A POPULAR seaside town has been named the “most dangerous” for UK drivers as the nation’s car casualty hotspots were revealed.

Fresh analysis of the latest government figures by CarMats.co.uk found that deaths and injuries on Britain’s roads had increased by more than 3% year-on-year.

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The study found that in the 2022/23 reporting period there had been 135,480 casualties, up from 128,209 the year before.

Bournemouth, Dorset, had the dubious honour of top spot with 737 of its nearly 200,000 residents having suffered an injury in a motor smash – around 0.38% of the population.

It was followed by Hull, Yorkshire, at 0.24%, just pipping Brighton at 0.23%.

Indeed, a number of popular staycation destinations ranked highly, with Southampton, Bristol and Medway all making the top 20.

But despite making up two of the top three, there was a north-south divide in the figures in favour of the latter.

A whopping 12 of the top 20 list in the North or Midlands, including seven of the top 10.

Cities like Bradford, Nottingham, Liverpool and Wakefield all featured.

The region around Birmingham was particularly prevalent, with both the city itself and the nearby borough of Sandwell on the list.

Indeed, Birmingham alone clocked in at fifth with a rating of 0.21%

London was not featured, but this may be down to the fact that it is broken down into 36 council areas in the government figures.

However, nearby Luton did make 12th place with a figure of 0.19%, joint with Southampton, Medway and Bristol.

Rotherham, Yorkshire, rounded out the top 20, with a rate of just 0.15%.

Ash Young, Founder of CarMats, said: “Following the latest statistics on car accidents and injuries in areas across the UK, it’s clear that safety must always be the most important consideration when driving.

“Staying vigilant and adhering to safe driving practices, whether it’s wearing seatbelts, obeying speed limits, or minimising distractions all contribute to safer roads for all.”