The most accident claims take place in January despite motorists typically driving less.

The five riskiest days when drivers are most likely to make a claim fall between 12-20  January

New data from telematics insurance specialist Insurethebox finds that the five riskiest days when drivers are most likely to make a claim fall between 12-20  January. Just two of the 10 riskiest days of the year fall in November; there is one each in February, March, and June.

The data also indicates that drivers in Scotland see the biggest risk as they’re 32% more likely to have an accident, with the North and West of England 19% and 17% more likely to have an accident in January than the rest of the year.

In contrast, London, the South of England and the Midlands see the smallest rise in accidents in January, at 8%, 10% and 11% respectively.

Gary Stewart, service manager at Insurethebox, said: “Analysis of over five billion miles of driving data shows our customers do drive less in January, however when you look at the percentages of claims being made against the miles driven, this month is in fact the riskiest of the year to drive.

“With its shorter, darker days and often freezing temperatures, January has some of the most challenging driving conditions of the year especially the further North you go which probably explains why drivers in Scotland see accidents increase by almost a third this month.”

The likelihood of having a car accident in January compared to the rest of the year: