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Advice On Wintery Weather Road Conditions Being Ignored By Carefree Motorists

A recent study has suggested that drivers are not paying attention to the risks on the roads because of the wintery weather conditions and how they could affect other road users.

Some insurance companies say they have recorded an increase of up to 45 per cent in the level of claims they have received compared to previous periods of snowfall, leading them to issue a warning to drivers that they are not out of the woods yet and ‘shouldn’t become complacent’ just because Spring is round the corner.

One car insurance expert warned, “Motorists have a typically stoic approach to driving in wintry conditions, and if they start to become complacent and think the worst weather is behind them, they could increase their chances of having an accident in the coming days and weeks. Drivers should continue to take basic steps to ensure their own safety and that of other road users, especially while wintry conditions persist. They should also be alert to the risks of leaving their engines running whilst unattended.  If their car was stolen with the keys in the ignition they would most likely not be covered by their insurance policy.”

With colder weather set to further effect areas across the country motorists are being urged to pay more attention to the weather forecasts and drive in a suitable style to fit the road conditions.

The research discovered that one third of drivers took a chance by failing to check the weather forecast before they set off on a journey. More than a quarter of drivers also admitted to setting off without clearing the windscreen completely of frost or mist.

Another worrying statistic revealed that many motorists left their car running unattended while they waited for it to defrost.

The study suggests that many drivers who ignored the advice not to drive on the roads when weather conditions were poor may have learnt a lesson, with 800,000 drivers claiming to have been involved in a road accident after driving against the advice not to drive unless absolutely necessary.

This supports the warning from insurance experts that taking a carefree approach to winter driving conditions can put motorists, pedestrians and other road users at a higher risk of being involved in an incident.

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