Drivers need to MOT themselves

As the clocks go back this weekend (October 29th) heralding darker evenings and poorer visibility for drivers, motorists need to be extra vigilant and MOT themselves before starting any journey advises American Express Insurance Services.

Latest government figures show that over 742 people are injured and 8 people die on British roads every day. Drivers, as opposed to mechanical failure, are responsible for over 95% of all accidents, so drivers need to check they are fit enough to drive before setting out on each journey.

American Express Motor Insurance has put together a concise checklist – DRIVE - for motorists:

D - Drugs – am I on any medication? Drivers should check to see if their medication has any side affects such as drowsiness.

R – Rested – am I too tired to start this journey? One quarter of all fatal crashes occur between 4pm – 9pm, the majority in the winter months. No matter what time of day, drivers should assess if they are rested enough to drive before undertaking any journey.

I – Inebriated – Even if you haven’t had alcohol since the previous evening, drivers can still be too inebriated to drive safely and legally.

V – Vital – Is this journey really necessary? Driver should not drive more than 9 hours in any 24 hour period and should take a break after 3 – 3.5 hours of continuous driving.

E – Elements – Is the weather too dangerous to drive in or can I delay my journey? 75,000 accidents occur in bad weather conditions. Road accidents increase by as much as 50% on frosty days and 40% when roads are wet

Joanne Field, Marketing Manager, American Express Insurance Services comments: "Industry research has shown that whilst 75% of all driving takes place in daylight hours, more than 50% of all fatal accidents occur during the hours of darkness. The clock change triggers us into driving in the dark and we would urge all drivers to think DRIVE before undertaking any journey.”

Adrian Walsh, director of RoadSafe added: “Drivers need to think twice before getting behind the wheel, especially in the winter when they are tired and often stressed, DRIVE is a useful guide"