‘Bump-and-go’ drivers cost victims €90m a year
A national poll carried out by Autoglass revealed that 27% of drivers admit to accidentally damaging parked cars. More than one in 10 of those questioned didn’t tell the wronged driver what happened or offer recompense.
One in five incidents led to dented doors and scratched paintwork while scuffed bumpers and broken light are also common crimes. Autoglass estimate that each incident costs the average motorist €111 as they don’t tend to claim off insurance but cough up themselves instead. The Autoglass research shows that 60% of drivers who suffer such damage do not make an insurance claim.
It further suggests that buying a house with off-road parking really does pay up. One-in-five of “bump-and-go” incidents take place on residential streets and main roads. However, people aren’t any more thoughtful if they bump a colleague in the work car park.
One-in-10 of those questioned admit to scuffing cars in work car parks and not owning up. And are the bigger culprits men or women?
Men are allegedly responsible for 31% of such incidents and women 29%.
Autoglass general manager Rolfe Deppe said: “Whether it’s opening your door too wide and hitting the car parked next to you, or misjudging the distance between your own and another vehicle when parking, accidents do happen. And, according to our research, very frequently.
“It is astounding how many people admit to these guilty secrets, and how these small acts add up to a massive bill.”
