Influx of foreign drivers is blamed for increase in insurance claims
Page 9

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A REPORT INTO the impact of foreign drivers on UK roads estimates that accidents, congestion and insurance claims by goods vehicles and cars will cost the economy /795m this year.
The research, by car insurer LV=, reveals that LGV traffic from the European Union (Eli) has risen by a third in the last six years. It says one in seven LGVs on the roads is now from abroad, resulting in a huge rise in insurance claims due to an increasing number of accidents.
LV= says the cost to the insurance industry alone has almost doubled in the past five years to £36m — this could begin to affect insurance premiums. And in light of the increase in cross-border traffic, LV= is calling on the government to introduce more stringent driving standards.
The report says the Republic of Ireland tops the list of foreign EU drivers in the UK, with 25% of the total. Germany comes second and Poland third. But Poland tops the accident table with 16.6% of all claims made against its drivers. Germany is second and the Netherlands third.
John O'Roarke, managing director of LV= general insurance, says! "One of the particular problems the insurance industry and motorists suffer is the inability to resolve a claim quickly when it involves a vehicle from outside the UK."