Oxford has been ranked as Britain’s most dangerous city for driving after dark, based on research by Ripe Classic Car Insurance.
The findings show that 61 per cent of Oxford’s winter road collisions happened in darkness, considerably above the 36.1 per cent recorded in fellow university city Cambridge.
The research was undertaken as part of the Winter Driving Index and considered collision rates, weather conditions and road surfaces.
Its purpose was to identify areas where seasonal changes are likely to create more difficult driving conditions.
The results were published after the clocks changed back, with the winter months also drawing closer.
Swansea placed second, with 56.4 per cent of winter collisions occurring in darkness.
The study also recorded high winter rainfall in the Welsh city, measuring 511mm and adding further difficulty to journeys affected by shorter daylight hours.
Wet road surfaces and reduced visibility were identified as seasonal hazards, especially for evening travel.
Glasgow occupied third place, reporting that 56.1 per cent of its winter road collisions happened after dark.
Salford, Brighton and Hove, Bradford, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Norwich were the remaining cities listed in the top ten.
Across those cities, the proportion of winter collisions occurring in darkness extended from 51.7 per cent in Norwich to 56.1 per cent in Salford.
The research indicates that greater caution is required during winter, particularly when driving in darkness.