Financially tough times now impacting on road traffic accidents

Published: 01/02/2013

Road traffic accidents could be on the increase after a survey by Post Office Insurance found nearly 30 per cent of drivers are delaying servicing their vehicles as a way to save money.

Cash strapped drivers in their 20s are the most likely to avoid a trip to the garage, nearly half of those surveyed admitting to missing essential checks while regionally drivers in the North West are the most culpable at 39 per cent.

The most common examples of this driver neglect are:

• Delaying cosmetic repairs
• Avoiding windscreen and tyre replacement
• Ignoring squeaking or rattling noises
• Disregarding dashboard messages or warning lights.

Paul Havenland is the Head of Insurance at the Post Office. He comments on what could transpire into a very costly risk:

“Ignoring a small problem which could be easily repaired will not make it disappear, and could result in the cost escalating with time.

“Failing to maintain your car could lead to it being deemed un-roadworthy. Even more importantly, it could make the car dangerous on the roads and put both the driver and others at risk.”

Vehicle defeats, including defective or under inflated tyres, accounted for over 2000 road traffic accidents in 2011, according to the Department of Transport’s Reported Road Casualties Annual Report, demonstrating the very real threat such procrastination could have.

Content correct at time of publication