Staffordshire has been named the worst place in the UK for road traffic collisions involving cars, according to new figures.
It topped the list for the most number of incidents, with 112 incidents per 10,000 people recorded last year – almost double that of South Wales, which was second at 60. The third most hazardous place in the UK was Humberside at 56.
The figures were compiled by legal technology specialist Access Legal, using police data from 2022-24.
Areas with the highest car collision rates in 2024: How does Staffordshire compare?
| Region (police force) | Collision rates per 10,000 people |
| Staffordshire | 112 |
| South Wales | 60 |
| Humberside | 56 |
| Cumbria | 53 |
| Sussex | 53 |
| Avon. & Somerset | 42 |
| North Wales | 37 |
| Bedfordshire | 36 |
| Essex | 31 |
| Dorset | 30 |
But despite being the most dangerous place for motorists, Staffordshire appears to be the safest place in the UK for pedestrians, with one collision per 10,000 people. In contrast, Humberside was found to be proportionally the most dangerous at 56.
Darker nights and bad weather can lead to a rise in incidents. Separate figures from the AA suggest that crashes rise by around 11% in the fortnight after the clocks go back compared to the previous fortnight.
As well as highlighting the UK’s most dangerous areas, Access Legal also looked at which ones were the safest and which had seen the biggest improvements.
Greater Manchester came top for both driver and bike safety with six incidents per 10,000 people, and one per 10,000 respectively. Staffordshire – despite being the most dangerous place for motorists – saw one pedestrian collision per 10,000 people, the lowest of anywhere in the UK.
Of the 21 areas analysed, 17 saw a decline in car collision numbers over the past year. The biggest drop in 2023/24 was in North Wales (-34%), followed by Greater Manchester (-30%). In contrast, Cumbria saw the biggest 2023/24 increase at 16%, while Avon & Somerset and Essex reported marginal rises of 2% and 0.6% respectively.
Sucheet Amin, a senior partner at Aequitas Legal in Manchester and a personal injury solicitor since 2001, shared his advice for anyone involved in a collision:
“You’ll need to call the police if you or a passenger are injured in a collision, as well as an ambulance if urgent medical attention is required – and notify your motor insurance company as soon as you can, even if you weren’t at fault.
“In any collision, it’s important to exchange details – including name, contact details and home address. While it’s helpful if the other driver knows their insurance company, it’s critical that you obtain the car registration number and the make, model and colour of the vehicle.
“As long as it’s safe to do so, taking pictures and videos of the scene and where the cars ended up can prove useful evidence. Try to capture any tyre marks and positions before moving the cars to the side of the road if you can do so safely. If there are any witnesses, ask them for their full contact information.”
He added that understanding what you can compensation for after a collision can be difficult:
“Most people know they are entitled to compensation for injuries and lost earnings but there could be other elements such as damaged property in the car, increase in car insurance premiums, and repaying private healthcare costs.
“Where someone is seriously injured and they require care from a partner, family member or friend, then a claim for care and assistance is possible. In extreme cases where a person isn’t able to return to the same job or can’t work at all, future loss of earnings can be claimed which is often complex. There may also be complexities around proving the accident wasn’t your fault or gathering the necessary medical evidence to support a claim for serious physical and psychological injuries.
“A personal injury solicitor can help you to navigate this – and they will know how to value your compensation claim and ensure you receive a fair settlement. If the party at fault denies causing the accident or refuses to agree to fair compensation, a solicitor can involve the court for a final decision.”
Read the full report here.
