Skip advert
Advertisement

Speeding to be recorded as a cause of many more car accidents

New police guidance for reporting will see a big rise in speeding recorded as a cause of car crashes

Police car on scene at accident

A new system to be introduced by the National Police Chiefs’s Council will result in speeding being reported as a contributing factor in vastly increased numbers of road accidents.

Official accident statistics are currently based only on police reports from the scene of a collision and ignore later investigations. As a result, out of the UK’s 1,500 deaths each year on the road, fewer than 400 are currently recorded as in any way related to excessive speed.

Instead, current reports suggest the biggest cause of road deaths is poor observation, with the second biggest cause being ‘loss of control’. Excess speed and driver carelessness come equal third.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In future, instead of reporting causes from the scene of an accident, police forces are being told to adjust their reports to include all the analysis from post-accident investigations, which may often include forensic evidence of speeding.

Under the new reporting scheme the Metropolitan Police force found speeding should have been included as a contributory factor in almost half of all traffic accidents. In a review it revised its 2020 figure from 19.1 to 46.8 per cent, including cases where the driver exceeded the limit or simply drove too fast for the conditions, the Times has reported.

Greater Manchester Police carried out a similar review, and raised the incidence of speeding in its accident figures from 15 to 65 per cent.

Lincolnshire detective chief superintendent Andy Cox, who is the national police lead for policing fatal accidents, told the Times that if the pattern of London and Manchester is repeated across the rest of the country, then reports of speed contributing to road deaths would increase by about three times.

Are you pleased to see this system being introduced? Let us know in the comments...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales
Luxury car tax

Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales

Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers?
News
22 May 2025
The Nissan Micra is back! New supermini arrives with EV power and plenty of charm
Nissan Micra - front

The Nissan Micra is back! New supermini arrives with EV power and plenty of charm

The Nissan Micra makes a long-awaited return as an EV and is set to offer up to 253 miles of range
News
21 May 2025
BYD Dolphin Surf review
BYD Dolphin Surf - front

BYD Dolphin Surf review

The BYD Dolphin Surf is a roomy, sophisticated, and competitively priced electric city car that’ll find plenty of willing buyers
In-depth reviews
23 May 2025