West Midlands named as major hotspot for cyclist incidents

Warwickshire has been named as a major hotspot for cycling related accidents and collisions
-Credit: (Image: Stuart Vance)


Warwickshire has been named as a major hotspot for cycling related accidents and collisions, with the West Midlands being named the second most dangerous region in the UK for cyclists. The research was carried out by injury claims specialists Simpson Millar , who have unveiled a major study that analysed 177,834 UK cycling incidents over the past decade to pinpoint the country's most dangerous and safest locations for cyclists.

By analysing 10 years of Department for Transport (DfT) data, recent search trends, and direct feedback from cyclists, the study highlighted the growing risks to cyclists and the need for improved cycling infrastructure across the region and the UK as a whole. A recent poll by Simpson Millar also found that 46% of cyclists feel unsafe on UK roads, and the West Midlands is no exception.

Despite ongoing investments in infrastructure, the West Midlands continued to lag behind other areas of the UK in cycling safety. The West Midlands' cycling accident rate of 380 per 100,000 people over the past decade places it among the UK’s most dangerous regions for cyclists.

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In total, 15,984 incidents were recorded across the region, with Warwickshire and Birmingham emerging as major hotspots. Despite some improvements, the urban environments in the region still present significant challenges for cyclists, including heavy traffic, narrow roads, and fragmented cycling routes.

Poor road conditions were directly attributed to 13,641 cycling accidents, while abrupt lane changes, an increase in the size of vehicles on the road, and a lack of awareness by motorists of cyclists were all major contributing factors to these incidents.

By contrast, Scotland reported just 126 accidents per 100,000 people over the past decade, and Wales recorded 138 per 100,000.

Simpson Millar said that these regions benefited from better road conditions, less traffic congestion, and more consistent cycling infrastructure. They said that as the West Midlands looks to enhance its cycling safety, “it could draw valuable lessons from the successes seen in Scotland and Wales.”