- Hackney has been named the UK’s worst area for crashes caused by mobile phones
- Data revealed the UK local authority districts with the highest and lowest rates of mobile phone-related road casualties and collisions
- Brent named one of the worst districts for phone-related driving accidents
- Isles of Scilly stands out as the safest area with the fewest phone-related incidents reported over the last decade
A recent analysis conducted by accident compensation experts claims.co.uk revealed the UK local authority districts with the highest and lowest rates of mobile phone-related road casualties and collisions.
Using government data from 2013 to 2022, researchers calculated the average number of annual mobile phone use incidents, scaled to per billion vehicle miles.
After analysing the data, it’s evident that Hackney ranks as the worst area in the UK for casualties caused by mobile phone use.
On average, Hackney records 678 casualties annually, with approximately 4.3 of these directly linked to drivers distracted by their smartphones. When adjusted for road usage, this amounts to about 14.14 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
Westminster ranks as the second-worst local authority district for smartphone-related vehicle accidents, averaging 1,262 casualties annually, with around 7.6 linked to phone use. This translates to 14.09 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
Haringey has the third–highest number of mobile-related incidents. This area averages 736 casualties per year, with approximately 4.2 attributed to drivers using mobile phones. This equates to about 12.02 casualties per billion miles annually.
Camden ranks as the fourth-worst local authority district for phone-related vehicle accidents, averaging 666 casualties annually, with around 3.5 linked to phone use. This translates to 10.88 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
On average, Islington records 594 casualties annually, with around 2.8 of these directly linked to drivers distracted by their mobile phones. When adjusted for road usage, this amounts to about 10.72 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
Kensington and Chelsea ranked sixth for smartphone-related vehicle accidents, averaging 544 casualties per year, with around 2.9 linked to mobile use. This translates to 8.89 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
Waltham Forest records 560 casualties annually, with around 3.8 of these directly linked to drivers distracted by their phones. When adjusted for road usage, this amounts to about 7.67 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
Wandsworth ranks as the eighth-worst local authority district for phone-related vehicle accidents, averaging 810 casualties every year, with around 3.7 linked to phone use. This translates to 7.61 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
Tower Hamlets have the ninth-highest number of mobile-related incidents. This area averages 817 casualties per year, with around 4.1 attributed to drivers using mobile phones. This equates to about 7.41 casualties per billion miles annually.
On average, Brent records 781 casualties annually, with around 4.5 of these directly linked to drivers using their phones. When adjusted for road usage, this amounts to about 7.36 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
Local authority districts with the most mobile phone-related road casualties
|
Rank |
Local Authority District |
Average Casualties Caused by Mobile Phone Use |
Average Casualties Caused by Mobile Phone Use (Per Billion Vehicle Miles) |
|
1 |
Hackney |
4.30 |
14.14 |
|
2 |
Westminster |
7.60 |
14.09 |
|
3 |
Haringey |
4.20 |
12.02 |
|
4 |
Camden |
3.50 |
10.88 |
|
5 |
Islington |
2.80 |
10.72 |
|
6 |
Kensington and Chelsea |
2.90 |
8.89 |
|
7 |
Waltham Forest |
3.80 |
7.67 |
|
8 |
Wandsworth |
3.70 |
7.61 |
|
9 |
Tower Hamlets |
4.10 |
7.41 |
|
10 |
Brent |
4.50 |
7.36 |
In England, the Isles of Scilly, and in Scotland, the Shetland Islands, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, East Dunbartonshire, and Midlothian reported no incidents involving casualties due to mobile phone use while driving over the last decade.
Although these areas experience some driving-related casualties each year, the numbers are significantly lower than in other districts. Notably, the Isles of Scilly has the lowest rate, averaging just one casualty per year.
Other local authority districts with low casualties due to mobile phone use while driving, based on annual figures per billion vehicle miles, include Renfrewshire (0.11), East Lothian (0.17), and Wirral (0.19).
Local authority districts with the least mobile phone-related road casualties
|
Rank |
Local authority district |
Average Casualties Caused by Mobile Phone Use |
Average Casualties Caused by Mobile Phone Use (Per Billion Vehicle Miles) |
|
1 |
Isles of Scilly |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
2 |
Shetland Islands |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
3 |
Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
4 |
East Dunbartonshire |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
5 |
Midlothian |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
6 |
Renfrewshire |
0.10 |
0.11 |
|
7 |
East Lothian |
0.10 |
0.17 |
|
8 |
Wirral |
0.20 |
0.19 |
|
9 |
Dundee City |
0.10 |
0.20 |
|
10 |
Falkirk |
0.20 |
0.21 |
The study also analysed data on the average number of collisions caused by drivers using mobile phones across local authority districts.
Hackney records an average of 588 collisions annually, with around 3.5 linked to mobile phone use. This results in an average rate of 11.51 collisions per billion vehicle miles, making Hackney the worst area for phone-related crashes.
