When infrastructure is a bigger killer than impaired driving

Data reveals infrastructure’s impact on fatal crash patterns

The latest figures published by GOV.UK highlight a striking reality: road infrastructure and driving conditions contribute more to fatal accidents in Great Britain than impaired driving.

While alcohol and drug impairment remain critical road safety issues, the data shows that infrastructure related factors are involved in a larger share of fatal collisions.

A network-level risk with major consequences

2024 GOV.UK data shows that many fatal crashes occur on routes where infrastructure characteristics significantly influence driver decisions and accident severity. Narrow rural lanes, inconsistent road geometry, limited visibility, complex junctions or abrupt changes in speed limits create conditions where even compliant drivers are more exposed to danger.

Rural roads in particular carry a disproportionate share of fatal accidents, despite lower traffic volumes. Higher speeds, limited margins for error and geometric constraints amplify the severity of collisions, which are often more than behavioural factors alone.

While impaired driving remains serious and unacceptable behavior, it represents a smaller share of fatal accidents than infrastructure-related factors.
The data shows that even responsible drivers can be exposed to risk when operating in environments that inherently elevate danger.

Why this matters for public authorities

For local governments and road authorities, understanding infrastructure-driven risk is fundamental.
A road segment may appear safe on paper, yet produce recurring severe crashes due to its alignment, layout or real-world driving conditions.

Such risks directly affect safety strategies, investment priorities, maintenance planning, and the ability of public bodies to reduce casualties across their network.

Identifying which parts of the road network amplify risk and why is a key step in designing effective and evidence-based interventions.

How data reveals high-risk roads

Infrastructure risk is rarely visible at first glance. It becomes clear only when analysing actual driving patterns, collision hotspots and the behaviour of vehicles in difficult contexts. Mobility data allows organisations to observe how risk varies depending on speeds practiced, interactions with other road users and the structure of the network.

This analytical layer transforms road safety from a reactive approach into a proactive one, helping companies anticipate incidents rather than endure them.

Turning insights into action with MICHELIN Mobility Intelligence

MICHELIN Mobility Intelligence helps in identifying infrastructure-related risks across their routes by combining casualty data, speed observations, driver behaviour and a deep understanding of the UK road network.

This approach provides a clear and contextual view of exposure, enabling organisations to adjust routes, improve planning, adapt instructions for drivers and focus preventive efforts where they will have the greatest impact.

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