According to a recent study by CRIF, the credit and business information firm, certain UK towns and cities have a higher probability of car accidents, leading to higher insurance rates for drivers in those areas. Sara Costantini, CRIF’s Regional Director for the UK and Ireland, emphasized the need for fairer pricing schemes in insurance, taking into account granular data to assess risk more accurately and offer premiums that are more proportionate to the risk level.
The study found that Oldham in Greater Manchester has the highest likelihood of accidents, with a 35% higher chance of collisions compared to the average. Birmingham follows closely, with a 24% higher probability of crashes. Luton, Bradford, and London also rank among the top cities with a higher risk of accidents.
In contrast, Shrewsbury in Shropshire emerged as one of the safest areas to drive in the UK, with a 38% lower probability of accidents compared to the national average. Southport, a town near Liverpool, also has a low collision rate, 37% below the UK average. St Albans, a city in Hertfordshire, is another relatively safe place to drive, with a 36% lower risk of accidents.
CRIF’s study highlights the significant variation in accident rates across different UK cities and towns. It underscores the importance of considering location-specific risk factors in insurance pricing to ensure that drivers are not unfairly penalized for living in areas with a higher prevalence of accidents.
