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Publication Number:
PUB 1563
Publication Statement:
Please note that this information is correct as at 21 October 2024
As with all publications of information by Essex Police, please note caveats may apply regarding the accuracy of data.
Title:
Contributory Factors in Road Traffic Collisions 2020 to 2024
Date Range:
January 2020 to October 2024
Background Information:
Provides annual data on the types of Contributory Factors in Road Traffic Collisions involving injury between 2020 and 2023.
Related Documents/Links:
Data on road traffic collisions in Essex are published by the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP). Please see the links below:
Government statistics on road incidents that result in no injuries are typically categorized as “damage-only” accidents. These incidents are recorded but are not included in the main road casualty statistics, which focus on personal injury collisions. Here are some key points from the latest available data:
Damage-Only Accidents: These are incidents where no personal injuries are reported, only vehicle or property damage. While detailed statistics on these incidents are less frequently published, they are acknowledged in broader road safety reports.
Overall Road Safety Data: The Department for Transport (DfT) in the UK provides comprehensive data on road safety, including personal injury collisions. For example, in 2023, there were 132,977 casualties of all severities reported in Great Britain.
Reporting and Data Collection: The STATS19 data collection system is used by police forces to report road traffic collisions involving personal injury. However, damage-only accidents are not included in these statistics.
FOI Publication
Note
- Contributory Factors that are noted on most injury related collisions, but these are not always completed by the police but the informant.
The following tables provide data that is held by Essex Police:
Road Traffic Collision Statistics by Contributory Factor, Year and Injury Severity – 2020 to 2024
Contributory Factor/Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Aggressive driving |
18 |
14 |
12 |
18 |
5 |
Fatal |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Serious |
6 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
Slight |
12 |
10 |
7 |
14 |
4 |
Animal or object in carriageway |
26 |
28 |
23 |
14 |
12 |
Serious |
2 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
Slight |
24 |
19 |
19 |
11 |
9 |
Buildings, road signs, street furniture |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Slight |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Careless/Reckless/In a hurry |
76 |
74 |
82 |
88 |
58 |
Fatal |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
Serious |
20 |
19 |
21 |
25 |
16 |
Slight |
54 |
54 |
58 |
61 |
42 |
Crossed road masked by stationary or parked veh |
21 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
12 |
Fatal |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Serious |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Slight |
17 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
Cyclist entering road from pavement |
19 |
15 |
21 |
12 |
11 |
Fatal |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Serious |
6 |
4 |
12 |
3 |
1 |
Slight |
12 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
Dangerous action in carriageway (eg playing) |
9 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
Serious |
5 |
2 |
|
|
3 |
Slight |
4 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
Dazzling headlights |
2 |
|
2 |
2 |
1 |
Serious |
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
Slight |
|
|
2 |
2 |
|
Dazzling sun |
20 |
23 |
26 |
19 |
5 |
Serious |
4 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
|
Slight |
16 |
17 |
19 |
14 |
5 |
Defective brakes |
5 |
11 |
17 |
8 |
3 |
Serious |
1 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
|
Slight |
4 |
7 |
12 |
7 |
3 |
Defective lights or indicators |
|
|
2 |
5 |
|
Slight |
|
|
2 |
5 |
|
Defective steering or suspension |
3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
Serious |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Slight |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
Defective traffic signals |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Serious |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Slight |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Deposit on road (eg oil, mud, chippings) |
27 |
10 |
12 |
12 |
9 |
Fatal |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Serious |
6 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
Slight |
19 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
Disability or illness, mental or physical |
7 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
Serious |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Slight |
6 |
9 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Disobeyed automatic traffic signal |
18 |
27 |
18 |
26 |
22 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Serious |
3 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
3 |
Slight |
15 |
24 |
11 |
21 |
18 |
Disobeyed double white line |
4 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
Serious |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
|
Slight |
3 |
2 |
|
2 |
2 |
Disobeyed Give Way or Stop sign or markings |
46 |
52 |
50 |
49 |
94 |
Fatal |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Serious |
11 |
16 |
10 |
9 |
29 |
Slight |
34 |
34 |
39 |
39 |
63 |
Disobeyed pedestrian crossing facility |
10 |
14 |
16 |
36 |
41 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Serious |
