Don’t put a ding in your wallet

State Insurance is urging drivers to be alert when reversing with data showing that in the last five years to December 2015 more than one fifth (22 per cent) of collisions claims in New Zealand occurred when drivers were reversing, with an average cost of more than $1000.

The insurer also found that, where the location of the collision was identified, more than half occurred in places where space was confined together with other hazards, such as driveways and garages (26 per cent), car parks (21 per cent) and shopping centres (10 per cent).

State’s General Manager Claims Ruth Colenso said drivers should take extra care when reversing to avoid a costly ding.

“We encourage drivers to pause, check all three mirrors and look over their shoulder as a final step before reversing to help avoid collisions.

“We’re also pleased to see more and more cars with reversing cameras and sensors which aid the driver’s visibility.

However Ms Colenso added that while new technology could be helpful for drivers, it also meant repair costs could be higher.

“Newer cars with more on-board technology can be more costly to repair, even after a low-speed collision, as the high-cost technology such as sensors and cameras in bumpers can require specialist repair methodologies and materials,” she said.

Research from IAG, which owns State Insurance, also revealed that being involved in a car accident is the number one setback New Zealanders worry about, and almost one in ten (nine per cent) have had a near miss when walking or running past someone who was reversing*.

“We want to remind all drivers to check their blind spots when reversing to avoid a collision, and when reversing along a driveway to make sure before you get into your car that the way is clear as small objects and even children can be difficult to see once you’re inside the car,” Ms Colenso said.

“Also, as the reversing cameras and sensor technology takes a few seconds to activate, drivers should pause a few seconds after startup before driving off.”

* Based on an online survey of a representative sample of the national population aged 15 plus, conducted from 29 October to 4 November 2015 by Nielsen. The survey had a sample size of 702 with a predicted maximum margin of error of ±3.7%. The results were weighted by age, gender and region to be representative of the online population.

ends

© Scoop Media