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CrashStats

A72 accidents: crash map and statistics

Police recorded 2,362 collisions on the A72 from 1979 to 2025, with 3,488 casualties. Of those crashes, 66 were fatal and 608 serious, and 69 people were killed.

In 2025 there were 11 collisions on the A72, down 39% from 18 in 2024, with 15 casualties.

Collisions since 1979
2,362
496th highest of 4,923 roads
Casualties
3,488
1.48 per collision
Fatal collisions
66
69 people killed
Serious collisions
608
782 seriously injured
Collisions in 2025
11
Down 39% on 2024
Casualties in 2025
15
Down 46% on 2024

Crash severity on the A72

On the A72, 2.8% of collisions were fatal and 26% serious, against 1.6% and 18% across Great Britain.

Collisions by severity, 1979 to 2025

  • Fatal662.8%
  • Serious60826%
  • Slight1,68871%

Where the A72 ranks among 4,923 roads

Most collisions
496th
Most casualties
453rd
Most fatal collisions
318th
Most serious collisions
329th

A72 accidents by year

Collisions on the A72 peaked at 86 in 1986 and were down to 11 in 2025.

Collisions and casualties on the A72, 1979 to 2025

  • Collisions
  • Collisions in 2025: 11
  • Casualties

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

View as a table
YearCollisionsCasualties
20251115
20241828
20231320
20222128
20211618
20201419
20192042
20183050
20173041
20163850
20153847
20142735
20133338
20124056
20114259
20104464
20093247
20083959
20075471
20066094
20056697
20045688
200371122
20027398
20016092
20004875
19995277
19986085
199763121
19966187
19955693
19944859
19936787
19926899
199180128
19907496
198972104
19886496
198771110
198686121
19856795
198468110
19835996
19826278
198171102
198066117
19795374

When crashes happen on the A72

Friday has the most collisions on the A72 (400), and 3pm to 6pm is the busiest time of day (548).

Collisions by day of the week

  • Monday296 (13%)
  • Tuesday307 (13%)
  • Wednesday314 (13%)
  • Thursday340 (14%)
  • Friday400 (17%)
  • Saturday390 (17%)
  • Sunday315 (13%)

Collisions by time of day

  • Midnight to 3am95 (4%)
  • 3am to 6am45 (1.9%)
  • 6am to 9am275 (12%)
  • 9am to noon340 (14%)
  • Noon to 3pm469 (20%)
  • 3pm to 6pm548 (23%)
  • 6pm to 9pm353 (15%)
  • 9pm to midnight237 (10%)

Collisions by month

  • January182 (7.7%)
  • February193 (8.2%)
  • March171 (7.2%)
  • April182 (7.7%)
  • May194 (8.2%)
  • June212 (9%)
  • July229 (9.7%)
  • August204 (8.6%)
  • September194 (8.2%)
  • October196 (8.3%)
  • November193 (8.2%)
  • December212 (9%)

Light conditions at the time

  • Daylight1,730 (73%)
  • Dark, no street lighting336 (14%)
  • Dark, street lights lit273 (12%)
  • Dark, street lights unlit17 (0.7%)
  • Dark, lighting unknown6 (0.3%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Road and weather conditions in A72 crashes

On the A72, 62% of collisions happened where the speed limit was 60 mph and 49% on a dry road surface.

Speed limit at the scene

  • 20 mph8 (0.3%)
  • 30 mph771 (33%)
  • 40 mph48 (2%)
  • 50 mph54 (2.3%)
  • 60 mph1,460 (62%)
  • 70 mph21 (0.9%)

Weather at the time

  • Fine, no high winds1,716 (73%)
  • Raining, no high winds397 (17%)
  • Raining with high winds70 (3%)
  • Snowing, no high winds47 (2%)
  • Other125 (5.3%)
  • Not recorded7 (0.3%)

Road surface

  • Dry1,168 (49%)
  • Wet or damp998 (42%)
  • Frost or ice125 (5.3%)
  • Snow56 (2.4%)
  • Flood over 3cm deep8 (0.3%)
  • Oil or diesel7 (0.3%)

Type of road

  • Single carriageway2,058 (87%)
  • Dual carriageway162 (6.9%)
  • One way street or slip road80 (3.4%)
  • Roundabout60 (2.5%)
  • Not recorded2 (0.1%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

People hurt and vehicles involved in A72 crashes

Car occupants make up 71% of the people killed or injured on the A72, followed by pedestrians (9.1%).

Casualties by road user

  • Car occupant2,470 (71%)
  • Pedestrian316 (9.1%)
  • Motorcyclist288 (8.3%)
  • Van occupant137 (3.9%)
  • Cyclist97 (2.8%)
  • Bus or coach occupant70 (2%)
  • Goods vehicle occupant (over 3.5 tonnes)46 (1.3%)
  • Other64 (1.8%)

Vehicles involved

  • Car2,966 (76%)
  • Motorcycle275 (7%)
  • Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes230 (5.9%)
  • Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes140 (3.6%)
  • Pedal cycle103 (2.6%)
  • Bus or coach90 (2.3%)
  • Other vehicle63 (1.6%)
  • Other39 (1%)

Casualties by age

  • 0 to 556 (1.6%)
  • 6 to 1090 (2.6%)
  • 11 to 15166 (4.8%)
  • 16 to 20630 (18%)
  • 21 to 25455 (13%)
  • 26 to 35632 (18%)
  • 36 to 45460 (13%)
  • 46 to 55410 (12%)
  • 56 to 65289 (8.3%)
  • 66 to 75181 (5.2%)
  • Over 75115 (3.3%)
  • Not recorded4 (0.1%)

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians

  • Driver or rider2,047 (59%)
  • Passenger1,125 (32%)
  • Pedestrian316 (9.1%)

Source: Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data

Map of recent crashes on the A72

Map of the 25 most recent crashes on the A72

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

  • 25 crashes
  • Serious
  • Slight

A72 crashes by council area

Collisions on the A72 were recorded in 4 council areas. Scottish Borders has the most, with 1,192, followed by South Lanarkshire (1,139) and North Lanarkshire (22).

Collisions on the A72 in each area, 1979 to 2025
RankAreaCollisionsCasualtiesFatalSerious
1stScottish Borders1,1921,73043327
2ndSouth Lanarkshire1,1391,71322272
3rdNorth Lanarkshire223416
4thCity of Edinburgh4500

A72 crashes by town

Collisions on the A72 were recorded in 7 towns and built-up areas, led by Hamilton (324) and Peebles (122).

Recent crashes on the A72

These are the 25 most recent collisions on the A72, from 12 March 2024 to 25 November 2025.

Severity