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CrashStats

A581 accidents: crash map and statistics

Police recorded 1,000 collisions on the A581 from 1979 to 2025, with 1,445 casualties. Of those crashes, 19 were fatal and 186 serious, and 21 people were killed.

In 2025 there were 8 collisions on the A581, down 20% from 10 in 2024, with 9 casualties.

Collisions since 1979
1,000
1,093rd highest of 4,923 roads
Casualties
1,445
1.45 per collision
Fatal collisions
19
21 people killed
Serious collisions
186
219 seriously injured
Collisions in 2025
8
Down 20% on 2024
Casualties in 2025
9
Down 10% on 2024

Crash severity on the A581

On the A581, 1.9% of collisions were fatal and 19% serious, against 1.6% and 18% across Great Britain.

Collisions by severity, 1979 to 2025

  • Fatal191.9%
  • Serious18619%
  • Slight79580%

Where the A581 ranks among 4,923 roads

Most collisions
1,093rd
Most casualties
1,025th
Most fatal collisions
1,031st
Most serious collisions
1,130th

A581 accidents by year

Collisions on the A581 peaked at 40 in 1991 and were down to 8 in 2025.

Collisions and casualties on the A581, 1979 to 2025

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 2025: 8
  • Casualties

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

View as a table
YearCollisionsCasualties
202589
20241010
2023811
20221318
20211619
2020712
20191118
20181216
20171518
20161115
20151931
20141723
20132333
20121116
20112633
20101519
20091926
20082341
20072746
20062336
20053047
20042532
20032955
20022134
20013250
20002127
19992233
19982330
19973455
19962738
19952837
19942944
19932637
19923658
19914054
19902734
19892836
19881726
19871724
19862944
19852229
19842632
19832133
19822029
19811927
19801926
19791824

When crashes happen on the A581

Sunday has the most collisions on the A581 (157), and 3pm to 6pm is the busiest time of day (260).

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday136 (14%)
  • Tuesday152 (15%)
  • Wednesday124 (12%)
  • Thursday153 (15%)
  • Friday148 (15%)
  • Saturday130 (13%)
  • Sunday157 (16%)

Collisions by time of day

  • Midnight to 3am32 (3.2%)
  • 3am to 6am9 (0.9%)
  • 6am to 9am144 (14%)
  • 9am to noon143 (14%)
  • Noon to 3pm179 (18%)
  • 3pm to 6pm260 (26%)
  • 6pm to 9pm151 (15%)
  • 9pm to midnight82 (8.2%)

Collisions by month

  • January92 (9.2%)
  • February76 (7.6%)
  • March77 (7.7%)
  • April71 (7.1%)
  • May79 (7.9%)
  • June93 (9.3%)
  • July107 (11%)
  • August63 (6.3%)
  • September76 (7.6%)
  • October89 (8.9%)
  • November92 (9.2%)
  • December85 (8.5%)

Light conditions at the time

  • Daylight743 (74%)
  • Dark, street lights lit203 (20%)
  • Dark, no street lighting47 (4.7%)
  • Dark, lighting unknown5 (0.5%)
  • Dark, street lights unlit2 (0.2%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Road and weather conditions in A581 crashes

On the A581, 43% of collisions happened where the speed limit was 30 mph and 58% on a dry road surface.

Speed limit at the scene

  • 20 mph2 (0.2%)
  • 30 mph427 (43%)
  • 40 mph254 (25%)
  • 50 mph24 (2.4%)
  • 60 mph290 (29%)
  • 70 mph2 (0.2%)
  • Not recorded1 (0.1%)

Weather at the time

  • Fine, no high winds754 (75%)
  • Raining, no high winds185 (19%)
  • Fine with high winds16 (1.6%)
  • Raining with high winds16 (1.6%)
  • Other21 (2.1%)
  • Not recorded8 (0.8%)

Road surface

  • Dry579 (58%)
  • Wet or damp387 (39%)
  • Frost or ice29 (2.9%)
  • Snow5 (0.5%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway908 (91%)
  • Roundabout55 (5.5%)
  • Dual carriageway26 (2.6%)
  • One way street or slip road9 (0.9%)
  • Not recorded2 (0.2%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

People hurt and vehicles involved in A581 crashes

Car occupants make up 64% of the people killed or injured on the A581, followed by motorcyclists (14%).

Casualties by road user

  • Car occupant922 (64%)
  • Motorcyclist205 (14%)
  • Cyclist116 (8%)
  • Pedestrian115 (8%)
  • Van occupant50 (3.5%)
  • Bus or coach occupant12 (0.8%)
  • Goods vehicle occupant (over 3.5 tonnes)12 (0.8%)
  • Other13 (0.9%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car1,276 (71%)
  • Motorcycle195 (11%)
  • Pedal cycle123 (6.8%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes108 (6%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes38 (2.1%)
  • Bus or coach25 (1.4%)
  • Other36 (2%)
  • Not recorded1 (0.1%)

Casualties by age

  • 0 to 518 (1.2%)
  • 6 to 1040 (2.8%)
  • 11 to 15101 (7%)
  • 16 to 20299 (21%)
  • 21 to 25177 (12%)
  • 26 to 35241 (17%)
  • 36 to 45202 (14%)
  • 46 to 55159 (11%)
  • 56 to 65117 (8.1%)
  • 66 to 7553 (3.7%)
  • Over 7532 (2.2%)
  • Not recorded6 (0.4%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider942 (65%)
  • Passenger388 (27%)
  • Pedestrian115 (8%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Map of recent crashes on the A581

Map of the 25 most recent crashes on the A581

Use the arrow keys to move the map and the plus and minus keys to zoom.

  • 25 crashes
  • Fatal
  • Serious
  • Slight

A581 crashes by council area

Collisions on the A581 were recorded in 3 council areas. Chorley has the most, with 940, followed by West Lancashire (53) and South Ribble (4).

Collisions on the A581 in each area, 1979 to 2025
RankAreaCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stChorley9401,35917171
2ndWest Lancashire5379212
3rdSouth Ribble4402

A581 crashes by town

Collisions on the A581 were recorded in 3 towns and built-up areas, led by Chorley (253) and Buckshaw Village and Euxton (115).

Recent crashes on the A581

These are the 25 most recent collisions on the A581, from 15 March 2023 to 4 December 2025.

Severity