Road collisions in Ealing fell in the week after the clocks went forward, bucking a national trend that saw crashes rise across much of the UK, new research suggests, as the annual switch to British Summer Time takes place on Sunday (29 March 2026).
A study by vehicle parts marketplace Ovoko found collisions in the borough dropped by 14%, from 76 to 65, in the week after BST began. The fall placed Ealing among the safest areas in the country following the clock change, contrasting with a national average increase of 6%.
The analysis examined Department for Transport collision data between January 2020 and December 2025, comparing the number of crashes in the week before and after the start of BST.
Kazimieras Urbonas, supplier excellence manager at Ovoko, said: “Ealing’s drop in collisions after the clocks go forward is interesting because it shows the effect isn’t uniform everywhere.
“That could reflect a mix of factors, such as local road layouts, traffic speeds, lighting conditions or commuting patterns. In dense urban areas like Ealing, where average speeds are typically lower and streets are well lit, the disruption caused by the clock change may have less impact on driving behaviour.”
Elsewhere, Newcastle upon Tyne recorded the largest increase, with collisions rising by 85% in the week after BST began.
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