survey revealed that 78% of women drivers consider aggression on the roads as a serious problem and 69% respondents think that aggressive behaviour on the roads has been increasing. Only 25% of respondents encounter aggressive behaviour every day, 20% several times a week. When asked what measures should be taken against aggressors, women drivers worldwide support mainly strict penalties (45%), specialized psychological therapy program (27%), training of future drivers (20%) and prevention campaigns (6%). Looking at specific countries, strict penalties against aggressive drivers are supported by women drivers profoundly in Denmark and Serbia (97%), followed by USA (54%) and Italy (50%). Obligation to undergo a specialised psychological therapy program for drivers and subsequent psychological assessment of a driver's mental abilities have a strong support in Denmark a Serbia (97%), USA (54%) and in Poland as well as in Columbia (50%). Future drivers must be made aware of the risks associated with aggressiveness on the roads during their training - as a proposed measure is backed in the UK (43%), Italy (42%), Spain (30%). Prevention campaigns on the dangers of aggression were mainly stated in the answers of respondents from USA (45%), Poland (37%) and Germany (24%).
URGENT CALLS FOR TOUGHER UK DRIVING TESTS
1 Jul 2024 12:07:20
Motoring experts are calling for tougher practical driving tests to reduce accidents on UK roads. Absolute Reg are calling for all new drivers to be tested driving in dark conditions and turbulent weather. They believe testing learners in all weather and road conditions will increase safety and reduce the likelihood of collisions on the roads. Over 70 per cent of driving test passers in Great Britain are aged between 17 and 24, and around a fifth of all killed or seriously injured casualties from collisions will involve a young car driver. By age 23, nearly 40% of young British drivers will have been involved in a road crash. To obtain a UK driver's licence, motorists must pass a theory and a practical test which usually lasts around 40 minutes. During the practical test, motorists will be asked to drive independently, reverse the vehicle and show their general driving ability in various road and traffic conditions except motorways. Many European countries require additional tests so new motorists know how to drive in different conditions to make safer road users. By law and before they can get a licence, Swedish drivers must complete a compulsory drugs and narcotics course and a four-hour slippery road test which teaches them what to do if they lose control of their vehicle. Out of 27 EU countries, Sweden has the lowest number of fatalities per million inhabitants, even though Swedish passenger cars are younger than the EU average. In Finland, which is considered to have a world-class standard of driving, it takes two years to obtain a full driving licence and learners must take mandatory skid-pan sessions and night-driving courses. Jake Smith, director of Absolute Reg, believes similar driving systems in the UK will make safer roads, especially for new drivers. He said: “Unfortunately the combination of being young and a new driver can be deadly, and it is shocking that by age 23, nearly 40 per cent of young British motorists will have been involved in an accident on the roads. New drivers are at a higher risk of crashing because of inexperience and the inability to spot hazards. Added risk factors include the fact most new drivers on Britain's roads are young people, who tend to exhibit overconfidence leading to risky behaviour behind the wheel.”