The most dangerous roads for crashes in Suffolk revealed

A Freedom of Information request has revealed which roads in the county have seen the highest number of crashes which officers from Suffolk police have attended over the last five years. 

Figures as of May 3 show Norwich Road in Ipswich is one of the most dangerous roads in Suffolk. 

Since 2019, there has been a total of 116 crashes on the road, the most of which came in 2022 with 28.

The key route was highlighted by a Department for Transport review, according to Paul West, Suffolk County Council cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding. 

He said: "It has been recorded that road accidents across the local road network, managed by Suffolk County Council, are in general the lowest on record with this downward trend applying to each district – including Ipswich.

Traffic in Norwich Road in Ipswich (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Councillor Paul West (Image: Suffolk County Council)

"Norwich Road in Ipswich is also seeing an improving trend, although was highlighted by a national Department for Transport (DfT) review as having a high volume of road accidents, compared to similar routes. SCC has been successful in receiving around £1.2M from the Safer Roads Fund, from the DfT, to carry out improvements which look to address collision patterns.

"The scheme is currently in the design stages and will be consulted on in due course."

Last year saw London Road in Ipswich top the table with 26 crashes, while Norwich Road followed with 24.

Both the A14 at Woolpit - which was placed under a reconstruction scheme by National Highways in February 2023 - and the A14 near Ipswich featured in the top five roads with most number of crashes in 2023.

A spokesman for National Highways said: “There are many reasons why incidents take place, and we routinely review the operation of our motorways and major A roads to ensure they are operating as safely as possible.” 

So far in 2024, there has been seven crashes in both Colchester Road and London Road in Ipswich, while Compiegne Way in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich's St Helens Street have seen five crashes each.

Bramford Road in Ipswich has also witnessed a frequent number of crashes since 2019 (Image: Charlotte Bond)

London Road in Ipswich (Image: Charlotte Bond)

It comes amid a decline in the number of collisions across Suffolk over the last five years. 

In 2019, police recorded 4,046 crashes which officers attended. This dropped to 3161 in 2023, with the current figure for 2024 as of May 3 858.

Mr West added: "It has been noted that generally the highway design and layout is not a significant contributing factor in collisions, most are due to driver error and distraction and other related factors such as poor weather, driving inappropriately for conditions, excessive speed or impairment by alcohol and drugs."