AA: Claims rate spikes on Monday blizzards
The AA has reported a massive jump in the number of accident claims made throughout Monday as a result of drivers attempting to navigate their way to work through heavy snow fall.
With the last ten years all being relatively mild, there is the added concern that, for many of the UK's drivers, this year's snowfall will be the first severe winter conditions they have faced.
A significant rise in the number of accidents among car fleets could lead to added costs quickly mounting this winter, as most car fleet managers will already be under pressure to keep outgoings down.
Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance says: "By 10.00 [Monday morning, February 2nd], the call centre had received 30 per cent more claims than usual for a winter Monday making it our busiest start to a day this year and as the snow swept westwards, the rate of calls had increased to about 50 per cent above normal by mid-afternoon."
Car fleet managers are under increasing pressure to raise investment in green cars in order to benefit from tax breaks, and so added accident charges will be most unwelcome at present.
"Many drivers are completely unused to driving in snow and ice and inevitably the claims are blowing in with the same force as the blizzards," Mr Douglas added.
