Right turns pose the greatest driver risk

A new study has revealed that the most dangerous manoeuvre on British roads for car drivers is turning right.

The study by Forbes Advisor used data from the Department for Transport’s 2021 annual report on reported road casualties in Great Britain from 2012 to 2021 to determine which manoeuvres resulted in the most collisions for each type of vehicle.

Cars had the greatest number of collisions on British roads in each year from 2012 to 2021, and the manoeuvre that resulted in the most collisions was turning right, with 186,009 recorded collisions. Slowing or stopping resulted in the next most collisions, with 130,709 recorded in this time period. With 112,755 recorded incidents, the third most common cause of collisions for cars was being held up while waiting to go.

Kevin Pratt, car insurance spokesperson at Forbes Advisor, said: “Accidents will always happen, but it’s worth remembering that the vast majority are caused by human error. Drivers who are risk aware, cautious and focused on what they are doing can improve their chances of avoiding collisions.

“Modern cars are designed to make driving easier and safer, but the danger is that drivers can become complacent and distracted, perhaps reviewing a satnav screen or choosing what music to listen to instead of concentrating on the road and other traffic. And there are times when absolute focus is essential, whether it is turning right across oncoming traffic or bringing the vehicle to a safe stop.

“Anyone who can recognise and respond to high-risk situations will be a safer driver. Anyone who takes risks or doesn’t pay due care and attention will be a danger to themselves and to others.”