Westminster averages 1,093 collisions per year, based on data from the past ten years. Of these, approximately 5.6 are attributed to mobile phone use, resulting in an average of 10.38 collisions per billion vehicle miles.
Camden is the third local authority district with the most road collisions caused by mobile phones. While Haringey ranks third for casualties, Camden and Islington rank higher for collisions.
On average, there are 585 collisions in Camden each year, with approximately 3.3 of these caused by drivers using their phones. This results in an average of 10.26 collisions per billion vehicle miles due to mobile phone use.
Islington averages 520 collisions per year, based on data from the past ten years. Of these, approximately 2.5 are attributed to mobile phone use, resulting in an average of 9.58 collisions per billion vehicle miles.
Haringey is the fifth local authority district with the most road collisions caused by mobile phones. There are 598 collisions in Haringey each year, with around 3.0 of these caused by drivers using their phones. This results in an average of 8.59 collisions per billion vehicle miles due to mobile phone use.
On average, there are 709 collisions in Wandsworth each year, with around 3.3 of these caused by drivers using their phones. This results in an average of 6.79 collisions per billion vehicle miles due to smartphone use.
Waltham Forest records an average of 453 collisions annually, with around 3.3 linked to mobile phone use. This results in an average rate of 6.66 collisions per billion vehicle miles, making Waltham Forest one of the worst areas for phone-related crashes.
Kensington and Chelsea ranks as the eighth local authority district with the most road collisions caused by mobile phone use. On average, there are 483 collisions each year, with approximately 2.1 of these caused by drivers using their phones. This results in an average of 6.44 collisions per billion vehicle miles.
Hammersmith and Fulham average 475 collisions per year, based on data from the past ten years. Of these, approximately 2.1 are attributed to mobile phone use, resulting in an average of 6.37 collisions per billion vehicle miles.
There are 651 collisions in Brent each year, with around 3.4 of these caused by drivers using their phones. This results in an average of 5.56 collisions per billion vehicle miles due to mobile phone use.
Local authority districts with the most mobile phone-related collisions
|
Rank |
Local authority district |
Average Collisions Caused by Mobile Phone Use |
Average Collisions Caused by Mobile Phone Use (Per Billion Vehicle Miles) |
|
1 |
Hackney |
3.50 |
11.51 |
|
2 |
Westminster |
5.60 |
10.38 |
|
3 |
Camden |
3.30 |
10.26 |
|
4 |
Islington |
2.50 |
9.58 |
|
5 |
Haringey |
3.00 |
8.59 |
|
6 |
Wandsworth |
3.30 |
6.79 |
|
7 |
Waltham Forest |
3.30 |
6.66 |
|
8 |
Kensington and Chelsea |
2.10 |
6.44 |
|
9 |
Hammersmith and Fulham |
2.10 |
6.37 |
|
10 |
Brent |
3.40 |
5.56 |
Midlothian, East Dunbartonshire, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Shetland Islands, and Isles of Scilly are among the best local authority districts regarding collision rates. No collisions were attributed to drivers using mobile phones while driving.
Although these areas have collision records, data from the past decade shows that their average yearly collision rates remain the lowest.
Researchers also analysed data on which road types are the most prone to collisions involving mobile phone use while driving.
‘A roads’ top the list, with an average of 41,412 collisions per year. Of these, approximately 227.1 are caused by drivers using their phones, accounting for 0.54% of the total collisions.
The second most dangerous type is ‘B roads’, with an average of 11,141 collisions annually. Of these, 56.2 are attributed to mobile phone use, representing 0.5% of the total collisions.
Motorways rank as the third most dangerous, with 3,641 collisions per year. Of these, about 17.7 are caused by drivers using their phones, accounting for 0.48% of the total collisions.
Collisions and mobile phone-related accidents by road type
|
Rank |
Road type |
Average collisions per year |
Average caused by drivers using mobile phones |
Average caused by drivers using mobile phones (%) |
|
1 |
A roads |
41,411.60 |
227.10 |
0.548% |
|
2 |
B roads |
11,141.40 |
56.20 |
0.504% |
|
3 |
Motorway |
3,640.70 |
17.70 |
0.486% |
|
4 |
Other |
32,595.50 |
137.20 |
0.421% |
Commenting on the results, a spokesperson for claims.co.uk said: “Although everyone knows that using a mobile phone while driving in the UK is illegal, it remains a significant issue that leads to many collisions and casualties.
“However, it’s encouraging to see that some local authority districts have drivers who adhere to the rules. Looking at the research, the Isles of Scilly stands out as the safest place with the least-distracted drivers. This example keeps us hopeful that other areas will follow suit and commit similarly to road safety this autumn/winter.”
Featured Photo by Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 on Unsplash.
