ABERDEENSHIRE is home to some of the most dangerous roads in the UK, according to a new research report.

The parliamentary constituencies with the highest rates for serious and fatal casualties were Banff and Buchan, with a rate 2.1 times the UK average, followed by West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (1.8) and then Gordon (1.7).

The biggest factor in crashes was the driver’s behaviour — including speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone — followed by the safety quality of the road network.

The findings were published by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) and Direct Line Car Insurance.

Researchers looked at casualty numbers between 2008 and 2013, taking account of population.

For more information, see http://www.pacts.org.uk/dashboard/