According to figures released today, Dorset Police logged nearly 1,500 car accidents in the past year with most taking place on the A35 road, totalling 141 collisions.
In 2024, Dorset saw a large number of car accidents, many of which were unnecessary, leading to serious casualties.
Figures obtained by Accident Claims Advice, gathered from FOI requests, found that there have been 1,391 road traffic collisions involving cars across Dorset in the past year.
Many deaths and serious injuries on the road are preventable tragedies, and yet, on average, five people die every day on the road in the UK, and 80 are seriously injured.
Road Traffic Accident Manager for JF Law, Tracey Chick, said: “Each road traffic incident represents a moment of distress and potential life-altering consequences for those involved.
“If you have been involved in an accident, your safety should be the immediate priority, before exchanging details with the other involved parties, and reporting the incident to the police if there are injuries or significant damage.”
Dorset Police have provided a top 5 breakdown of the roads where the most accidents occurred, with the A35 having 141 accidents, followed by the A354, which saw 62 collisions taking place.
Within Dorset the A35 runs from the western border with Devon to Bournemouth and beyond in the east, whilst the A354 runs from beyond the county’s north-eastern border with Wiltshire to the Isle of Portland in the south. The A31 runs from Bere Regis in a north-east direction into Hampshire. The A3049 and B3068 are in Bournemouth and Poole respectively.
Several factors contribute to road accidents in the UK, some of which are preventable with more attention to safe driving practices.
One of the major contributing factors to car crashes is speeding, as it is responsible for nearly one-third of all fatal collisions and sees the risk of severe accidents increase dramatically.
Another factor is distracted driving, as the use of mobile phones, even hands-free, significantly distracts drivers and is a growing cause of accidents. Studies suggest that a distracted driver is four times more likely to be involved in an accident.
Accident Claims Advice also obtained figures on the most common causes for road traffic collisions logged by Dorset Police in the past year.
Driver errors were the most common cause, resulting in 941 collisions, followed by injudicious actions, which led to 348 accidents.
Tracey Chick, said: “While it is important to many, driving has many dangers attached to it, including distractions, excessive speed and even adverse weather conditions, which can all turn a routine journey into a serious incident.
“Regarding eligibility to claim, it’s vital to understand that every case is unique. Generally, if you’ve suffered injury or damage due to the negligence of another driver, you may be eligible to pursue a claim for compensation.
“We urge all drivers to obey traffic laws and prioritise the safety of themselves and other road users, as a split-second decision can have lifelong consequences. Let’s all commit to making our roads safer.”
Most of the information above has been supplied by Accident Claims Advice.
Note. KeeP 106 is not affiliated to Accident Claims Advice.