Rusty drivers bring danger to the roads

Forget Sunday drivers, it's out-of-practice motorists that are causing havoc on Britain's roads.

According to new research from car insurer Zurich nearly a third (32 per cent) of motorists have taken an extended break from driving and returned to the roads resulting in an estimated 335,000 road accidents.

And with each accident adding up to on average £652 in repairs, it's costing British drivers dear.

Women suffer the most from a break behind the wheel - 44 per cent of women who hadn't driven for a while said it made them less confident compared to 19 per cent of men. Rusty parking skills were a problem for 15 per cent of people and almost a third (27 per cent) said that it made them more hesitant.

In a bid to reduce the hazard these drivers represent, nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of UK driving licence holders would welcome changes to the law to force out-of-practice motorists to retake their driving test before getting back behind the wheel. Nearly nine in ten (87 per cent) think that refresher driving lessons should be compulsory for those who haven't driven for a year or more.

The desire for tighter controls stems from concerns about drivers who have lost familiarity with their foot pedals. Almost one in two (46 per cent) Britons believe that lapsed drivers would be worse at driving in heavy traffic, with a quarter (24 per cent) predicting problems with motorway driving, and 41 per cent estimating that the Highway Code would be a distant memory.

Maria Wyatt, spokesperson for Zurich's Personal Insurance business, says: "This research indicates that accidents caused by drivers that have had long breaks from the road are costing a huge sum in repairs and are consequently pushing up premiums. It also seems that the British public would like to see a new law enforced - one that re-tests motorists whose driving skills may have deteriorated due to their absence from the roads, as they are not only costing drivers money, but also potentially posing a significant danger to themselves and others.

"We're supportive of measures that result in making our roads a safer place, and one suggestion is to incorporate a refresher test in to the Road Safety Bill. This could positively address and change the issue of the dangers posed by lapsed drivers."