1 |
2 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
Slight |
9 |
12 |
9 |
28 |
34 |
Distraction in vehicle |
17 |
17 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
Serious |
5 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
Slight |
12 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
Distraction outside vehicle |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Fatal |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Serious |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
Slight |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
2 |
Driver using mobile phone |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
Serious |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Slight |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Driving too slow for conditions or slow veh |
|
|
|
|
|
Slight |
|
|
|
|
|
Emergency vehicle on call |
3 |
8 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
Serious |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Slight |
2 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
Exceeding speed limit |
56 |
65 |
76 |
68 |
10 |
Fatal |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Serious |
11 |
11 |
20 |
19 |
1 |
Slight |
44 |
53 |
55 |
49 |
9 |
Failed to judge other persons path or speed |
158 |
203 |
190 |
202 |
249 |
Fatal |
5 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
Serious |
38 |
44 |
55 |
57 |
68 |
Slight |
115 |
155 |
134 |
141 |
179 |
Failed to judge vehicles path or speed |
11 |
21 |
18 |
22 |
12 |
Serious |
4 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
Slight |
7 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
10 |
Failed to look properly |
865 |
922 |
898 |
944 |
438 |
Fatal |
12 |
19 |
15 |
16 |
9 |
Serious |
214 |
210 |
212 |
240 |
104 |
Slight |
639 |
693 |
671 |
688 |
325 |
Failed to signal/Misleading signal |
11 |
20 |
11 |
7 |
2 |
Fatal |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Serious |
3 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
Slight |
8 |
15 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
Fatigue |
6 |
20 |
19 |
12 |
2 |
Serious |
2 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
Slight |
4 |
18 |
14 |
10 |
2 |
Following too close |
80 |
101 |
106 |
77 |
13 |
Fatal |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
1 |
Serious |
24 |
27 |
36 |
22 |
4 |
Slight |
55 |
71 |
69 |
55 |
8 |
Illegal turn or direction of travel |
18 |
17 |
10 |
23 |
16 |
Fatal |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Serious |
5 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
7 |
Slight |
13 |
10 |
7 |
15 |
9 |
Illness or disability, mental or physical |
48 |
52 |
40 |
55 |
14 |
Fatal |
3 |
|
2 |
|
|
Serious |
14 |
10 |
6 |
13 |
3 |
Slight |
31 |
42 |
32 |
42 |
11 |
Impaired by alcohol |
101 |
98 |
85 |
80 |
34 |
Fatal |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Serious |
24 |
28 |
26 |
26 |
13 |
Slight |
76 |
70 |
59 |
54 |
21 |
Impaired by drugs (illicit or medicinal) |
24 |
20 |
13 |
23 |
3 |
Fatal |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Serious |
4 |
7 |
3 |
8 |
1 |
Slight |
19 |
12 |
10 |
15 |
2 |
Inadequate/Masked signs or road markings |
8 |
14 |
5 |
10 |
6 |
Serious |
2 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Slight |
6 |
9 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
Inexperience of driving on the left |
1 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
Serious |
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
Slight |
|
2 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
Inexperience with type of vehicle |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Serious |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Slight |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
Inexperienced or learner driver/rider |
15 |
12 |
6 |
12 |
4 |
Serious |
4 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
|
Slight |
11 |
6 |
4 |
10 |
4 |
Junction overshoot |
23 |
17 |
35 |
26 |
5 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Serious |
2 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
1 |
Slight |
21 |
13 |
29 |
18 |
4 |
Junction restart |
14 |
7 |
12 |
14 |
3 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Serious |
6 |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
Slight |
8 |
7 |
11 |
11 |
2 |
Loss of control |
110 |
107 |
128 |
154 |
140 |
Fatal |
|
|
5 |
2 |
2 |
Serious |
23 |
31 |
36 |
48 |
40 |
Slight |
87 |
76 |
87 |
104 |
98 |
Nervous/Uncertain/Panic |
5 |
4 |
8 |
7 |
4 |
Fatal |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Serious |
2 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
Slight |
3 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
Not coded |
5 |
6 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
Serious |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
Slight |
3 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
Not displaying lights at night or in poor visibility |
2 |
|
3 |
1 |
|
Fatal |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Serious |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
Slight |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Other |
24 |
35 |
36 |
28 |
7 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Serious |
8 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
2 |
Slight |
16 |
24 |
24 |
15 |
5 |
Overloaded or poorly loaded vehicle or trailer |
2 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
Serious |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Slight |
2 |
2 |
|
6 |
2 |
Pedestrian wearing dark clothing at night |
2 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
