Worst UK town for car crashes named as drivers 35 percent more likely to get in accidents

A new study has ranked the best and worst towns and cities across the UK for collisions, with drivers in high-risk areas typically paying more for insurance.

Blue Ford crashes into the back of a black Fiat

According to CRIF, areas with a higher rate of accidents typically have higher insurance rates (Image: Getty)

The credit and business information firm CRIF has shared a new study looking into the UK towns and cities where drivers are at the highest chance of being involved in an accident.

Whilst the cost of car insurance is rising for almost all motorists, those who live in areas with a higher rate of crashes typically need to pay higher premiums.

Sara Costantini, CRIF's Regional Director for the UK and Ireland, called for insurance companies to offer a fairer pricing scheme for all drivers.

She explained: "Our research paints a clear picture of where drivers are more likely to experience a traffic collision. Motorists in areas like Oldham, Birmingham and Luton will see themselves at the highest risk of a collision.

"With the cost of insurance skyrocketing in recent times, it's more important than ever for insurers to take account of as much granular data as possible. By doing so, they can create a more precise assessment of our roads and offer fairer premiums for motorists."

View down an empty side street in town of Oldham

The quiet town of Oldham in Greater Manchester was found to have the highest likelihood of accidents (Image: Getty)

According to CRIF's study, drivers in Oldham are the most likely to be involved in an automotive accident.

The Greater Manchester town has a 35 percent higher than average chance of collisions, despite the area having a relatively small population of around 242,000.

Birmingham was also ranked the worst city for accidents, with the probability of crashes being 24 percent higher than the UK average.

Street full of parked cars in central Shrewsbury

The market town of Shrewsbury has the lowest probability of car accidents in the UK (Image: Getty)

In comparison, CRIF noted that Shrewsbury was ranked as one of the safest areas in the UK to drive, featuring a 38 percent lower than average probability of crashing.

With a population of around 76,000, the small market town in Shropshire has a lower number of drivers than elsewhere in the country.

The company also found that Southport, a town near Liverpool, is another safe place to get behind the wheel, with a 37 percent lower collision rate compared to the UK average.

Top five towns/cities with highest chance of collision (probability):

  1. Oldham - +35 percent
  2. Birmingham - +24 percent
  3. Luton - +22 percent
  4. Bradford - +19 percent
  5. London - +18 percent

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