Sharp drop in vehicle fires as security systems improve – AA

A sharp fall in the number of vehicle fires has been attributed to improvements in security systems and plug-in technology for electrical devices.

The AA said its analysis of new Home Office figures shows the annual average number of vehicle blazes in England during the last two financial years was 18,906.

That is down 13.6% from 21,878 between 2015/16 and 2019/20.

Three out of five (60%) blazes started unintentionally in 2023/24, compared with 52% in 2019/20.

AA spokesman for road incidents and hazards Tony Rich said: “It is hard to put a finger on a specific reason for the decline in car fires.

“However, a lower percentage of deliberate fires is a big indicator, perhaps due to improved security systems now appearing in older cars.

“That could mean older cars are less likely to be stolen and then torched.

“Fewer people smoking may be a factor.

“A less obvious one though is the impact of more modern, much simpler and safer plug-in technology for adding electrical items to a car, such as in-car entertainment, dashcams, mobile phones and satnavs.

“AA patrols, who are used to trying to trace the cause of an electrical fault in a broken down older vehicle, recognise the danger when they find botched wiring that is one spark away from a short circuit and then a fire.

“Thankfully, it is less common than it used to be.”

Mr Rich added that an increase in the average annual number of vehicle fire fatalities from 23.0 between 2015/16 and 2019/20 to 28.5 in the last two financial years was “a major worry”.

The potential impact of vehicle fires was demonstrated at Luton airport, Bedfordshire on October 10 last year when a huge blaze destroyed a car park.

An investigation found the probable cause was an electrical fault or component failure in a moving diesel car.