The data, from Accident Exchange, shows that the same day last year recorded 74% more accidents than average.

Compounding the problem, the firm’s study of 35,000 incidents shows there are approximately 19% more accidents on a Friday than on the average weekday as workers rush home for the weekend. In addition accidents are also typically up by 11% in the winter compared to the summer.

And according to the statistics from the accident management firm, men are also twice as likely to have been at the wheel in an incident, with two thirds of accidents attributed to male drivers.

Liz Fisher, sales director at Accident Exchange, commented: “The study sheds an interesting light on the seasonal effects on motorists across the UK.

“The combination of poor weather conditions, congestion and likely fatigue at the end of the week means it may come as no surprise that we are approaching peak time in the calendar for accidents.”