New research has revealed Scotland’s most dangerous areas in which to drive, with areas of Ayrshire listed in the top 10.

The study, by insurance brokers OneSureInsurance, analysed historical data from the Department for Transport Statistics to see which Scotland areas had the highest average collisions per billion vehicle miles over a ten-year period.

Fourth place on the list was North Ayrshire, which had 333 collisions per billion vehicle miles. Collisions were highest in 2012, with 443 per billion vehicle miles, and at their lowest in 2021, with 205.

In tenth place was South Ayrshire, with 250 average collions per billion vehicle miles.

The report found that the City of Edinburgh authority is, statistically, Scotland’s most dangerous area in which to drive.

Between 2012 and 2021, there were, on average, 505 collisions per billion vehicle miles in the area.

The year 2014 was found to have the highest numbers, with 701 collisions per billion vehicle miles, and 2021 was seemingly the safest, with just 281 collisions per billion vehicle miles.

When looking at all Scotland areas, the average number of collisions per billion vehicle miles is 242, which is over half the average of England, which sits at 550.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for OneSureInsurance said: “While it can be expected by many for figures to be lower in 2020 and 2021 due to ongoing lockdowns and thus fewer cars on the road, and theme of Scotland is that this indeed the case.

"The data demonstrates that collisions in several areas peaked for every billion vehicle miles in the early 2010s.

"They slowly fell throughout the decade, and it will be interesting to see if there are any obvious trends into the 2020s.”