MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 10

MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS

RECENT HOLIDAY PERIOD A MARKED REDUCTION POSSIBLE EFFECT ON PREMIUMS (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. A distinct reduction in the number of claims made by the holders of motor-car insurance policies during the Christmas and New Year holidays compared with previous holiday seasons has been noticed by at least one insurance company manager, who attributes the improvement in driving to Road Safety Week and other road safety propaganda. It is pointed out that the improvement in the standard of driving and the reduction in the number of accidents and the consequential claims for reimbursement may enable the companies to reduce the premium rates, besides assuring road users of greater safety for their lives and limbs. “ I think the safety first activities have been highly productive of the results it was hoped they would achieve,” said Mr N. S. Hunt, general manager of the North Island Motor Union Insurance Company. The experience of his office pointed to the fact that a greater degree of care had been taken by drivers during the holidays than in previous similar periods. All previous holiday seasons had been uniformly bad, and he could attribute the change only to the effect of Safety Week and the activities of the Safety First Council. Great credit was due to the work of the local bodies,' the success of which was indicated by the records from their districts.

The company’s experience in Auckland, Mr Hunt said, had been very good indeed. Wellington, which was usually a costly area for insurance companies because of its geographical configuration and traffic congestion, had practically a “ clean sheet” for the period for which he had reports-r-from Christmas Eve to January 5. The company was concerned with no accidents in Wellington during that time - which would cost it more than £4O, and with no cases of personal injury. In view of the experience of other holiday seasons, several cases of personal injury might have been expected, and dozens of collisions involving repair bills up to £BO, £9O, or £ 100. In the whole island there were only four cases in which the repair bill would exceed £ 100. The number of cases in which liquor was in evidence was far fewer than in previous times. Whether this change for the better is general among motorists insured with all companies cannot be ascertained yet, but statistics from other sources will be available later.