REVEALED: The most dangerous day to drive in Bolton

Of the 474 incidents in Bolton in 2017, six were fatal, 73 were categorised as serious, while the other 395 were described as slight.

Data from the Department for Transport also shows Friday was the day of the week with the highest number of accidents – with 85 happening on that day alone.

Perhaps surprisingly, the most incidents happened in daylight, with fine weather and dry roads.

Most of the accidents were also recorded on single carriageway roads, with a speed limit of 30mph, rather than motorways or notorious dual carriageways such as St Peter’s Way.

More unsurprisingly, police data gathered between January 2016 and June 2018 suggests the most dangerous time to drive is between 4pm and 5pm – with 94 accidents taking place in that hour.

READ MORE: Heat maps highlight more accident hotspots around Bolton

In the whole of Greater Manchester, 4,069 accidents were recorded in 2017 - 50 fatal, 687 serious, and 3332 slight.

Along with the Bolton and Greater Manchester figures, the number of deaths or serious injuries caused by unlawful driving has soared nationally over the last fifteen years.

Government statistics show that in the period 2002 to 2003 police recorded 469 incidents of death or serious injury caused by unlawful driving.

Whereas the latest figures available, from 2017-2018, reveal that there were 723 offences – a dramatic 54 per cent increase.

READ MORE: The top five car crash hotspots in Bolton

Chief Insp Gareth Parkin of Greater Manchester Police’s road policing unit said: “We are appealing to members of the public to take their time when they are driving and to take into consideration the fact that the vehicle they are driving could potentially kill or seriously injure someone.

“If you are planning a journey, give yourself plenty of time. Many accidents occur when people are rushing to and from work.

My advice is – be late. It’s not an offence to be late. We would rather that than you killing yourself or someone else.”