Car Insurance News from Be Wiser

Drivers Told 'Beware Sideswiping'

Motorists have been warned about the dangers of sideswiping on the road. This is where motorists in left-hand foreign lorries switching lanes are failing to see motorists behind them as their blind spot is on the other side.

There are more than 1000 incidents of sideswiping on the country’s roads every year many of which result in serious injury or death.

With 14,000 vehicles from abroad operating on the road every day, the Freight Transport Association pointed out that one in seven of the roads heaviest vehicles is a left-hand drive and prone to the problem.

The Association has been concerned at the operating standards of many foreign lorries and UK enforcement agencies have found increasing numbers carrying roadworthiness faults, being overloaded and with drivers exceeding their allowable hours at the wheel.

This could mean that drivers close to such vehicles could compromise their car insurance policy should something like this happen to them.

"Car drivers should always take care to allow plenty of space when in the vicinity of heavy lorries and to be alert to their special needs, particularly at junctions and roundabouts," said the director of external affairs for the firm.

“In general, lorries have a good safety record and are involved in far fewer accidents than cars on a mile for mile basis. However, the handling characteristics and the speeds of acceleration and braking are, of course, different from cars.”

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