The proportion of incidents resulting in death or serious injury in Britain has risen, according to new data from Churchill Motor Insurance.

Data recorded by attending police officers reveals the most common contributing factor for a collision is driver error or reaction

Its analysis of Department for Transport data reveals there were more than 223,000 road traffic incidents across the country between 2018 and 2020; the latest available data.

Over this timeframe, the number of incidents resulting in death or serious injury increased from 24% to 28%, equating to 43 more serious events per 1,000 collisions.

Data recorded by attending police officers reveals the most common contributing factor for a collision is driver error or reaction, which was cited in two thirds (66%) of police reports.

Behaviour or inexperience, which covers the driver failing to look properly, failing to judge another person’s path or speed, and taking a poor turn or manoeuvre, is also a major contributing factor – it was cited in 23% of incidents.

This is followed by injudicious action, which includes exceeding the speed limit, disobeying traffic signals or performing illegal manoeuvres, which is a factor in 20% of incidents.

External factors, such as vehicle defects (2%), vision being affected by external factors (10%) and road environment (12%) are less likely to contribute to accidents than factors within the control of the motorist.

Looking at specific causes of accidents, failing to look properly contributed to nearly 83,000 (37%) collisions over the past three years. This is followed by failing to judge another person’s path or speed (19%), careless, reckless, or hurried driving (16%) and a poor turn or manoeuvre (12%). The top five is completed by loss of control, which contributed to 11% of road traffic accidents.

Churchill Motor Insurance has also highlighted the risks pedestrians face while using the roads. Pedestrians are most likely to be involved in incidents for not looking when crossing the road, crossing on a red light, tripping/falling into the road, or dropping hazards in the road. This may explain why the Highway Code has introduced a new hierarchy of the road to prioritise pedestrians to improve road safety.

Nicholas Mantel, head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “The rising number of incidents on our roads leading to death or serious injury is deeply concerning. We know the main causes of these incidents are often down to errors and poor reactions, something that could easily be prevented.

“Avoiding alcohol consumption, getting a good night’s sleep, and focusing on the road rather than multi-tasking, can all help motorists have safer journeys and reduce these risk factors. If all road users just take a few extra seconds to check around them for potential hazards, our roads will be a safer place for all.”

Table one: Types of contributing factors leading to road traffic accidents, 2018-2020

Source: Churchill Motor Insurance, 2022

Table two: Top five accidents contributing factors according to number, share and comparative risk of death or serious injury, 2018-2020

Source: Churchill Motor Insurance, 2022