The number 13 is unlucky for some and Friday the 13th has traditionally been a day to be extra cautious in order to avoid accidents and mishaps.
The number 13 is unlucky for some and Friday the 13th has traditionally been a day to be extra cautious in order to avoid accidents and mishaps. And that caution might now be paying off on Ireland’s roads with a decrease in road traffic accidents on Friday 13th when compared to other Friday’s. Insurance claims data published by Hibernian Aviva, Ireland’s largest motor insurer, shows that there were 14% less accidents on Friday 13th than any other Friday during 2007 and 2008. Examining the type of accidents reported on Friday’s, the most common collision is the rear end impact.
Hibernian Aviva’s data also shows that car accidents are more likely to occur on the first Friday of the month with the average number of accidents in 2007 and 2008 being 170 compared to just 147 accidents on Friday 13th. This suggests that fears about bad luck on Friday 13th may actually have a positive impact on driving behaviour, making our roads safer for everyone, something which we need to encourage to improve road safety in Ireland every day.
Speaking about the new data, Michael Murphy, managing director of Hibernian Aviva’s general insurance company, said: "Over the past number of years Ireland’s record on road safety has improved dramatically, something we should all support. To help support this trend and to keep looking out for your road safety Hibernian Aviva and the Hibernian Aviva Driving School has published a ‘handy hints’ guide for safer motoring on its website www.hibernianaviva.ie."
Mr Murphy added: “As well as the human cost, it is also important to keep a road safety eye on the financial cost of insurance claims and the majority of accidents thankfully involve damage to property rather than human injury. In the past year there has been a significant increase in the cost of insurance claims in Ireland and it is more important than ever to focus on road safety to help minimise accidents and help keep increases in insurance premiums at a minimum.”
As the most common collision reported on Friday’s is a rear-end impact, Mr Murphy advised motorists to follow the "two-second rule". Mr Murphy added: “Our aim is to make motorists safer drivers for life and when delivering driver training through the Hibernian Aviva Driving School one of the key things we teach is how to create space on the road. This involves using the 'two-second rule' which is important in helping to avoid rear end collisions and impacts. The 'two-second rule' is simple; always leave two seconds between you and the car in front of you in good conditions and double that time when driving in poor weather.”
Hibernian Aviva is always looking out for your safety on the road and in conjunction with the Hibernian Aviva Driving School has published the following hints for motorists.
- Prepare your car for the road before you leave, make sure:
- You have good quality, well inflated tyres
- You have a clean, demisted windscreen and working, effective wipers
- Your headrest is properly positioned behind your head (not your neck) to prevent whiplash
- Always drive with your dipped headlights on, no matter what the time of day. This is particularly important in poor weather
-Speed limits are not targets - keep to a safe speed that’s appropriate to driving conditions - Drive carefully
- While moving use the "two-second rule" – leave two seconds between you and the car in front of you in good conditions. When the vehicle in front of you passes any stationary object and count the time in seconds before you pass that object You can use the phrase “Only a fool breaks the two-second rule” This takes about two-seconds to say and you should have finished the phrase before passing the stationary object.
Double that time when driving in poor weather.
And lastly, never drive if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs. Do not travel with a person who is under the influence of either.
-ends-
For further information contact:
Alan Tyrrell
Group Media Relations Manager
Hibernian Aviva
Telephone: 01 8985452
Mobile: 086 850 8673
Notes to editors:
About Hibernian Aviva
Hibernian Aviva has been part of Ireland’s insurance industry for the last hundred years and has grown to become one of the largest and most successful organisations in the country with businesses in General Insurance, Life & Pensions and most recently the health insurance sector. Part of the world’s fifth largest insurance group Aviva plc, the company has approximately 1.2 million customers in Ireland and offices in Dublin, Cork and Galway with a branch network in 27 other locations.