A total of 95 car accidents in Fife last year were the result of driver or rider error or reaction.

This is according to research from Go.Compare Car Insurance which analysed Department for Transport data on reported road collisions in Great Britain.

It found that driver or rider error or reaction was the most likely cause of collisions in the Kingdom.

There were a total of 222 collisions in Fife from any contributory factor, and in 16 of these the road environment was a contributing factor. However, there were no accidents as a result of a poor or defective road surface.

There were also no crashes due to inadequate or masked signs or road markings.

The weather was a contributory factor in ten crashes last year as a slippery road was the cause of these smashes.

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Four crashes were the result of vehicle defects, two the consequence of defective brakes, and one due to illegal, under inflated, or defective tyres.

One accident was the result of an overloaded or poorly loaded vehicle or trailer. 

21 crashes were the result of injudicious action however.  Two were the result of disobeying to 'give way' or 'stop' at signs or markings, two were caused by disobeying double white lines, and one was the consequence of an illegal turn or direction of travel. 

The data reveals that driver or rider error or reaction was the primary cause of accidents across Britain, contributing to 40,615 collisions in 2023.

Tom Banks, a car insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “It’s interesting to see the spread of accidents across Britain and their different causes.

“While it’s reassuring to see that the number of crashes has declined since 2022, it’s concerning that the road environment, something that we should be able to control, has been a factor in more collisions than the previous year.

"Although the extra funds for local roads maintenance announced in the Autumn Budget are a step in the right direction, this will need continued attention over the long term to address this problem.

“Unfortunately, we can see that in most cases, accidents are due to the motorist’s error. In situations where a crash is your fault, like as a result of speeding, you’ll not only likely receive points on your licence, but you’ll see your premiums rise, too.

“In some cases, this could be by a substantial amount. If your insurance provider decides you are at fault, you’ll also need to pay the excess on your policy.”