According to recent figures it would seem that Britain could be well on the way to becoming a “bump and run” nation, with 70% of drivers saying they have had their cars damaged in such situations.
It would seem that the problem is that a great deal of people who admitted to being guilty of bump and run accidents simply didn’t care. With 20% of respondents saying they didn’t feel guilty about driving off.
Surprisingly, a great deal of respondents seemed more concerned about the prospect of being seen by other motorists, or caught on camera than any damage they had caused.
Also, it may be that those that are guilty of damaging someone else’s vehicle and then driving off are not aware that it is a crime, however, it is.
Another problem area is that half of respondents felt that the damage they caused was not sufficient enough to warrant an insurance claim.
It would seem that damage to paintwork was the most common result of bump and run scenarios. This is followed by damage to the bumper, and wing mirrors.
However, 11% of “bump and run” damages had to be claimed against insurance. And over half have yet to actually been repaired.
Not so surprisingly, the majority of bump and run accidents happen in supermarket car parks, and are often the result of bad parking.
With the run up too Christmas bringing tighter financial situations and hazardous roads it’s important that every motorist does their part to remain focused and in control of their vehicle at all times.
Liam is a UK author, currently focusing on car insurance. Compare cheap car insurance and motor insurance online today.
