Where Cumbria Police recorded the most fatal collisions

The FOI, submitted to Cumbria Constabulary, reveals that police recorded 11 fatal road traffic collisions on the A66 between 2023 and 2025. Cumbria Police recorded a total of 44 fatal road traffic collisions on the county's roads during that period and 51 fatalities. The A66 saw the largest number of fatalities during that period but previous data releases have shown that the highest number of crashes in Cumbria is seen on the M6[1].

Drivers use the A66 to travel east to Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith[2] from Workington, and the route also connects Cumbria to Middlesborough and the north east. A police vehicle. (Image: Nq) Cumbria Constabulary's response to the FOI reveals that five people tragically died in four collisions on the A66 in 2023.

A further four fatal collisions were recorded in 2024, resulting in the death of four people. The A66 recorded the highest number of fatal crashes in 2025 with three. Four lives were lost in the three crashes recorded that year.

SUBSCRIBE TO SUPPORT TRUSTED LOCAL JOURNALISM[3] Fatal collisions have fluctuated on the A590 in south Cumbria between 2023 and 2025. The route saw one fatal collision in 2023, rising to two in 2024 before falling to zero in 2025.

While the figures are already relatively low in comparison to other areas, Cumbria Police and Cumbria Road Safety Partnership are making a concerted effort to reduce collisions in hotspot areas. Cumbria Police is participating in Vision Zero - a national ambition to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on the road network by 2030. Cumbria Road Safety Partnership is made up of police, councils and stakeholders like National Highways.

It targets areas with a high number of fatal and serious accidents[4], considering action that can be taken, such as temporary or permanent speed cameras and changes to the road layout. Newby Bridge is one of the areas that police and partners made changes, addressing the factors that cause a high number of collisions. The speed limit was reduced to 40 miles per hour on the road because collisions were occurring when drivers pulled out of a petrol station into the moving traffic.

Problem areas can also be targeted with an increased presence of Road Safety Camera Vans.

Police also utilise the Road Harms Index in efforts to reduce collisions as it identifies hotspot areas so that additional resources can be directed there.

References

1. ^ the highest number of crashes in Cumbria is seen on the M6 (www.newsandstar.co.uk)
2. ^ Penrith (www.newsandstar.co.uk)
3. ^ SUBSCRIBE TO SUPPORT TRUSTED LOCAL JOURNALISM (www.newsandstar.co.uk)
4. ^ areas with a high number of fatal and serious accidents (www.newsandstar.co.uk)