Direct Line Reports On Dangers Of Driving In The Dark
As the clocks turn back an hour this weekend, it is crucial that UK motorists take extra precautions while out on the road, it has been reported.
Direct Line reports that as the nation prepares to enter daylight saving time, from next week onwards motorists are likely to find that their journey home from work will see them taking to the streets in the dark. As such, the financial services firm reports that they are at greater risk of having an accident. It states that consumers may find that they are more likely to veer out of the lane they are occupying and struggle to see other vehicles that are on the road. Furthermore, it was suggested that drivers are more liable to have difficulties judging braking distances correctly. Winter weather was also reported as having a potential impact on the likelihood that drivers will have an accident over the coming months.
Indeed, those consumers who have a motoring mishap this winter could find that they have to dip into money from their own pockets and purses in order to meet the cost of repairing – or even replacing – their vehicle. This, in turn, could have an impact upon their ability to manage other areas of financial constraint such as home loans, credit and store cards, utility bills and mortgage payments.
Direct Line also went on to shed light on the fact that in addition to the days staying dark for longer, consumers may be at increased risked of having an accident due to councils turning off streetlamps. It was reported that a number of local authorities across the country – including those in Hampshire, Essex and Buckinghamshire – have recently done this in a bid to cut down on energy expenditure.
However, the firm states: “While these cost cutting measures may help the local authorities bottom line, the costs to society of increased accident rates should not be forgotten.” In addition, it claimed that each serious accident on British roads causes some 140,000 pounds in damages.
Maggie Game, head of car insurance for Direct Line, said: “Motorists should take extra care this week as we adjust to the hazards of driving in the dark. We see a sharp increase in the number of claims from customers in the week after the clocks go back and encourage people to take a cautious approach to the different conditions. Darker conditions result in slower reaction times, greater braking distances and poor depth perception. Driving is one of the most dangerous things we do and all of these risk factors make driving in the dark even riskier.”
Whether it is following an accident on the road or simply looking for a new model to drive, those looking to buy a new car might want to consider applying for a car loan. By taking out this sort of loan, borrowers may be able to meet the cost of getting their dream vehicle quickly, leaving them with an affordable rate of repayment to make. The loan could also help to manage motoring costs such as insurance after moneysupermarket recently reported that more than a quarter of army officers claim to have broken the speed limit over the past five years, an offence – the price comparison site reports – could see their premiums increase.
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