Vehicle accidents on UK roads have fallen by 30% since Covid-19 struck and the UK was forced into lockdown for the first time, according to research by car leasing comparison website LeaseLoco.
The number of people killed in vehicle accidents has fallen by a fifth during the pandemic, while the number of people seriously injured has dropped by 30%.
LeaseLoco submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to all UK police authorities*, asking for data on vehicle accidents, for the periods March 2019 to February 2020 and March 2020 to February 2021.
Police forces were asked to provide the total number of recorded vehicle accidents, fatalities and serious injuries during these two 12 month periods.
The figures revealed that Scotland Police recorded the biggest drop in vehicle accidents, with 45% fewer accidents recorded between March 20 – Feb 21 than March 19 – Feb 20.
Thames Valley police force saw a 38% drop in vehicle accidents, while accidents recorded by the West Midlands police authority fell 37%.
Across all police forces that responded, road accidents fell between 14% and 45%, as the country was plunged into lockdown three times from March 20 to Feb 21.
This is not altogether surprising, as the Government told people to work from home and ordered everyone not to travel and stay local. As a result, cars have sat idle on driveways for long periods of time since March 2020 and roads have been quieter.
However, considering the reduced amount of traffic on the roads, reported vehicle accidents haven’t fallen as much as might have been expected, in some police authorities. For example, in Kent and Cleveland, accidents have fallen 15% and 14% respectively, during the pandemic.
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