Is Your Car An Accident Waiting To Happen?

Introduced in 2009, the Governments Car Scrappage Scheme was designed to revive the

flagging motor industry by offering drivers 2,000 towards the cost of a new vehicle if they voluntarily scrap their old one. Among the conditions required to become eligible for the scheme, drivers were told that their car must have been first registered in the UK on or before 29th February 2000. The scheme is reported to have had a profound effect on the car industry, prompting car production to soar by 64.8% over the last year. With 101,190 cars being made in January alone, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has said that this is the biggest increase since 1976.

Whilst this is good news for the car industry, there is another side to the equation. A report by breakdown service Britannia Rescue has revealed that around 5 million British motorists are breaking the law by driving faulty or unsafe vehicles. The report also suggests that these figures may have been bolstered by a large number of motorists keeping their older cars for longer than usual in an attempt to qualify for the benefits of the Governments scrappage scheme. There are currently an estimated 33.8 million drivers in the UK. The figures revealed by this report suggest that 16% of this number are knowingly breaking the law by driving unsafe vehicles.

The report identified the most common repair faults including worn tyres (12%), defective brakes (9%) and faulty exhaust pipes (6%). It also revealed that one in 20 cars has broken, faulty or missing wing mirrors and a comparable number have broken head or tail lights. In response to these revelations, Simon Stevens, the general manager of Britannia Rescue said, Its concerning that so many motorists drive dangerous vehicles in need of repair. Some repairs may appear to be minor but they could still turn a car into a death-trap.

The Hidden Cost Of Faulty Cars.

In addition to risking their lives on the roads, many of these motorists seem unaware that their cars defects could have an adverse effect in the unfortunate event that they have to make an insurance claim as the result of an accident. If a car is deemed to have a fault that could or should have been repaired, an insurance claim made by the driver can be discounted, leaving the motorist to cover the cost of repairs to his own vehicle and any costs to the other drivers vehicle. In addition, there is the question of damages if the other person is injured or even killed. Without valid insurance, a motorist found to be at fault could find themselves looking at bankruptcy or a jail sentence.

While the Governments Car Scrappage Scheme may have been a great idea for the car industry and the nations economy, it has also served to increase the number of dangerous cars on the road. To avoid injury and incurring unnecessary expenses, British motorists are advised to get any minor repairs seen to as soon as possible before they can pose a bigger risk, not just to their lives, but to their insurance validity as well.

by: Nick Jervis

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