Rush hour in the UK’s largest cities: research reveals the biggest accident hotspots during peak commute times

Although hybrid and remote working have changed when and how we go into the office, millions of people still commute daily across the country. And despite having some of the safest roads in Europe, our analysis shows travelling to and from work in the UK is one of the most crucial times to be alert. In some cities, rush hour traffic accounts for more than a third of all accidents.

To find out more, we analysed government accident data from the last six years, compiling a list of cities with the highest accident rates during peak commute times in the UK, between 7am – 8am & 4pm – 5pm.

Cities with the highest number of rush hour accidents in the UK

When it comes to accident rates in the UK’s largest cities, North and South are somewhat evenly split. Eleven of the top 20 accident hotspots are in the North, in places like Leeds, Edinburgh, Sheffield and Liverpool, while nine are in the South in places like Westminster, Croydon and Doncaster. 

Cities with the lowest number of rush hour accidents in the UK

Hailed as a commuter hotspot, Newport has long been considered an ideal city for those looking to commute into Bristol or London from Wales. It has the lowest recorded number of rush hour accidents, at 2,929. By comparison, Birmingham has 10 times the number of accidents recorded in the same period. 

Morning vs the evening commute

The difference between the morning and evening rush is significant, with some of the country’s biggest cities seeing a 400% increase in the number of accidents between 4pm – 8pm, compared to the morning window of 5am – 8am.

In Birmingham, 2,047 accidents were recorded during peak morning hours, compared to 9,439 in the evening commute, meaning there are five times as many accidents on the way home from work than there are driving to the office.

In Edinburgh and Croydon, accidents in the evening are six times higher than in the morning.

Wednesdays and Fridays are the worst days to commute

There are around 29.6 million employed people in the UK. Although congestion and traffic levels are down across the board due to increased hybrid and WFH, there is still a significant number of people moving to and from work daily.

According to research, 6 in 10 prefer commuting by car, making it the most popular way to get to work in 2022, but in some cities, drivers lose up to 80 hours a year stuck in traffic. With so much time spent commuting during peak hours, it makes sense that more accidents happen during these journeys.

Most morning rush hour accidents occur on a Wednesday countrywide, with 22,788 accidents recorded during the 5am – 8am commuter window.

Evening rush hour between 4pm and 8pm is worst on Fridays as more people rush to get home for the weekend, with 79,093 accidents recorded.

Overall, November has the highest number of accidents (149,725), followed by October (148,203).

Safer commuting to the office  

1. Avoid rush hour: One of the best ways to avoid being stuck in traffic is to avoid it completely. With a rise in flexible and hybrid working, more people are empowered to choose when and how they work, which means you can avoid travelling into the office at peak times and on busier days.
2. Take refresher lessons: Lockdown saw a surge in anxious drivers who said a lack of confidence made them concerned for their commute. With so many people driving into the office less each week, a refresher course is a great way to feel more confident behind the wheel.
3. Plan for the seasons: Around 46% of drivers feel anxious driving in poor weather, and with autumn and winter on the way, UK commuters will have the dark cold to contend with while driving. Ensuring you leave home on time and give yourself enough time to travel can take the edge off, but it’s also worth speaking to your employer about leaving work early if driving in the dark is a challenge.
4. Take breaks and snack: Getting through the day on caffeine and an empty stomach is hard enough when you’ve got work to do, but it can also worsen driving anxiety. Take regular breaks at work, eat before you drive and avoid getting behind the wheel when sleep deprived.

Looking to cut your commute? Find an office space closer to home, anywhere in the UK. Speak to an expert at Instant Offices today.   

Data: All data sourced from government road accident data, 2009-2020