Serious |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Slight |
1 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
Poor or defective road surface |
21 |
25 |
24 |
28 |
7 |
Serious |
4 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
Slight |
17 |
24 |
17 |
24 |
5 |
Poor turn or manoeuvre |
189 |
252 |
230 |
187 |
254 |
Fatal |
5 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Serious |
54 |
60 |
57 |
55 |
69 |
Slight |
130 |
190 |
169 |
128 |
181 |
Rain, sleet, snow, or fog |
7 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
Serious |
1 |
3 |
|
|
|
Slight |
6 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
Rider wearing dark clothing |
2 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
Serious |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
Slight |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Road layout (eg bend, hill, narrow road) |
44 |
35 |
31 |
33 |
5 |
Fatal |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Serious |
7 |
15 |
8 |
11 |
2 |
Slight |
36 |
20 |
22 |
21 |
3 |
Road layout (eg bend, winding road, hill crest) |
1 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Serious |
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
Slight |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Slippery inspection cover or road marking |
|
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
Serious |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Slight |
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
Slippery road (due to weather) |
116 |
108 |
112 |
127 |
36 |
Fatal |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Serious |
25 |
26 |
25 |
31 |
6 |
Slight |
88 |
80 |
86 |
94 |
30 |
Spray from other vehicles |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
Serious |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Slight |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Stationary or parked vehicle |
21 |
22 |
21 |
24 |
7 |
Fatal |
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
Serious |
6 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
Slight |
15 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
5 |
Stolen vehicle |
10 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
2 |
Fatal |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Serious |
1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
Slight |
7 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
Sudden braking |
24 |
25 |
29 |
28 |
18 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Serious |
6 |
4 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
Slight |
18 |
21 |
19 |
21 |
12 |
Swerved |
29 |
34 |
42 |
44 |
33 |
Fatal |
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
Serious |
7 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
13 |
Slight |
22 |
25 |
30 |
34 |
20 |
Temporary road layout (eg contraflow) |
3 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
Fatal |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Serious |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
Slight |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
Too close to cyclist, horse or pedestrian |
51 |
37 |
32 |
52 |
35 |
Fatal |
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
Serious |
16 |
8 |
9 |
18 |
8 |
Slight |
33 |
29 |
21 |
34 |
27 |
Traffic calming (eg speed cushions, humps, chicanes) |
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
2 |
Serious |
1 |
2 |
|
2 |
|
Slight |
2 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
Travelling too fast for conditions |
58 |
81 |
79 |
68 |
14 |
Fatal |
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
Serious |
8 |
23 |
21 |
12 |
2 |
Slight |
47 |
58 |
58 |
54 |
12 |
Tyres illegal, defective or under inflated |
14 |
15 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
Serious |
2 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
|
Slight |
12 |
10 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
Uncorrected, defective eyesight |
1 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
Serious |
1 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
Slight |
|
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
Vegetation |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
Serious |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Slight |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
3 |
Vehicle blind spot |
5 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
1 |
Serious |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Slight |
5 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
Vehicle door opened or closed negligently |
2 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
Fatal |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Serious |
1 |
2 |
|
3 |
1 |
Slight |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
Vehicle in course of crime |
3 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
7 |
Fatal |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Serious |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
Slight |
2 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
6 |
Vehicle travelling along pavement |
5 |
5 |
4 |
14 |
9 |
Serious |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
Slight |
4 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
6 |
Visor or windscreen dirty, scratched or frosted etc |
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
Serious |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Slight |
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
Wrong use of pedestrian crossing facility |
3 |
3 |
5 |
11 |
7 |
Serious |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Slight |
1 |
2 |
3 |
10 |
5 |
