The A35 in Dorset has been named Britain’s most dangerous road. This follows a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to the country’s regional police forces.
A total of 1,837 traffic collisions took place in Dorset last year, 594 of which were on the A35. The road actually starts in Devon, at the junction with the A30 in Honiton, and finishes in Southampton, Hampshire.
Other dangerous roads in Dorset include the A354 (184 collisions), the A3049 (178), the A31 (155) and the A350 (135). Dorset is one of only a few counties in England without a motorway.
Nottinghamshire is the second most dangerous county in which to drive, with the Carwow FOI revealing a total of 1,772 collisions in 2019. Cumbria, Lincolnshire and Cheshire complete the ‘top’ five. It’s worth noting that only 15 police forces responded to the request.
Vix Leyton, a motoring expert at Carwow, said: “Whilst the roads are much quieter than usual right now, it is still important to remain vigilant and drive carefully on those essential journeys.
“Looking ahead, by the time lockdown is lifted, many drivers will have gone weeks without driving on busy motorways or A-roads, and should try to gradually ease themselves back into a ‘motorists mindset’ before setting out on long journeys and routes once life in the UK returns to normal.
“No matter how confident a driver you are, you cannot account for other road users and it is vital to always concentrate, and not allow yourself to slip into autopilot.”
The most dangerous counties/roads
- Dorset (A35, A354, A3049) – 1,837 collisions
- Nottinghamshire (Mansfield Road, A60, A1) – 1,771 collisions
- Cumbria (A595, M6, A590) – 633 collisions
- Lincolnshire (A52, A16, A15) – 625 collisions
- Cheshire (M6, M58, A49) – 434 collisions
- Avon & Somerset (A4174; M5, J19-20; M5, J20-19) – 369 collisions
- Gloucestershire (A40, A38, A417) – 367 collisions
- Staffordshire (A500, A38 Clay Mills, A38 Fradley Lane) – 357 collisions
- Warwickshire (A46, A452, A444) – 335 collisions
- Greater London (Haringey, High Road; Ealing, Western Avenue; Enfield, Great Cambridge Road) – 298 collisions
- North Wales (A548, A55, A5) – 289 collisions
- City of London (Bishopsgate, Victoria Embankment, Lower/Upper Thames Street, London Wall/Wormwood Street – 219 collisions
- Cleveland (A19, A66, A174) – 207 collisions
- Hertfordshire (M1, A1, M25, Hertsmere Borough) – 157 collisions
- Bedfordshire (A505, M1, Luton, A5141) – 150 collisions
