One-in-four drivers in near miss | Roundabouts most common location

A quarter of drivers narrowly avoided being involved in a crash last year, new research from AA Accident Assist suggests.

The poll of 13,767 drivers found that almost two-in-five (37%) of 18-24-year-old drivers had a near miss, with one-in-four saying they had avoided multiple collisions.

In contrast, the survey suggests that just one-in-five drivers aged 65 and over had a near miss in 2024.

With one-in-five newly qualified drivers crashing within the first 12 months after passing their test, AA Accident Assist is calling for improved young driver education policies such as learner drivers gaining as much experience as possible in as wide a range of circumstances before submitting themselves for the driving test. 

According to the latest DVSA figures, the top 10 reasons for failing the practical driving test include, not making effective observations at junctions, not using mirrors correctly and not responding appropriately to traffic lights.

More than a quarter of men (27%) said that they avoided a crash, compared to a fifth of women.

Similarly, more than a third (35%) of drivers in Northern Ireland said they almost crashed, compared to 21% of Scottish and Welsh drivers.

AA Accident Assist also captured the scenarios of almost 3,000 drivers about their near misses on the road last year. 

By far the most common location was at a roundabout with 560 respondents saying someone almost ran into the back of them, or they almost drove into the vehicle in front.

Car parks (315 events) and junctions (241 events) complete the top three scenarios where drivers narrowly avoided a crash. 

Other scenarios include traffic lights (168 events), changing lanes on motorways and A roads (180 events) and people almost driving into the back of a vehicle due to them suddenly stopping (145 events).

Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said: “Some drivers admitted to us that they were distracted by something else at the time, or that they simply weren’t expecting the unexpected. 

“Concentration on roundabouts and at junctions is especially important, as these are where drivers were most vulnerable.”

He added: “While inexperience is a big factor, drivers of all ages found themselves in difficult situations. Driving is a lifetime skill, so finding a way to encourage and reward in-life learning could produce safer drivers.”