The number of road traffic accidents caused by slow drivers has increased by almost a third, according to the Department for Transport.
Slow driving caused 175 injuries and two deaths on UK roads in 2017, official figures show. This represents a 31% increase from the previous 12 months.
The Department of Transport figures take into account crashes where a slow-moving vehicle is a contributory factor, including when someone is driving too slowly for the conditions.
The AA said the rise could partly be attributed to the record number of cautious elderly drivers on Britain’s roads, particularly motorways.
Earlier this year, DVLA data showed that there were 265 drivers over the age of 100 holding a driving licence, up from 162 in November 2012. Four people aged 104 were the oldest licensed drivers and there has been a 15% spike in centenarians with licences between 2015 and 2018 alone.
The Department for Transport’s figures follow on from a poll of 2,000 UK drivers earlier this year which found ‘someone driving too slowly in front of you’ is the seventh most common reason motorists swear when they are behind the wheel.
As specialist personal injury solicitors, our team deals with the consequences of road traffic accidents all too often, with injuries ranging from minor whiplash to fatal injuries.
We also support Road Safety Week and the government’s new two-year plan to improve road safety.