Christmas customers instructed to settle down on the roads as variety of crashes soars
As the big day is now less than a week away, the race is on to get everything in for Christmas — but drivers are being warned not to cause a Christmas calamity with a car crash
Motorists dashing around doing their Christmas shopping should beware — as the number of prangs in car parks soars to record levels. Sunday, December 21, is among the worst, with an average of 130 bumps in shopping centres, multi-storey and supermarket car parks around the UK.
December 23rd, with just one day left of Christmas shopping, was pinpointed as the worst day for bashes in car parks. Data from the past 10 years — sourced by insurance giants Admiral — found there were an average of 145 prangs in car parks across the UK on December 23.
Next on the hit-list was December 22, when an average of 133 motorists had ‘comings together’ with another car in a car park. The least likely day of the year for a car park clash was Christmas Day itself, with an average of just 15 prangs on December 25 — that’s just under 10 times less likely than on December 23.
A spokesman for Admiral said that December 23 was the ‘single most dangerous parking day in the entire year’ as last-minute shoppers battle for spaces. He said that Brits should be ‘prepared’ for the onslaught as the UK’s 42m motorists take to the roads to stock up on gifts, food and drinks.
The five worst days for car park prangs were as follows:
- December 23 – 145
- December 22 – 133
- December 21 – 130
- December 1 – 123
- December 20 – 122
And the least likely days for a car park bash were:
- December 25 – 15
- January 1 – 45
- December 26 – 47
- December 27 – 64
- December 31 – 72
Jane Tilman, 54, of Watford, Herts, said she had a prang last year on December 21. She said: “I had done most of my shopping, but went out December 21 to get some potatoes, sprouts and wine.
“As I was reversing into a spot at the supermarket another car was coming in from the other side and ran right into me.” The library worker added: “I got out of my car and there was a huge dent in the side or my car and the other driver’s bumper had fallen off.
“He was shouting at me that it was ‘his space’, but luckily witnesses came forward and said he was the one at fault, so my bump was fixed from his insurance, not mine.” Gregory Watson, 22, of Hackney, east London, said there was ‘no way’ he was risking taking his car to go Christmas shopping.
He said: “My car insurance already costs me over £1,500-a-year, so I can’t afford it going up just because some stressed-out twit can’t drive properly. You can see the stress in peoples’ faces already, and when that affects their driving you just know what’s going to happen – crash city.”
John Coles, Head of Customer Claims at Admiral Insurance, said this week: “The 23rd isn’t just busy – it’s chaotic. Drivers are tired, rushed and desperate to get those last gifts, and that’s when mistakes happen.
“A simple lapse of concentration during the festive rush can result in a costly collision.” He added: ”December brings millions of extra car journeys, and that pressure can make even confident drivers cut corners.
“Slowing down, taking a breath and giving yourself more space could be the difference between a smooth shopping trip and a Christmas catastrophe.”
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