Preston roads ranked among 'most dangerous' in Lancashire

A survey of road accidents across Lancashire has revealed that Preston has among the region’s highest rate of car crashes.

Research carried out by Auto Finance Online looked at data from over 13,000 police reports from Lancashire Constabulary alongside road safety figures from the Department for Transport.

The data covered all 14 districts of Lancashire between 2021 and 2025. During that time, 189 people were killed, and a further 5,034 were seriously injured in road accidents.

However, as figures are only recorded when police attend the scene of an accident, it is likely there are many more minor incidents that have never been counted.

Overall, it found that Blackpool, Preston, and Blackburn with Darwen all grouped highest for the number of serious incidents, but that last year, Preston had the highest rate of accidents compared to its population.

In 2025, the city saw an average of 69.3 serious crashes for every 100,000 residents - far above the Lancashire average of 57.4.

The Ribble Valley also saw an above-average figure, at 58.9 per 100,000 residents.

In terms of specific roads, the A5085 - Blackpool Road, in Ashton-on-Ribble - was found to have more crashes than any other in Preston, with 114 reported since 2021.

In 2019, the Department for Transport declared the road as “the most dangerous” in Preston, after five accidents and six casualties within a year.

However, Lancashire police have said it was unlikely that these incidents were due to a “poor or defective road surface”.

Rather, it seems far likelier that the sheer volume of traffic driving down Blackpool Road would be the main cause for its inflated number.

However, not all hope for Preston’s drivers need be lost, as separate research in 2023 indicated the city may just produce some of the safest drivers in the UK.

Preston has consistently had some of the highest levels of drivers who pass their tests first time with zero faults.

And between 2020 and 2021, the city had an average fatal accident rate of 0.06 per 10,000 residents - far less than the ‘most dangerous place to drive’, Leeds, which recorded 0.64.

“What stood out to us was how much the figures can vary depending on the type of road and the amount of traffic using it,” said Auto Finance Online director Matthew Edwards.

“Looking simply at the number of crashes doesn’t always give you the full picture.

“If you want to identify a safer route, don’t just look for the shortest or quickest option. Think about whether you are comfortable with the road itself, how busy it is likely to be, whether it involves complicated junctions or town-centre driving, and whether there is a more straightforward alternative.

“Whatever road you are on, the basics make the biggest difference: leave enough space, keep your speed appropriate for the conditions, avoid distractions and give yourself more time when visibility or the weather is poor.

“And perhaps most importantly, don’t let familiarity make you less careful. A road you drive every day can feel completely routine, but it still deserves the same concentration as one you have never driven before.”