Middlesbrough worst in North East for dangerous driving
Last updated 1st May 2025
Middlesbrough has been rated as the 13th most dangerous area to drive in the country, and tops the list of authorities for dangerous driving in the North East.
Data from the Home Office shows that Middlesbrough saw 116 dangerous driving offences recorded by officers in the three year period up to June 2024. 13 of these offences caused either serious injury or death. These figures amount to one crime per 1,126 people.
It should be noted that Middlesbrough is a net importer of traffic, with drivers coming into the town for a number of reasons. This can include being a part of their daily commute, or going to the James Cook University Hospital.
Other local authorities within the Cleveland Police area did not fare much better, with Hartlepool ranking 14th nationally, just one spot below Middlesbrough. Hartlepool recorded 74 dangerous driving offences over the same three year period, which equates to one crime per 1,170 people.
Meanwhile, Stockton ranked 18th nationally and Redcar and Cleveland ranked 22nd. The rankings took into account population sizes of different local authorities, so while Stockton saw a grand total of 119 dangerous driving offences (more than Middlesbrough and Hartlepool), it was ranked lower than other Cleveland authorities due its significantly larger population and therefore a lower dangerous driving crime rate per capita.
Police.uk sets out what can be classified as dangerous driving offences on their website. Examples of dangerous driving include speeding, racing, or driving aggressively, ignoring traffic lights, road signs or warnings from passengers, overtaking dangerously, or driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
All top 20 areas with the worst rates of dangerous driving were in the North of England, with Bradford gaining the unwanted title of being the capital of dangerous drivers.
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Any incident of dangerous driving is unacceptable and will be investigated by our officers. We won’t tolerate behaviour which puts other innocent members of the community at risk. Wherever possible we will put those people before the courts who think it’s acceptable to drive in this manner and take risks with others’ lives. This is also in support of our Force priority of tackling criminals and protecting people and communities.”