A38 collisions

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/24/6812 

Version Date: 20/08/2024

How many crashes and deaths there are on the A38 between Plymouth and Exeter each year and to find out if they are on the rise

So for this year so far and then the past five years.

The Performance & Analysis Department have provided the following information.

Data Processing:  

Force road traffic collision (RTC) recording system - Accsmap and CRASH          

Qlikview Report: Road Traffic Collisions                                                

Filtered by date: January 1st 2019 to July 17th 2024  

Data Limitations:                                                   

Please note, that from 1st January 2008 -

Damage only Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) will not be recorded unless there is a clear and specified purpose for doing so, specifically:

• Section 170 RTA 1988 not complied with (fail to stop)
• Police vehicle involved
• Other emergency services vehicle responding to an incident are involved
• The collision is one that provides a realistic prospect of securing a conviction against one of the drivers (Threshold Test aspect of the Full Code Test for Crown Prosecutors')
• Single vehicle loss of control

Also, from March 2010 -

Non-injury road traffic collisions will not be recorded or investigated unless one or more of the following conditions apply:

1. A driver has failed to comply fully with the statutory requirements of the Road Traffic Act, e.g. fail to stop; exchange details
2. Allegations have been made at the scene and/or the attending officer considers that there is sufficient corroborated evidence about the manner of driving to prove an offence.
3. An offence is apparent - i.e. the driver has been arrested for excess alcohol

Between January 1st 2019 to July 17th 2024, there were 340 recorded Road Traffic Collisions.

The below table breaks this down by collision severity

*To July 17^th