Road Traffic Collision Statistics by Contributory Factor and Year – 2020 to 2024
Contributory Factor |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Failed to look properly |
1154 |
1198 |
1174 |
1196 |
528 |
Failed to judge other persons path or speed |
340 |
406 |
365 |
345 |
289 |
Poor turn or manoeuvre |
282 |
349 |
338 |
268 |
271 |
Loss of control |
205 |
208 |
237 |
236 |
193 |
Careless/Reckless/In a hurry |
193 |
209 |
196 |
173 |
103 |
Slippery road (due to weather) |
150 |
140 |
151 |
157 |
46 |
Impaired by alcohol |
156 |
152 |
139 |
134 |
62 |
Travelling too fast for conditions |
129 |
159 |
164 |
132 |
36 |
Following too close |
131 |
139 |
151 |
107 |
18 |
Exceeding speed limit |
101 |
105 |
113 |
109 |
16 |
Disobeyed Give Way or Stop sign or markings |
67 |
60 |
70 |
60 |
103 |
Illness or disability, mental or physical |
69 |
73 |
62 |
84 |
22 |
Swerved |
53 |
64 |
65 |
65 |
55 |
Sudden braking |
65 |
67 |
68 |
63 |
28 |
Impaired by drugs (illicit or medicinal) |
71 |
60 |
44 |
55 |
7 |
Too close to cyclist, horse or pedestrian |
61 |
46 |
47 |
54 |
38 |
Road layout (eg bend, hill, narrow road) |
64 |
47 |
51 |
58 |
7 |
Distraction in vehicle |
45 |
40 |
48 |
29 |
25 |
Other |
35 |
53 |
49 |
37 |
11 |
Stationary or parked vehicle |
41 |
39 |
37 |
40 |
13 |
Inexperienced or learner driver/rider |
40 |
46 |
42 |
37 |
11 |
Dazzling sun |
46 |
41 |
43 |
37 |
7 |
Failed to judge vehicles path or speed |
30 |
45 |
32 |
40 |
18 |
Junction overshoot |
36 |
32 |
51 |
30 |
8 |
Disobeyed automatic traffic signal |
23 |
35 |
27 |
35 |
27 |
Aggressive driving |
36 |
29 |
27 |
33 |
7 |
Animal or object in carriageway |
35 |
35 |
28 |
18 |
14 |
Poor or defective road surface |
28 |
28 |
26 |
36 |
9 |
Disobeyed pedestrian crossing facility |
10 |
18 |
21 |
43 |
43 |
Crossed road masked by stationary or parked veh |
31 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
15 |
Fatigue |
22 |
31 |
29 |
23 |
5 |
Failed to signal/Misleading signal |
20 |
40 |
30 |
21 |
3 |
Deposit on road (eg oil, mud, chippings) |
36 |
14 |
19 |
21 |
9 |
Illegal turn or direction of travel |
25 |
25 |
14 |
31 |
17 |
Cyclist entering road from pavement |
24 |
18 |
29 |
19 |
11 |
Junction restart |
17 |
13 |
18 |
23 |
4 |
Rain, sleet, snow, or fog |
25 |
16 |
6 |
16 |
2 |
Dangerous action in carriageway (eg playing) |
15 |
15 |
11 |
8 |
15 |
Vehicle blind spot |
13 |
10 |
21 |
17 |
2 |
Stolen vehicle |
17 |
18 |
15 |
15 |
2 |
Inadequate/Masked signs or road markings |
12 |
16 |
9 |
15 |
7 |
Wrong use of pedestrian crossing facility |
5 |
10 |
19 |
16 |
8 |
Nervous/Uncertain/Panic |
10 |
10 |
20 |
13 |
7 |
Defective brakes |
8 |
12 |
21 |
11 |
6 |
Tyres illegal, defective or under inflated |
16 |
18 |
9 |
9 |
5 |
Vehicle travelling along pavement |
7 |
10 |
8 |
18 |
13 |
Pedestrian wearing dark clothing at night |
7 |
11 |
10 |
12 |
4 |
Disability or illness, mental or physical |
11 |
14 |
11 |
8 |
5 |
Vehicle in course of crime |
7 |
11 |
12 |
9 |
10 |
Distraction outside vehicle |
9 |
11 |
9 |
10 |
5 |
Road layout (eg bend, winding road, hill crest) |
10 |
10 |
13 |
7 |
4 |
Emergency vehicle on call |
10 |
13 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
Rider wearing dark clothing |
10 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
|
Inexperience of driving on the left |
2 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
Inexperience with type of vehicle |
4 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
Vehicle door opened or closed negligently |
3 |
5 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
Temporary road layout (eg contraflow) |
3 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
Vegetation |
3 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
Uncorrected, defective eyesight |
4 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
Driver using mobile phone |
7 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
|
Overloaded or poorly loaded vehicle or trailer |
4 |
5 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
Dazzling headlights |
4 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
Defective steering or suspension |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
Disobeyed double white line |
5 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
Not displaying lights at night or in poor visibility |
3 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
|
Defective lights or indicators |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
|
Defective traffic signals |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Traffic calming (eg speed cushions, humps, chicanes) |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
Visor or windscreen dirty, scratched or frosted etc |
|
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
Buildings, road signs, street furniture |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Spray from other vehicles |
3 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
Driving too slow for conditions or slow veh |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Slippery inspection cover or road marking |
|
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
Every effort is made to ensure that the data provided by Essex Police is accurate and complete. However, Essex Police systems are designed primarily for the management of individual cases and not for the purposes of providing data to answer specific FOI enquiries. Please note although data can be extracted from several sources via database queries, the results may be subject to inaccuracies. Care should be taken to understand our return when considering the interpretation or further use of the data.