Research shows dangerous driving offences almost double within a decade

Shock new figures reveal the number of offences causing death and serious injury from dangerous driving on our roads have almost doubled during the last decade.

The motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have analysed new data from the Office of National Statistics from 2011/12 to 2020/21 and found incidents have increased dramatically over the last five years in comparison to the first five years of the decade.

The figures, published in January and available on Statista.com, show there were 1,551 offences causing death and serious injury in England and Wales from a period between 2011 and 2016. However that figure shot up to 2,905 offences between 2016 and 2021.

Not one year between 2011/12 and 2015/16 saw figures reach 500 offences per year – the highest was 474 incidents in 2016.

However, between 2016/17 and 2020/21 not one year saw offences dip below 500 offences per year, underlining the increasing danger on our roads over the last five years.

A car that has been involved in a accidentDescription automatically generated with medium confidence

The biggest difference saw three and a half times more incidents recorded in 2019/20 with 623 offences, compared to 174 offences in 2012/13.

A spokesman for LeaseCar.uk said: “These figures are a real cause for concern. Although the number of offences fell in the most recent year from an all time high of 623 in 2019/20 to 568 in 2020/21, which may have been due in part to less traffic on the roads during the pandemic, there has been a steady upward trajectory over the course of the last decade.

“We would like to see more detailed research conducted into these figures to understand the reasons why dangerous driving offences resulting in death or serious injury appear to be becoming more commonplace in England and Wales when looking back over the past decade.

“It is also a useful opportunity to remind motorists to take extra care on the roads, by planning ahead for their journey and taking more time when driving to be able to anticipate hazards and stay calm at the wheel.”

LeaseCar.uk and its sister site LeaseElectricCar.co.uk regularly champion the cause of motorists and offer useful tips and hacks to help drivers and their passengers get the most out of their vehicle and enjoy their journeys.

Here are some of their top tips to keep safe on the roads:

Stay centred: A few deep breaths before heading off on your journey or when something unexpected happens on your journey can help keep you calm and in control of you and your vehicle.

Full view: Don’t just look at the car in front but analyse the full road or street scene and anticipate potential hazards before they arise. This includes using your mirrors regularly to look at what traffic is doing around you.

Eye checks: It is useful to get your eyes checked on a regular basis and eye sight can deteriorate without you being aware. A regular visit to the opticians can identify problems in advance.

Allow ‘injury time’: Using a footballing analogy, motorists can benefit by adding an extra few minutes at the start of their journey by setting off earlier, so they have extra time to play with if they encounter holdups on route.

Use tried and tested advice: Well known sayings have lasted through time because they work. These include applying ‘only a fool breaks the two second rule’, and keeping a safe distance or invisible buffer zone between you and the vehicle in front.