Bedford road traffic accidents

5,064 collisions recorded
1999 to 2024

Bedford recorded 5,064 collisions in the STATS19 data between 1999 and 2024, involving 6,391 casualties. Of these collisions, 29 were fatal and 689 were serious. Recorded collisions in 2024 were down 19% on 2023.

Fatal
29
Serious
689
Casualties
6,391
2024 137
2023 169
2022 156
2021 115
2020 138
2019 188
2018 174
2017 209
2016 181
2015 212
2014 226
2013 176
2012 215
2011 216
2010 214
2009 193
2008 209
2007 197
2006 191
2005 214
2004 201
2003 210
2002 222
2001 240
2000 246
1999 215

Accidents in Bedford

Fatal
Serious
Slight
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Road collision statistics for Bedford

Collisions recorded

5,064

Police-reported road traffic collisions captured in the STATS19 data.

People injured or killed

6,391

Casualties recorded across every collision in this area.

Fatal collisions

29

Collisions in which at least one person died.

Serious collisions

689

14.2% of collisions here ended in a death or serious injury.

Severity of collisions

Fatal 290.6%
Serious 68913.6%
Slight 4,34685.8%

What the data shows in Bedford

Collisions in Bedford are most frequently recorded on a Friday (16.2% of the total), with 27.5% happening in darkness rather than daylight. The most common posted speed limit at the scene is 30 mph.

81.4% of recorded collisions in Bedford happen on a single carriageway. Around 14.9% were recorded in adverse weather such as rain, snow or fog.

The collisions in Bedford have produced 6,391 casualties. Pedestrians account for 19.4% of those casualties, a marker of the risk to people on foot here.

Collisions by day of the week

Sunday 50510%
Monday 70213.9%
Tuesday 79515.7%
Wednesday 79915.8%
Thursday 75514.9%
Friday 82116.2%
Saturday 68713.6%

Collisions by day of the week: Sunday 505 collisions, Monday 702 collisions, Tuesday 795 collisions, Wednesday 799 collisions, Thursday 755 collisions, Friday 821 collisions, Saturday 687 collisions.

Light conditions

Daylight 3,67272.5%
Darkness 1,39227.5%

Light conditions: Daylight 3,672 collisions, Darkness 1,392 collisions.

Road type

Single carriageway 4,12281.4%
Roundabout 3647.2%
Dual carriageway 2204.3%
One way street 2164.3%
Other 971.9%
Unknown 380.8%
Slip road 70.1%

Road type: Single carriageway 4,122 collisions, Roundabout 364 collisions, Dual carriageway 220 collisions, One way street 216 collisions, Other 97 collisions, Unknown 38 collisions, Slip road 7 collisions.

Speed limit at the scene

20 mph 1703.4%
30 mph 4,63291.5%
40 mph 1733.4%
50 mph 130.3%
60 mph 450.9%
70 mph 310.6%

Speed limit at the scene: 20 mph 170 collisions, 30 mph 4,632 collisions, 40 mph 173 collisions, 50 mph 13 collisions, 60 mph 45 collisions, 70 mph 31 collisions.

Weather at the time

Fine no high winds 4,22783.5%
Raining no high winds 52010.3%
Other 1122.2%
Fine + high winds 841.7%
Raining + high winds 491%

Weather at the time: Fine no high winds 4,227 collisions, Raining no high winds 520 collisions, Other 112 collisions, Fine + high winds 84 collisions, Raining + high winds 49 collisions.

Who was hurt

Driver or rider 3,96862.1%
Passenger 1,18018.5%
Pedestrian 1,24319.4%

Who was hurt: Driver or rider 3,968 casualties, Passenger 1,180 casualties, Pedestrian 1,243 casualties.

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Recent Accidents

Showing 20 of 5,064 accidents

Accident 2020400930330

Serious
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1 vehicle 1 casualty
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Accident 2020400952511

Slight
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2 vehicles 1 casualty
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Pedal cycle
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Accident 2020400931006

Serious
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1 vehicle 1 casualty
AUDI A3
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Accident 2020400926957

Slight
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1 vehicle 1 casualty
FORD FIESTA
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Accident 2020400957923

Slight
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4 vehicles 3 casualties
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Accident 2020400923265

Slight
52.1396, -0.4802
2 vehicles 1 casualty
VAUXHALL ASTRA Pedal cycle
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Accident 2020400927948

Slight
52.1335, -0.4807
2 vehicles 1 casualty
Car Pedal cycle
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Accident 2020400924584

Slight
52.1394, -0.4667
2 vehicles 2 casualties
MERCEDES SPRINTER (2y) Pedal cycle
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Accident 2020400925584

Slight
52.1190, -0.4562
2 vehicles 1 casualty
FORD TRANSIT CONNECT (4y) VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
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Accident 2020400926797

Slight
52.1389, -0.4657
2 vehicles 1 casualty
ALFA ROMEO 159 BMW 3 SERIES
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Accident 2020400920435

Slight
52.1471, -0.4484
2 vehicles 1 casualty
Car Pedal cycle
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Accident 2020400921484

Slight
52.1293, -0.4633
2 vehicles 1 casualty
BMW 3 SERIES NISSAN JUKE (2y)
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Accident 2020400920895

Slight
52.1396, -0.4801
2 vehicles 1 casualty
FORD FOCUS Pedal cycle
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Accident 2020400920398

Slight
52.1459, -0.4821
2 vehicles 1 casualty
MERCEDES GLC CLASS (2y) HONDA GLR 125 (3y)
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Accident 2020400923656

Slight
52.1360, -0.4726
1 vehicle 1 casualty
SKODA OCTAVIA
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Accident 2019400919694

Serious
52.1394, -0.4804
1 vehicle 1 casualty
FORD FIESTA
View Details

Accident 2019400929916

Serious
52.1259, -0.4714
2 vehicles 1 casualty
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER EVOQUE VAUXHALL INSIGNIA (4y)
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Accident 2019400917317

Serious
52.1241, -0.4652
2 vehicles 1 casualty
AUDI A4 PEUGEOT 208
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Accident 2019400912515

Slight
52.1348, -0.4712
1 vehicle 1 casualty
TOYOTA VERSO (1y)
View Details

Accident 2019400915201

Slight
52.1373, -0.4739
2 vehicles 1 casualty
BMW 2 SERIES (4y) Pedal cycle
View Details

Frequently asked questions about road accidents in Bedford

How many road accidents have there been in Bedford?

5,064 collisions have been recorded in Bedford in the STATS19 road safety data between 1999 and 2024, involving 6,391 casualties.

How many of the collisions in Bedford were serious or fatal?

29 were fatal and 689 were serious — 14.2% of all recorded collisions in Bedford resulted in a death or serious injury.

When do most road accidents happen in Bedford?

Friday is the most common day for collisions in Bedford, accounting for 16.2% of them, and 27.5% of all collisions here happen in darkness.

What kind of roads do collisions in Bedford happen on?

81.4% of collisions in Bedford are recorded on a single carriageway, most often where the limit is 30 mph.

Are pedestrians often hurt in collisions in Bedford?

Pedestrians make up 19.4% of the 6,391 casualties recorded in Bedford.

Is road safety in Bedford getting better or worse?

Recorded collisions in Bedford fell 19% in 2024 compared with 2023, though year-on-year figures move with both genuine risk and changes in reporting.

Where does the road accident data for Bedford come from?

It comes from STATS19, the official record of personal-injury road collisions reported to the police and published by the Department for Transport. The figures for Bedford cover 1999 to 2024.