- Nottingham ranks as the UK’s most dangerous area for bus travel, with a casualty rate of 17.61 per 100,000 residents
- In 2023, Nottingham saw 58 bus-related casualties, an increase of 11 compared to 2022
- Experts stress the importance of enhancing safety measures, upgrading infrastructure, and raising awareness to ensure safer bus travel for all
A new study has identified the most dangerous areas for bus travel in the UK, with Nottingham ranking as the riskiest.
Bus travel experts GetByBus analysed 2023 Department for Transport data, calculating bus casualties per UK local authority. By weighing these figures against the population, they determined the number of casualties per 100,000 residents, highlighting the regions with the highest rates.
The 10 UK local authorities with the highest rate of bus casualties per 100,000 residents
| Rank | UK area | Population | Bus casualties (2023) | Bus casualties per 100,000 residents |
| 1. | Nottingham | 329,276 | 58 | 17.61 |
| 2. | Brighton and Hove | 279,637 | 39 | 13.95 |
| 3. | Newcastle upon Tyne | 311,976 | 42 | 13.46 |
| 4. (=) | Gateshead | 199,139 | 24 | 12.05 |
| 4. (=) | Somerset | 581,145 | 70 | 12.05 |
| 5. | Kingston upon Hull | 271,942 | 32 | 11.77 |
| 6. | London | 8,945,309 | 1,049 | 11.73 |
| 7. | Pembrokeshire | 125,006 | 13 | 10.40 |
| 8. | Wokingham | 183,870 | 17 | 9.25 |
| 9. | Edinburgh | 514,990 | 45 | 8.74 |
| 10. | Sunderland | 281,058 | 24 | 8.54 |
Nottingham ranks top, with 17.61 bus casualties per 100,000 residents. The city recorded a total of 58 bus casualties in 2023 from a population of 329,276 residents – 11 more than the 47 recorded in 2022.
Brighton and Hove ranks second, with 13.95 bus casualties per 100,000 residents in 2023. From a population of 279,637 residents, Brighton recorded 39 casualties during the year – nine less than the previous year, at 48.
Third in the ranking is Newcastle upon Tyne, with a rate of 13.46 bus casualties per 100,000 residents. In 2023, the city recorded 42 casualties (21 more than in 2022) from a population of 311,976 residents.
Gateshead and Somerset tie for fourth place, with 12.05 bus casualties per 100,000 residents. Gateshead recorded a total of 24 bus casualties in 2023, while Somerset recorded 70 – an extreme leap from just nine in 2022.
In fifth comes Kingston upon Hull, with 11.77 bus casualties per 100,000 residents in 2023. From a population of 271,942 residents, Kingston upon Hull recorded 32 casualties during the year – six more than the previous year, at 26.
London comes in sixth, with a rate of 11.73 bus casualties per 100,000 residents. In 2023, the city recorded 1,049 casualties (34 more than in 2022) from a population of 8,945,309 residents.
Seventh on the list is Pembrokeshire, with 10.40 bus casualties per 100,000 residents. Pembrokeshire recorded a total of 13 bus casualties in 2023 from a population of 125,006 residents – nine more than the previous year, at just four.
In eighth place is Wokingham, with 9.25 bus casualties per 100,000 residents in 2023. From a population of 183,870, Wokingham recorded 17 bus casualties during the year – up from zero causalities in 2022.
Edinburgh ranks ninth, with a rate of 8.74 bus casualties per 100,000 residents. In 2023, the city recorded 45 casualties (10 more than in 2022) from a population of 514,990 residents.
Landing the tenth spot is Sunderland, with 8.54 bus casualties per 100,000 residents. Sunderland recorded a total of 24 bus casualties in 2023 from a population of 281,058 residents – double the number from the previous year, which stood at 12.
Ante Dagelić, CEO of GetByBus commented on the findings:
“Public transportation is vital to everyday life, but in certain areas, bus riders face heightened risks due to traffic conditions, road design, and incidents of crime. Our latest findings reveal the most dangerous areas in the UK for bus passengers, underscoring the need for improved safety measures, better infrastructure, and heightened awareness in order to ensure that everyone can travel with confidence and security.”