Croydon ranked UK's most stressful place to drive

Croydon has been ranked as the most stressful place to drive in the UK, according to a study by MoneySuperMarket. The borough received a drivability score of 22 out of 100, placing it at the bottom of a ranking that assessed 58 UK cities, boroughs, and local authorities.

Factors contributing to low score

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The research considered factors such as road incidents, traffic levels, and vehicle crime concerns. Findings indicated that Croydon has 248 one-way roads. In 2024 alone, more than 3,700 road incidents were recorded within the borough. These figures contributed to its lowest drivability score in the study.

Driving offences have also shown an upward trend. Between 2023 and 2025, the average number of driving offences increased by 25 per cent. Over the same period, penalty points rose by 18.5 per cent. These statistics further impacted Croydon's position in the drivability assessment.

Comparison with other locations

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Croydon's score of 22 was lower than other challenging locations identified in the study. Derby was the second most stressful place to drive, with a score of 24. Manchester and Leeds followed with scores of 25, and Preston completed the top five most challenging locations with 28. Birmingham, Blackpool, Bradford, Wakefield, and Oldham were also among the top 10 most difficult places to drive.

In contrast, Bath was named the easiest place to drive, achieving a score of 68 out of 100. Bath recorded just 357 road incidents in 2024, and vehicle traffic had fallen by 0.9 per cent over the previous decade.

Driver experiences and stress factors

A survey of 2,000 UK motorists, conducted as part of the report, revealed that many drivers actively avoid journeys they anticipate will be stressful. 81 per cent of respondents stated they had chosen not to drive to a location due to expected difficulty. The primary source of frustration for drivers was other motorists, with 65 per cent citing impatient or aggressive driving behaviour, such as tailgating and honking, as stressful. Bad weather was also a significant factor for 64.8 per cent of drivers, while driving in unfamiliar areas caused stress for 59.6 per cent. Heavy traffic and congestion were mentioned by 59.1 per cent, and parking difficulties in busy areas affected 56.9 per cent.

Alicia Hempsted, a car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, commented on the findings. She stated that the research highlights the stress and uncertainty driving can cause, particularly in areas with more recorded incidents, higher rates of car crime, heavier traffic, or less familiar roads. She expressed hope that the report would provide drivers with a clearer understanding of what to expect before setting off on journeys.