Most Accidents 'Occur Near Home'

• News
• Published: 12 Aug 2009 in Motoring and Car Insurance

Nearly two thirds of all road accidents occur between one and five miles from home, a survey has found.

A poll by car insurance company elephant.co.uk showed that 30% of accidents occur within one mile of home, and a further 35% happened between one and five miles away.

A total of 13% occurred 6-10 miles from home and 11% from 11 to 25 miles. Just 5% of accidents occurred 26 to 50 miles from home, and only 6% at distances of more than 50 miles away.

Elephant.co.uk managing director Brian Martin encouraged drivers to avoid becoming complacent when close to home.

The survey carried out on 3,800 people also found the most common causes of accidents that occur within a mile of home.

Hitting a parked car was the number one, followed by crashing while driving on a minor road, and reversing into a vehicle or wall.

Mr Martin said the results of the survey are interesting as it shows accidents most commonly happen "at lower speeds and involve less impact".