Edinburgh road traffic accidents

25,570 collisions recorded
1999 to 2024

Edinburgh recorded 25,570 collisions in the STATS19 data between 1999 and 2024, involving 29,629 casualties. Of these collisions, 158 were fatal and 3,649 were serious. Recorded collisions in 2024 were up 4% on 2023.

Fatal
158
Serious
3,649
Casualties
29,629
2024 393
2023 377
2022 438
2021 401
2020 365
2019 608
2018 640
2017 781
2016 998
2015 933
2014 1,053
2013 1,002
2012 1,021
2011 1,030
2010 1,010
2009 1,033
2008 1,128
2007 1,146
2006 1,239
2005 1,215
2004 1,344
2003 1,257
2002 1,442
2001 1,534
2000 1,635
1999 1,547

Accidents in Edinburgh

Fatal
Serious
Slight
Click markers for details

Road collision statistics for Edinburgh

Collisions recorded

25,570

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

People injured or killed

29,629

Casualties recorded across every collision in this area.

Fatal collisions

158

Collisions in which at least one person died.

Serious collisions

3,649

14.9% of collisions here ended in a death or serious injury.

Severity of collisions

Fatal 1580.6%
Serious 3,64914.3%
Slight 21,76385.1%

What the data shows in Edinburgh

Collisions in Edinburgh are most frequently recorded on a Friday (16.8% of the total), with 26.7% happening in darkness rather than daylight. The most common posted speed limit at the scene is 30 mph.

89.9% of recorded collisions in Edinburgh happen on a single carriageway. Around 18.5% were recorded in adverse weather such as rain, snow or fog.

The collisions in Edinburgh have produced 29,629 casualties. Pedestrians account for 26.3% of those casualties, a marker of the risk to people on foot here.

Collisions by day of the week

Sunday 2,3019%
Monday 3,66414.3%
Tuesday 3,84415%
Wednesday 4,11916.1%
Thursday 4,04915.8%
Friday 4,28516.8%
Saturday 3,30812.9%

Collisions by day of the week: Sunday 2,301 collisions, Monday 3,664 collisions, Tuesday 3,844 collisions, Wednesday 4,119 collisions, Thursday 4,049 collisions, Friday 4,285 collisions, Saturday 3,308 collisions.

Light conditions

Daylight 18,73673.3%
Darkness 6,83426.7%

Light conditions: Daylight 18,736 collisions, Darkness 6,834 collisions.

Road type

Single carriageway 22,97789.9%
Dual carriageway 1,4235.6%
Roundabout 6212.4%
One way street 2260.9%
Other 1420.6%
Unknown 1380.5%
Slip road 430.2%

Road type: Single carriageway 22,977 collisions, Dual carriageway 1,423 collisions, Roundabout 621 collisions, One way street 226 collisions, Other 142 collisions, Unknown 138 collisions, Slip road 43 collisions.

Speed limit at the scene

20 mph 2,69010.5%
30 mph 20,90781.8%
40 mph 1,6806.6%
50 mph 440.2%
60 mph 1060.4%
70 mph 1430.6%

Speed limit at the scene: 20 mph 2,690 collisions, 30 mph 20,907 collisions, 40 mph 1,680 collisions, 50 mph 44 collisions, 60 mph 106 collisions, 70 mph 143 collisions.

Weather at the time

Fine no high winds 20,03078.3%
Raining no high winds 3,13012.2%
Fine + high winds 7973.1%
Unknown 5622.2%
Raining + high winds 4471.7%

Weather at the time: Fine no high winds 20,030 collisions, Raining no high winds 3,130 collisions, Fine + high winds 797 collisions, Unknown 562 collisions, Raining + high winds 447 collisions.

Who was hurt

Driver or rider 14,09547.6%
Passenger 7,73026.1%
Pedestrian 7,80426.3%

Who was hurt: Driver or rider 14,095 casualties, Passenger 7,730 casualties, Pedestrian 7,804 casualties.

