The number of crashes on Britain’s roads involving foreign drivers rose for the fifth straight year in 2006, according to figures published by the Motor Insurers Bureau.It’s claimed that the rise is due to increased numbers of European drivers moving to the UK (270,000 in the last six years). One in seven HGV drivers on the UK’s roads is registered in another EU country. The MIB statistics show the number of accidents is rising in parallel to the rising number of vehicles on the roads.Polish drivers came out worst, accounting for 16.6 per cent of all the claims between 2001 and 2006, but the largest increase in claims is for drivers from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
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Re: Crashes involving foreign drivers rise
That may have been a bit snippy of me and if so then I apologise but I thought it was obvious I was referring to the original post.
I don't think this is a scare story at all - Autocar were just posting an article that they will have been given.
As JR says - if they have adequate insurance and IF and this is a BIG IF the insurers can actually be bothered to chase up the foreign insurers and driver involved. Quite often I suspect they don't and this is where the costs come in.
Quite often these days they will try and get you "knock for knock" even in the most simple of liability claims because it is easy for them.
The actual effects of foreign lorries on the motorway changing lanes into a car has been filmed on Fifth Gear with scary results.
Re: Crashes involving foreign drivers rise
Well, yes, but only if the foreigner at fault has adequate insurance. If he / she does not then the MIB picks up the tab. Anyone who pays for motor insurance pays for the MIB and its fund.
Re: Crashes involving foreign drivers rise
SpecB - No don't spell it out, I've asked for the figures not a spelling contest!
Until I can see the stats' I'll take this scare story with a big pinch of salt as I would advise anyone to do.
My point about insurers is yes you might notify your insurers but it's the foreign insurers that pay the bill if as this insurance story suggests what it does, that it's the foreign drivers fault. Which is why I'm questioning the UK insurers motives for the story. All the costs are covered by foreigners (insurers only give a fig about their bottom line - this doesn't effect their bottom line).