Drivers are being urged not to leave their cars unattended with the keys in the ignition when heating up their vehicles during the current cold snap.
Drivers are being urged not to leave their cars unattended with the keys in the ignition when heating up their vehicles during the current cold snap.
Norwich Union, the UK’s largest general insurer, warned that not only does it make their cars attractive to opportunist thieves, but they may well find they are not covered by their insurance if they are stolen.
Many motor insurance policies – including Norwich Union’s – state that policyholders should make sure they do not leave their keys on or in their vehicle when it is unattended to reduce the risk of theft in such cases. This approach was backed by a Court of Appeal ruling two years ago.
Richard Alger, motor product development manager for Norwich Union Insurance, said: “It’s very tempting in these awful freezing conditions to leave your car engine running to warm it up and defrost while you nip back indoors to finish your cup of tea.
“Although the thought of sitting in a freezing car while it warms up may seem like the worst in the world, it’s a lot better than emerging from your front door to find your car gone.
“And there is likely to be even worse news when you find out that your insurer will not cover your loss because you left the car unattended with the keys in the ignition.”
Other tips for more safe and comfortable driving during the current sub-zero temperatures include:
- Only drive if your journey is absolutely necessary – consider taking public transport
- Reduce speed and increase braking distances to avoid skids
- Switch headlights on and leave extra time for journeys
- Keep windscreens clean and washer bottle topped with screen anti-freeze to aid visibility in bad weather and check wiper blades are completely free of snow and ice
- Avoid sudden movements of the steering wheel in snow or ice – don’t brake or accelerate suddenly
- Give motorcyclists and cyclists a wide berth as they may have problems steering in adverse weather conditions
- Use a high gear if driving on a slippery surface
- Change tyres with less than 2mm of tread to ensure maximum safety (legal limit is 1.6mm across three-quarters of the tyre)
- Keep an emergency kit in your car. Include a tow rope, spare fuel in an approved can, shovel, screen scraper and de- icer, spare clothes, boots, blanket and first aid kit.
For further information contact Jenny Chapman at Norwich Union on 08703 66 68 64/07775 822642
Notes to editors
- Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer with a market share of around 16 per cent and is more than 1.5 times the size of its nearest rival. It is also the largest personal lines insurer.
- It has a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses. It insures:
- one in five households
- one in five motor vehicles
- more than 700,000 businesses
- Norwich Union products are available through a variety of distribution channels including brokers, corporate partners such as banks and building societies and Norwich Union Direct.
- Norwich Union’s news releases are available on the Aviva plc website at www.aviva.com
- A selection of images is available from the Norwich Union Newscast site at www.newscast.co.uk
- An ISDN facility is available for studio quality interviews. Call the press office on 08703 66 68 68
For all life & pensions media enquiries 08703 66 68 73
For all other media enquiries 08703 66 68 68
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