Focus crash

Heading out onto the roads today? You better buckle up and take care.

Why? Because today is the most dangerous day to drive this year!

Dubbed "Danger Day", the news comes from The Co-operative Insurance who says crashes and smashes are twice as likely to occur on December 17 than any other day of the year.

Drive a Ford Focus? You're the most likely to crash today, followed by Vauxhall Astra and Corsa drivers.

In fact, today is just the start of a long period of likely prangs and incidents. Between now and Christmas Eve, the likelihood of an accident rises by 53 per cent, judging by previous years.

The Co-operative's head of insurance, Grant Mitchell, said: "Our data shows that people are more likely to be involved in a car accident in the run up to Christmas than any other time of the year.

"We believe this is down to a combination of the "pre-Christmas rush" when everyone is going to the supermarket or to buy last minute gifts along with the fact that people also feel tired and sluggish from the Christmas party season, which makes it harder to concentrate on the road.

"Of course, when these factors are combined with busy roads, bad weather and the fact that the days are at their shortest, accidents can and do happen."

Crash central today will be Glasgow, followed by Birmingham.