A new study has revealed that Westminster is the UK area most likely to see drivers run a red light, placing it at the top of a worrying national ranking. The study, conducted by personal injury specialists Claims.co.uk, analysed data from the Home Office on road collisions caused by drivers disobeying traffic signals in 2022. The data was then compared to population figures to identify the areas where this dangerous behaviour is most prevalent.
Westminster, at the heart of London, recorded a staggering 12.30 road collisions per 100,000 people due to drivers ignoring red lights. With 26 incidents of this nature in 2022 alone, the borough not only tops the list but also has the highest number of collisions among the top ten areas identified in the study.
Doncaster follows in second place, with 9.11 red light-related collisions per 100,000 residents. The South Yorkshire town experienced ten such incidents last year, a significant number given its smaller population compared to the capital.
Bradford ranks third on the list, with 8.52 incidents per 100,000 people. The West Yorkshire city reported 25 collisions caused by drivers disregarding traffic lights, the second highest total among the areas analysed.
In Wolverhampton, which places fourth, there were 6.77 collisions per 100,000 people due to drivers disobeying traffic signals. The West Midlands city recorded 17 such incidents last year.
Southampton comes in fifth, with a rate of 6.27 crashes per 100,000 people. The Hampshire city also reported 17 road collisions caused by drivers ignoring red lights in 2022.
Kensington and Chelsea follow closely in sixth place, with 6.16 incidents per 100,000 residents. The affluent London borough saw nine collisions as a result of red-light violations last year.
Bournemouth, a coastal town in Dorset, is seventh in the ranking, with 5.87 collisions per 100,000 people. The town recorded 11 incidents where drivers ran red lights in 2022.
In Swindon, which ranks eighth, there were 5.85 crashes per 100,000 people due to drivers failing to stop at red lights. The Wiltshire town experienced 13 such incidents last year.
Southwark, another London borough, places ninth on the list, with a rate of 5.77 collisions per 100,000 people. Southwark reported 18 traffic light-related crashes in 2022.
Rounding out the top ten is Tower Hamlets, with 5.53 red light-related collisions per 100,000 people. The East London borough saw 18 incidents of drivers ignoring traffic signals last year.
The study’s findings have raised concerns about road safety in these areas, particularly in London, which accounts for four of the top ten locations. A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk highlighted the importance of traffic light compliance, stating: “It’s interesting to discover that four out of the leading ten areas are based in London. This suggests that driving instructors in the city perhaps need to emphasise the importance of traffic lights and the dangers that can occur by disobeying them.”
| Rank | Area | Collisions per 100,000 people |
| 1 | Westminster | 12.30 |
| 2 | Doncaster | 9.11 |
| 3 | Bradford | 8.52 |
| 4 | Wolverhampton | 6.77 |
| 5 | Southampton | 6.27 |
| 6 | Kensington and Chelsea | 6.16 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 5.87 |
| 8 | Swindon | 5.85 |
| 9 | Southwark | 5.77 |
| 10 | Tower Hamlets | 5.53 |
The spokesperson also stressed the broader implications of red-light violations, adding: “Regardless of where drivers are located, it’s crucial that all citizens stop at red lights to ensure safety on the roads. Failing to do so doesn’t only impose risk to yourself, but also to other drivers.”
This study underscores the need for heightened awareness and stricter enforcement of traffic laws, particularly in urban areas where the risk of collisions is highest. As the data shows, even a momentary lapse in judgement at a traffic light can have serious, and sometimes fatal, consequences.
For more information, visit https://www.claims.co.uk/personal-injury-claims.