Over 3 Million Motorists Have Had Winter Accidents, Says Tyres Company
By Oliver Hall
More than three million motorists have been involved in accidents during the UK’s Big Winter Freeze, according to a survey by Continental tyres.
The German tyres manufacturer discovered that one-in-ten motorists have already pranged, scraped or crashed their cars as Britain shudders through the coldest temperatures in 30 years.
While the average bill for the damage was £320, the researchers found one-in-three people failed to leave their details after hitting another motor.
However, some of these drivers were traced by the footprints they left in the snow as they ran away from the scene.
A study of 1,000 drivers also found that 30 percent of motorists admit hitting the road without being able to see out of their windscreen properly .
Tim Bailey of Continental Tyres, which carried out the poll, said: “This is a shocking amount of accidents in a two week period and shows how many people are unprepared for driving in these conditions.
“We are not even necessarily past the worst yet, as further snow and ice could yet arrive, bringing yet more hazardous driving conditions.
“The stress of driving in bad weather conditions can lead people to make mistakes, such as driving too closely to the vehicle in front.
Tim Bailey also reiterated Continental’s advice to motorists about fitting winter tyres. He said: “When the temperature drops below 7°C, cold weather tyres which have tread patterns and compounds designed for wintry roads are certainly worth considering.
“They improve stopping distances in icy, wet and any snowy conditions we might experience in the coming months. Again, it’s all about being prepared so that you are safe in all eventualities this winter.”
Number: Z8037079
Reg: NKF419
