Cornwall records more crashes with injury than anywhere in the South West
Data analysed by a law firm shows the Duchy saw 3171 in the two years to 2020
Last updated 18th May 2022
Cornwall's roads have been declared the most dangerous in the South West, according to law firm Slater and Gordon.
It has analysed government data from 2018 to 2020, to find the Duchy recorded 3172 crashes with injury - almost 12% of the regional total of 27,058.
The company has released its new report ahead of Global Road Safety Week.
Matt Jarvis helped compile the research. He said: "If you take somewhere which is more rural where you have more open roads, you have less congestion, you have more National Speed Limit roads, country lanes and country roads, then accidents in those areas tend to be more severe".
It follows recent changes to the Highway Code, designed to improve the safety of vulnerable road users like cyclists.
Matt added: "There is very little awareness around the Highway Code and the changes. One of the real important issues, I think, for road users is awareness of what's right and what's wrong. Without that awareness and education, are drivers going to give way to the cyclists or motorcyclists?"
How dangerous are the South West's roads?
Slater and Gordon's report states: "Approximately 48% of road accidents causing injuries in the South West were drivers, followed by cyclists at 15%, pedestrians and motorcyclists each at 14%, and passengers at 8%.
"Of those whose injuries were considered slight, the majority were drivers, at 51%, followed by cyclists at 15%, pedestrians at 13%, motorcyclists at 11% and passengers at 9%.
"For those whose injuries were considered serious, the majority were drivers, at 35%, followed by motorcyclists at 26%, pedestrians at 17%, cyclists at 15% and passengers at 5%. The proportion of serious injuries to motorcyclists was joint highest with London.
"For those who were fatally injured, the highest proportion was drivers, at 48%, followed by motorcyclists at 21%, pedestrians at 18%, passengers at 6% and cyclists at 5%".
Cornwall road users most likely to be injured in accidents
It continued: "Cornwall came out top as the area where road users are most likely to be injured in a road accident with approximately 11.7% (3,171) of the incidents recorded in the South West.
"Bristol took second spot with approximately 9.5% (2,560) of people being hurt in a collision over the three-year period. Wiltshire saw 9.3% (2,503), Plymouth 4.9% (1,329), South Gloucestershire 4.4% (1,189), Swindon 3.9% (1,042), Bournemouth 3.5% (953) and North Somerset 3.3% (891)".
You can read the full road safety report for Cornwall, the South West and the UK on Slater and Gordon's website.