Manchester has been named as one of the most dangerous places to drive in the UK in new research.
Our city is considered more dangerous to drive in than Glasgow, and just marginally safer than the roads in our neighbouring city of Leeds, according to a study by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.
Manchester made it into the top 10 on the UK Road Safety Report, The Hoot reports.
With 6,969 collisions between 2013-2020, or 94 per 100k population, we placed ninth on the list.
The most dangerous city by far was Nottingham, which apparently has 164 road collisions per 100k people.
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The study also found that 17-23 year olds are the age group involved in the most collisions, followed by 24-30 year olds.
It claims that the most dangerous day of the week to drive is a Friday, and the most dangerous month is November (followed by October, January, September and July).
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According to the report, 704 cars and 480 motorbikes make up the number of casulties involved in accidents, as well as 671 pedestrians, 447 pedal bikes and 47 buses.
Speaking about the findings of the study, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has also offered advice about what to do if you find yourself involved in an accident.
“If you’re ever involved in an accident, the best thing to do is remain calm. Stop the car, turn off the engine and switch on the hazard warning lights. You or someone else may need to call an ambulance or the police. Once you feel able, you should also speak to your insurance provider to make a claim.”
The full list of the top ten areas with the highest amount of collisions is as followed:
Nottingham with 6,848 collisions between 2013-2020 (164 per 100k population)
Birmingham with 20,593 collisions between 2013-2020 (158 per 100k population)
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with 6,476 collisions between 2013-2020 (151 per 100k population)
Liverpool with 7943 collisions between 2013-2020 (140 per 100k population)
City of Bristol with 7,333 collisions between 2013-202 (139 per 100k population)
Sheffield with 8,384 collisions between 2013-2020 (135 per 100k population)
Leeds with 13,348 collisions between 2013-2020 (126 per 100k population)
Leicester with 5,917 collisions between 2013-2020 (125 per 100k population)
Manchester with 6,969 collisions between 2013-2020 (94 per 100k population)
City of Glasgow with 8,188 collisions between 2013-2020 (89 per 100k population)
Feature Image- Unsplash
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Drivers warned of ‘bad habit’ that could land them with £1,000 fines this winter
Emily Sergeant
Drivers are being warned of a ‘bad habit’ on the roads that could seem them hit with hefty fines as winter rolls around.
Once the temperatures drop, and the days get shorter and darker, fog tends to become a more common weather occurrence around this time of year – but an eye-opening new survey has found that most drivers don’t really how to use their fog lights correctly.
According to guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), fog lights should only be used on British roads when visibility drops below 100 metres, yet the new research by eBay has found that 60% of drivers use their fog lights at the wrong times, and what’s more is that one in 10 say they switch on their fog lights when visibility is less than 300 metres.
48% of drivers who took part in the research admitted that they activate full-beam headlights when it’s dark, regardless of oncoming traffic and other road users.
Drivers are being warned of a ‘bad habit’ that could land them with £1,000 fines this winter / Credit: Nabeel Syed (via Unsplash)
The RAC says these stats reveal a ‘worrying trend’ among motorists, and have warned that these habits could actually means drivers are risking fines of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on their licence.
If the incorrect usage of fog lights wasn’t bad enough as it is, the new research also found that many Brits say they do not stay on-top of regular car maintenance when it comes to car fog lights, either – with just 15% saying they check them every month, and shockingly, 24% stating they’ve never checked them before.
Due to the ongoing issue of headlight glare, in whatever form that may be, The RAC has found that as many as one in four drivers (25%) who find headlights ‘too bright’ are actually driving less as a result.
“Unfortunately for a lot of drivers, the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort,” explained Rod Dennis, who is the Senior Policy Officer at the RAC.
“While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling.
“At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead, so there’s a balance to be struck.”
Featured Image – Robin the Bird (via Unsplash)
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Police investigation underway following ‘shocking’ arson at Marple Cenotaph on Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
A public appeal for information has been issued after a fire was started near a war memorial in Stockport on Bonfire Night.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is currently investigating after officers were called out around 9:50pm on Bonfire Night (Wednesday 5 November) following reports of a group of males near to the Cenotaph in Marple.
When police arrived at the scene, they found that a fire had been started in a bin and wooden pallets had been set alight – with the ground nearby having been damaged.
Neighbourhood officers in Marple are now investigating and are appealing for information in relation to this incident.
The incident has been described as a reckless act that could have ended with more damage and even serious injury.
“The Cenotaph means a lot to the community and incidents like this are deeply upsetting, particularly at a time when we should be honouring the memory of our war veterans,” explained Sergeant Rachel Walton, of GMP’s Stockport East Neighbourhood Policing Team.
“We are working closely with partners at Stockport Council and the fire service to ensure the area is cleaned and restored.
“We want to identify the individuals responsible, and we will have extra high-visibility patrols in the park each evening leading up to the Remembrance Day service on Sunday (9 November).”
This incident is just one of a total of 350 calls related to fire or fireworks that GMP responded to on Bonfire Night, which is said to be an increase from 203 last year.
A total of 27 arrests were made across Greater Manchester, with four weapons and hundreds of fireworks seized.
Sophie Smith -
6th September 2022 
