Road safety tests call for UK drivers as cost of car insurance claims soars

Car insurance claims are continuing to soar because UK drivers demonstrate a poor – and dangerous - level of basic road safety knowledge, adding almost £200 on to every policy.

Shocking levels of understanding are now being demonstrated by motorists, according to a 2008 survey that highlights the Highway Code being ignored or forgotten.

The finding comes as a result of research examining reasons why two out of three accidents are caused through errors by so-called experienced drivers. The study showed:

• A third of UK drivers – more than 13 million – are unaware of the national speed limit, yet breaking the speed limit causes 7,250-plus accidents with 14 per cent proving to be fatal


• Sudden braking causes 10,354 smashes (three per cent fatal) while 12 per cent of drivers - 4.8m – cannot determine the stopping distance at 70mph


• Fourteen per cent – 5.6m – do not know how fast to drive in street-lit areas without speed limit signs, when travelling too fast for conditions causes more than 16k accidents (18 per cent fatal)


• Some 40 per cent of drivers think an amber traffic light on its own means ‘get ready to go'


• Eight out of ten motorists fail to recognise the octagonal-shape of a stop sign when disobeying Give Way or Stop signs leads to 5.5k accidents (two per cent fatal)

Any injury or accident from a vehicle crash adds an extra £193 to individual drivers' premiums, cancelling out the equivalent of two years' no claims bonus.

Individual claims on motor insurance for accidents are made by one in six drivers and can cost almost £2,000, which is a steady rise of almost £90 a year since 2001.

uSwitch carried out the survey and experts at the firm are advising the government to consider check drivers on Highway Code theory, especially since 30 million have never been tested.

View full results of study.

uSwitch's Ashton Berkhauer said, "Although the total number of road accidents is falling by about five per cent each year, it's worrying that many of the accidents can be directly linked to gaps in driver knowledge.

"It seems that some motorists forget the rules of the road as quickly as they tear up their L-plates."

He urged ministers to consider driving theory testing because such an initiative could lead to safer roads with fewer accidents and lower car insurance premiums, perhaps helping consumers to save cash.

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