On manoeuvres

New data has revealed the riskiest driving manoeuvres to make on the road.

Turning right remains in first place, accounting for an average of 21,347 collisions each year.

However, just pulling away doesn’t fare too much better.

Your turn

Car parts marketplace Ovoko analysed road traffic crash data from the Department for Transport from 2013 to 2022 to identify the manoeuvres that result in the most collisions and which prove most hazardous for different vehicle types.  

Overall, turning right is the most dangerous manoeuvre to make on UK roads.

It’s responsible for an average of 21,347 reported road collisions each year.  

Slowing or stopping is second, resulting in 15,641 accidents annually, while being held up while waiting to go ranks third, resulting in 12,402 incidents yearly.

Moving off from a stationary position and proceeding on a right-hand bend are also among the five riskiest manoeuvres for Brits.

UK top 10

And on the left, we have…

On the other end of the scale, the least risky manoeuvre for Brits came out as waiting to turn left, with just 1,065 average yearly collisions.  

The riskiest manoeuvres can differ by vehicle, but turning right is also the most dangerous for car drivers, with a yearly average of 17,749 collisions.

The second most dangerous manoeuvre is slowing or stopping.

Here, an average of 12,204 incidents involving car drivers are recorded for this each year.

Meanwhile, a third appears to be being held up while waiting to go, responsible for an average of 10,496 collisions per year.

Two wheels

Overtaking a moving vehicle on the offside is the most dangerous manoeuvre for motorcyclists, and it is responsible for an average of 1,400 collisions involving motorbikes a year. 

Slowing or stopping ranks second, resulting in a yearly average of 947 accidents involving motorcyclists.

Meanwhile, in third place is going ahead on a left-hand bend, which causes an average of 866 incidents each year.

Healthily unhealthy

For pedal cyclists, the riskiest manoeuvre is turning right, as it causes an average of 971 collisions involving bicycles each year.

Moving off is second, with 500 yearly accidents, while going ahead on a right-hand bend is third, at 438 collisions annually.

Slowing or stopping is named the most dangerous manoeuvre for buses or coaches, with an average of 677 accidents recorded each year due to this move.

In second is moving off, totalling a yearly average of 619 collisions involving a bus or coach, and being held up while waiting to go is third, with an average of 234 incidents a year recorded as a result.  

Light goods vehicles follow a similar pattern, with turning right accounting for 1,218 average collisions a year.  

Meanwhile, slowing or stopping is the riskiest manoeuvre for heavy goods vehicles like lorries, as it causes an average of 349 accidents involving these each year.  

Danger by vehicle type

 Back to basics

Commenting on the ranking, Vytas Palovis, VP of Growth at Ovoko said: “Although drivers are familiar with the risks of being on the road – such as pedestrians, traffic, and weather conditions – making simple manoeuvres tend to be overlooked as a risk factor.  

“As this data shows, basic manoeuvres tend to be the most dangerous, possibly because they are performed frequently and so, are treated with some complacency among drivers who presume they’re immune to a collision as a result.  

“It’s also crucial to recognise which manoeuvres are more likely to result in a crash for certain vehicles. For example, collisions when moving off increase by 24% for buses or coaches compared to for cyclists, suggesting there’s a blind spot issue.  

“Making sure you pay ample attention to what road users are doing, including yourself, is the best way to mitigate the chances of a collision – no matter how experienced or confident on the road you are.”