Dark roads 'could cause rise in claims'

Date: 15/10/2008 14:00

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Turning off streetlights could cause a rise in the number of car insurance claims, esure has warned.

According to the group, council plans to save money may jeopardise both personal safety and no-claims bonuses as drivers reveal potentially hazardous driving behaviour.

Research carried out by the firm indicated that as many as 54 per cent of motorists have forgotten to turn on their lights while driving at night, while more than one million have crashed, swerved or had a near miss as a result.

Commenting on the statistics, Mike Pickard, head of insurance and underwriting at esure, said that it was easy to forget to switch lights on.

However, he added: "Drivers must be extra vigilant during the winter and especially in areas where councils have turned off street lighting, to ensure they are driving with the correct lights at all times."

Dave Williamson, of Yorkshire council's street lighting department, told the BBC that the trial - to be enacted in East Riding - was being considered as a result of rising costs in electricity.

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