New research has revealed Hackney as the worst area in the UK for road accidents caused by drivers using mobile phones. The analysis, conducted by accident compensation experts claims.co.uk, studied local authority districts across the country to identify the regions with the highest and lowest rates of mobile phone-related road casualties and collisions.
The research used government data from 2013 to 2022, calculating the average number of mobile phone use incidents per billion vehicle miles annually. The findings highlight the ongoing issue of drivers being distracted by their phones, despite laws prohibiting mobile phone use while driving.
According to the study, Hackney ranks as the most dangerous area for phone-related accidents. The borough records an average of 678 casualties annually, with around 4.3 of these linked directly to mobile phone use by drivers. When adjusted for road usage, Hackney experiences around 14.14 casualties per billion vehicle miles each year.
Westminster comes in second, with an average of 1,262 road casualties each year, of which 7.6 are attributed to mobile phone use. This equates to 14.09 casualties per billion vehicle miles. Meanwhile, Haringey ranks third, averaging 736 casualties per year, with approximately 4.2 involving phone-related incidents, translating to 12.02 casualties per billion miles.
In contrast, the Isles of Scilly is named the safest area in the UK, with no phone-related driving incidents reported over the last decade. Similarly, in Scotland, the Shetland Islands, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, East Dunbartonshire, and Midlothian also reported no phone-related casualties in the same period. Other areas with low mobile phone-related casualty rates include Renfrewshire, East Lothian, and Wirral, all reporting under 0.2 casualties per billion miles annually.
The data also revealed that Hackney is the worst local authority district for phone-related collisions, recording an average of 588 road collisions annually, 3.5 of which are linked to mobile phone use. This equates to 11.51 collisions per billion vehicle miles. Westminster again ranks second, with 5.6 phone-related collisions per year, equating to 10.38 collisions per billion miles. Camden ranks third, with around 3.3 phone-related collisions annually, totalling 10.26 per billion miles.
Further analysis showed that ‘A roads’ are the most dangerous for mobile phone-related collisions, with 227.1 incidents linked to phone use annually, making up 0.54% of all collisions on these roads. ‘B roads’ follow closely, accounting for 0.5% of total accidents, with motorways ranking third at 0.48%.
A spokesperson for claims.co.uk commented: “It’s concerning that despite widespread awareness of the dangers, mobile phone use while driving continues to cause significant casualties and collisions. However, it’s encouraging to see areas like the Isles of Scilly setting an example in road safety. We hope that other districts will follow suit and adopt stricter road safety measures.”
The study serves as a reminder of the risks posed by mobile phone use on the road and the importance of adhering to safety laws to reduce collisions and save lives.