With Christmas shopping comes car park chaos

With Christmas shopping comes car park chaos, says AA Insurance

As shopping season kicks into gear, AA Insurance asks motorists to drive carefully in car parks. The latest findings in the 2010 AA Insurance Drivers Index show that over 70 percent of drivers have had their car damaged while parked, and AA Insurance claims data reveals that most of these collisions happen during November in the lead-up to Christmas.

Some 4,336 drivers aged 18 to 65 were surveyed for the Index.

It seems New Zealander’s are increasingly unwilling to own up to causing damage, with 20 percent of respondents saying if they damaged a vehicle in a car park and no one saw them, they would consider not leaving their details (2009: 15 percent). In fact, 91 percent of those who had their car damaged while parked returned to find no contact details from the person responsible.

The biggest increases were seen by Wellington and Christchurch residents, with 21 percent of Wellington and 20 percent of Christchurch respondents saying they would consider not leaving their details on a car they damaged. This is up from 16 percent and 13 percent in 2009, respectively. Nearly 19 percent of Auckland residents also admitted they might not leave their details.

“This year we have received an average of 377 claims per month from customers whose cars were damaged while parked, and in most cases the person who caused the damage did not leave their details,” says Martin Fox, Deputy General Manager, AA Insurance. “There is a legal responsibility to own up if you damage someone else’s vehicle. Even a small ding can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.

“If we know who is responsible, we can contact them or their insurer to manage the claim,” says Martin. “If we don’t, we can’t. This means you’re more likely to have to pay your excess and it might also affect your no claims record.”

According to AA Insurance claims data for 2010, the average claim amount for cars damaged while parked is $1,481.

The most common place for car park collisions is the supermarket: in 33 percent of AA Insurance claims for cars damaged while parked (where the location was recorded) the incident occurred in a supermarket. Shopping centres are the second-most likely place for car park damage, with 18 percent of car park collisions occurring there.

“Car parks are notorious for accidents as space is tight and drivers can feel rushed or frustrated. If drivers make a conscious effort to not let holiday pressures get on top of them, Christmas shopping will be easier for everyone,” says Martin.

“We urge drivers to be courteous to others and keep their cool. And if your car is damaged and no one has left a note, report it to the car park security or mall security – they may have cameras which could have captured the incident. This will make it easier when making an insurance claim.”

Less risk in Christchurch Compared to the national average, your car is less likely to be damaged in a car park in Christchurch than in any other major New Zealand city for which AA Insurance recorded claim data[1]. Only 16 in every 1,000 Christchurch policyholders filed claims for car park damage in 2010, with Wellington following closely behind. Dunedin is on par with the national average of 21 in every 1,000. Elsewhere in the country parking is more hazardous: in Auckland, drivers are 10 percent more likely to be damaged while parked than the national average; and Waikato drivers are 52 percent more likely to suffer car park damage. But the most dangerous city to park in is Tauranga, where you are 247 percent more likely to have your car damaged.

The Index findings show that Wellington shoppers may be slightly more inclined to take someone else’s car park. Nearly 51 percent of Wellington respondents said they have had a car park stolen while they were clearly waiting for it compared with 48 percent in Auckland and 47 percent in Christchurch. Overall, nearly 49 percent of respondents have had another motorist take a park they were clearly waiting for.
New Zealanders feel strongly that people should not use disabled car parks without a permit (93 percent of survey respondents) nor parks reserved for parents with children (86 percent of survey respondents). However, 83 percent of respondents say they have seen other drivers use a disabled car park without a permit.

Tips to avoid car park collisions these holidays: Go the correct way around the car park – this will ensure the traffic continues to flow smoothly Play your part to keep the car park free of hazards by returning your shopping trolley Use indicators every time you make a turn – this is just as important in car parks When reversing into or out of a park, go slowly and don’t just rely on your mirrors – look over your shoulder too, including after you’ve put the car into gear Make sure you’re parked in the middle of the space and take care when opening your car doors If you are involved in a collision and hit another parked vehicle, do the right thing and leave a note with your details. If you witness a collision, pass on any information you have to the innocent party.

ENDS

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