Rusty drivers could cause insurance to rise, suggests survey

Wed, 29 Mar 2006

Rusty drivers returning to the roads and then being involved in an accident could adversely affect car insurance prices.

Almost a third of drivers have taken a long break from driving and then have got back behind the wheel of a car only to have an accident, reveals a survey by insurance company Zurich.

The insurance company's survey suggests that rusty drivers are responsible for an estimated 334,000 road accidents in the last year, with each accident costing drivers approximately £652 in repairs as well potentially hiking up their car insurance payments.

Nearly two-thirds of current UK driving licence holders questioned in the insurance company's survey said that they would like to see out-of-practice motorists retake their driving test before hitting road again.

Almost nine out of ten said that refresher driving lessons should be compulsory for those who've not driven for over a year. These measures could help rusty drivers avoid risking their lives in accidents as well as keep their insurance premiums as low as possible.

Maria Wyatt from the insurance company said Zurich was in support of measures that could make roads safer, as well as save drivers' money.

"One suggestion is to incorporate a refresher test in to the Road Safety Bill," she said.

"This could positively address and change the issue of the dangers posed by lapsed drivers," she added.


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