New data revealing the most frequent types of crashes among UK drivers is now out, with rear-end collisions topping the list.

The new analysis, carried out by AX, also shows key differences between EV and ICE car incidents, as new electric car crash trends emerge.

Research by the accident aftercare specialist shows that rear-end collisions accounted for 22.45% of all recorded accidents, equating to more than one in five.

The second most common incident was being hit whilst parked (unattended), representing 21.80% of all accidents. Vehicles are often damaged while stationary in car parks, residential areas or on narrow urban streets.

Together, rear-end collisions and being hit whilst parked make up almost half of all recorded accidents, emphasising how many collisions occur when vehicles are either stationary or in slow-moving traffic.

However, electric vehicles are actually most at risk when parked, the new AX data reveals. The findings from tens of thousands of incidents – mostly third-party fault crashes – give unique insights into the differing risk profiles for diesel, petrol, hybrid and electric vehicles, revealing how driving habits, vehicle types and technologies are affecting road safety.

When broken down by fuel type, EVs are most likely to be involved in incidents while parked and unattended (25.14%); higher than any other vehicle category. However, they fare slightly better than petrol and diesel vehicles when it comes to rear-end collisions (21.39%, compared to 22.29% for diesel and 23.45% for petrol).

Nearly a third of EV accidents can be accounted for when combining hit whilst parked ‘unattended’ with hit whilst parked ‘attended’ (31.80%) – significantly more than any other powertrain. This could reflect higher urban usage and busier parking environments or unfamiliarity among drivers and third parties with parking technologies which are more common in EVs.

On the road, EVs appear slightly less prone to rear-end collisions (21.39%) than their petrol (23.45%) and diesel (22.29%) counterparts. However, EVs show proportionally higher roundabout accidents (7.30%) and third-party pulls from side roads (9.33%).

Hybrid electric vehicles also show some unique risks, with the highest proportion of incidents involving a third party pulling from a side road (11.49%). Their mix of electric and combustion propulsion may influence driver behaviour at junctions.

Scott Hamilton-Cooper, chief commercial officer at AX, said: “These findings reveal how driver behaviour and vehicle technology continue to evolve. It’s clear that while EVs bring benefits in terms of safety features and lower emissions, they also display unique patterns of risk.

“Understanding those nuances helps us not just to manage claims efficiently, but also to educate drivers about how best to prevent avoidable accidents. We have a wealth of data which we can present to our dealer, fleet and insurer partners to help them manage risk. But if an accident occurs, we ensure they remain mobile and that their vehicle is repaired and back on the road as soon as possible.”

The data gives key insights into how Britain’s roads are changing, as vehicle technology and EV uptake increases. The full table of results can be found on the AX website here.