Scottish drivers most likely to hit a lamp post

Scottish drivers are the most likely to hit a lamp post, and those in the north-west most likely to bump into traffic lights, according to claims analysis by Admiral.

The insurer looked at 1.3m motor claims over the past five years to identify any correlation between motorists’ postcode and the type of accidents they have.

The study found Scottish drivers top of the list for accidents involving lamp posts, with Paisley, Aberdeen, Motherwell and Glasgow taking the top four spots for this type of claim. The only non-Scottish city to make it into the top five was Chelmsford, Essex.

People living in Liverpool and Manchester topped the list for collisions at traffic lights, while those living in the Tonbridge, Redhill, Guildford and Stevenage areas in the home counties were more likely to be involved in collisions with trees.

Motorists in Romford, Ilford and Enfield, in the north-east of Greater London, were the most likely to be hit in the rear or to hit another car in the rear.

Drivers in inner London were mostly likely to have their car hit while parked.

Claims from Torquay, Exeter and Taunton motors topped the list of claims for a narrow lane collision.

Roundabout collisions were highest in the Chelmsford postcode area, followed by the Reading and Glasgow postcodes.

Admiral’s acting managing director, Dave Halliday said: ”The stop-start nature of traffic in Greater London may explain the higher frequency of rear-end bumps of motorists who live there, just as the many country lanes in the west of England may explain the narrow lane collisions.

“However, the results in Scotland and the north-west were a little more surprising. It’s a real mystery why Scottish motorists are more likely to hit a lamp post and why those in Liverpool and Manchester are more likely to have a bump at traffic lights.”