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Recent Accidents

Showing 20 of 25,570 accidents

Accident 2024991536580

Slight
55.9436, -3.1169
2 vehicles 2 casualties
BMW 5 SERIES SEAT IBIZA
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Accident 2024991549553

Slight
55.9452, -3.1841
2 vehicles 1 casualty
FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM (1y) Pedal cycle
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Accident 2024991536052

Fatal
55.9429, -3.2914
1 vehicle 1 casualty
Car
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Accident 2024991535570

Serious
55.9683, -3.2361
2 vehicles 1 casualty
MAZDA 2 (2y) VAUXHALL ASTRA
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Accident 2024991535513

Slight
55.9684, -3.2359
2 vehicles 1 casualty
PEUGEOT 5008 (1y) FORD FIESTA
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Accident 2024991534892

Slight
55.9528, -3.2004
1 vehicle 1 casualty
VOLVO MODEL MISSING
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Accident 2024991534602

Slight
55.9606, -3.2949
2 vehicles 1 casualty
VAUXHALL INSIGNIA MERCEDES SPRINTER (3y)
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Accident 2024991535347

Slight
55.9460, -3.2233
2 vehicles 1 casualty
VOLVO MODEL MISSING VOLKSWAGEN UP
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Accident 2024991534042

Slight
55.9504, -3.2058
1 vehicle 1 casualty
VOLVO MODEL MISSING (3y)
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Accident 2024991534683

Slight
55.9226, -3.3048
2 vehicles 1 casualty
KAWASAKI BR125 (1y) TOYOTA C-HR (3y)
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Accident 2024991535141

Slight
55.9083, -3.1552
1 vehicle 1 casualty
VOLVO MODEL MISSING
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Accident 2024991532448

Serious
55.9243, -3.3039
2 vehicles 1 casualty
RENAULT MASTER Pedal cycle
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Accident 2024991530380

Serious
55.9300, -3.2999
2 vehicles 3 casualties
SEAT IBIZA Car
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Accident 2024991530101

Serious
55.9470, -3.2152
1 vehicle 1 casualty
ALEXANDER DENNIS MODEL MISSING
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Accident 2024991531917

Slight
55.9386, -3.2804
1 vehicle 1 casualty
BMW 3 SERIES
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Accident 2024991530478

Slight
55.9462, -3.2006
1 vehicle 1 casualty
VOLVO MODEL MISSING
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Accident 2024991529569

Serious
55.9682, -3.2588
2 vehicles 1 casualty
PEUGEOT 308 (1y) Pedal cycle
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Accident 2024991528950

Serious
55.9644, -3.1705
2 vehicles 1 casualty
FIAT PUNTO Pedal cycle
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Accident 2024991528484

Slight
55.9692, -3.2296
1 vehicle 1 casualty
VOLVO MODEL MISSING
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Accident 2024991533655

Serious
55.9305, -3.2515
1 vehicle 1 casualty
Van / Goods 3.5 tonnes mgw or under
View Details

Frequently asked questions about road accidents in Edinburgh

How many road accidents have there been in Edinburgh?

25,570 collisions have been recorded in Edinburgh in the STATS19 road safety data between 1999 and 2024, involving 29,629 casualties.

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

158 were fatal and 3,649 were serious — 14.9% of all recorded collisions in Edinburgh resulted in a death or serious injury.

When do most road accidents happen in Edinburgh?

Friday is the most common day for collisions in Edinburgh, accounting for 16.8% of them, and 26.7% of all collisions here happen in darkness.

What kind of roads do collisions in Edinburgh happen on?

89.9% of collisions in Edinburgh are recorded on a single carriageway, most often where the limit is 30 mph.

Are pedestrians often hurt in collisions in Edinburgh?

Pedestrians make up 26.3% of the 29,629 casualties recorded in Edinburgh.

Is road safety in Edinburgh getting better or worse?

Recorded collisions in Edinburgh rose 4% in 2024 compared with 2023. Year-on-year figures move with both genuine risk and changes in reporting, so they are best read as a trend rather than a single verdict.

Where does the road accident data for Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh cover 1999 to 2024.