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Business costs go up as accident rate rises

Drivers are 17% more likely to have a motor accident after the clocks go back.

Small businesses could face increased costs for car repairs and insurance excess as daylight disappears earlier.

Last year Zurich Insurance policyholders claimed for 12,400 accidents in the four weeks leading up to the end of British Summer Time.

In the four weeks after, the figure rose by 17.1 per cent with 14,560 accident claims.

Andy Price, practice leader for motor fleet at Zurich Risk Services, said:

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30 November 1999

Drivers are 17% more likely to have a motor accident
after the clocks go back.

Small businesses could face increased costs for car repairs and insurance excess as daylight disappears earlier.

Last year Zurich Insurance policyholders claimed for 12,400 accidents in the four weeks leading up to the end of British Summer Time.

In the four weeks after, the figure rose by 17.1 per cent with 14,560 accident claims.

Andy Price, practice leader for motor fleet at Zurich Risk Services, said: “Motorists have been used to driving in daylight. Now they must adapt to night-time driving as the evenings turn darker.”

The Royal Society for the Provention of Accidents (RoSPA) confirmed the increased risk. It said that deaths and serious injuries among pedestrians rose from 609 in October to 738 in November last year.

RoSPA wants the UK clocks to stay one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time in the winter and two hours ahead in the summer.

RoSPA says this would lead to 450 fewer deaths and serious injuries.

17% increase in driver accidents as clocks turn back

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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