How to avoid road accidents in the UK

The Highway Code is more than just a rulebook—it’s a blueprint for avoiding collisions, yet many of its most important principles are quietly ignored.

If every UK driver actually followed it, road accident figures would drop overnight.

At its core, the Highway Code is designed to help all road users—drivers, cyclists, pedestrians—share space safely. But some of its most safety-critical rules are also the ones most often missed:

• Rule 126: Maintain sufficient distance between you and the vehicle ahead. In dry conditions, that’s at least two seconds. In wet weather, double it.
• Rule 148: Avoid distractions—this includes not just phones, but eating, loud music, and arguing passengers.
• Rule 96: Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol—including prescribed medication that impairs ability.

Then there are subtle but important guidelines that help reduce confusion and aggression: correct lane discipline, early signalling, understanding mini-roundabout priorities. These don’t grab headlines, but they prevent accidents every day.

And yet, most drivers only skim the Code when taking their test. Years later, it becomes something they once read—not something they actually apply. That gap between knowledge and behaviour is exactly where risk lives.

The good news? You don’t have to memorise all 300+ rules. But refreshing the essentials, especially the ones linked directly to collision prevention, is one of the most underrated steps you can take toward safer driving.

Because it only takes a second.

Most distracted driving accidents aren’t caused by long phone calls or hours on TikTok—they’re triggered by brief, familiar lapses: glancing at a text, fiddling with music, or reaching for something in the passenger seat.

Despite rising public awareness and tougher penalties, distraction remains a leading cause of UK road collisions. In 2023 alone, over 20% of drivers admitted to using their phone while driving, with many more likely doing it without realising the risk. And the danger isn’t just texting—it includes scrolling, checking sat navs, eating, even turning to speak to children in the back.

Modern vehicles are partly to blame. Touchscreen dashboards, infotainment systems, Bluetooth pairing—all of it adds convenience, but also encourages multitasking at 70mph. Even voice controls, while safer, still take mental focus away from the road.

The legal line is clear: using a handheld phone while driving is punishable by six points and a £200 fine. But the safety line is stricter—even a moment of mental distraction can double your reaction time.

If you can’t count at least two seconds between you and the vehicle ahead, you’re too close.

And in rain or poor visibility, even that may not be enough.

The “two-second rule” isn’t just a driver’s ed catchphrase—it’s a proven safety buffer. Pick a fixed point the car ahead passes (a signpost or lamp post), start counting “one thousand and one, one thousand and two.” If you pass it before you finish, ease off. That’s your warning that you don’t have enough space to react.

Tailgating remains one of the most common—and least enforced—bad driving habits in Britain. Motorways are the worst offenders. Drivers who feel rushed or boxed in often close the gap, mistakenly believing they’re gaining ground. But the reality is that tailgating creates chain reactions. A single late brake ahead can lead to multi-car pile-ups, especially in high-speed traffic.

At 70mph, you’re covering more than 30 metres every second. If the car in front brakes suddenly and you’re only a second behind, you’re already out of options. ABS and modern brakes help, but they can’t overcome physics.

Safe following distances aren’t just about politeness—they’re your last line of defence when something unpredictable happens. Leave space. Let go of the illusion that being one car length closer makes any meaningful difference.

Intersections, roundabouts, and slip roads are among the most common sites of road accidents in the UK—not because they’re inherently unsafe, but because they demand constant judgement, timing, and spatial awareness.

When that slips, crashes happen.

Let’s start with junctions. Roughly one-third of all road collisions occur at or near a junction. Misjudging a gap, failing to signal, or not noticing a vehicle turning can all trigger side-impact crashes—the kind that cause serious injuries even at low speeds.

Roundabouts present a unique challenge. While they reduce fatal crashes compared to traditional intersections, they rely heavily on clear signalling and lane discipline. Too many drivers treat roundabouts like a guessing game—hesitating when they shouldn’t, or forcing their way through without yielding. Mini-roundabouts, especially in residential areas, are prime spots for low-speed but high-cost collisions.

Then there are motorway slip roads and exit ramps. These are hotbeds for rear-end collisions and last-minute lane changes. Drivers unsure of the road layout often swerve, hesitate, or slam the brakes, putting everyone behind them at risk.

Pedestrian-heavy zones—town centres, school drop-off points, and urban high streets—also rank high for incident frequency. The danger here isn’t speed, but proximity: one wrong turn, one missed crossing, and the margin for error disappears.

These are the moments where even confident drivers can get caught out. Familiarity doesn’t mean safety. If anything, it demands more attention—not less.