According to recent statistics collected by the Accident Exchange, 6% of accidents which occur on UK roads come about as result of changing lanes, with the estimated cost of damage topping £437 million every year.
If this news wasn’t bad enough, it seems accidents arising as a result of poor awareness while changing lanes is on the rise as statistics show the figure has almost doubled in the space of the last two years.
Not checking driving blind spots properly and failing to indicate have both been highlighted as reasons for the high number of lane changing accidents, while some motoring experts have hinted that the increase in these kinds of accidents could be due to the extra safety features on new cars. These types of vehicles often have strengthened frames which can reduce visibility and increase the driver’s blind spot making it harder to check for traffic when changing lanes.
Poor visibility and driving without due care and attention were cited as the most common reasons for accidents involving lane changes. With the average cost of repairs following an accident as a result of a bad lane change costing £2,876, insurers are warning drivers to take extra care when carrying out risky driving manoeuvres such as lane changing.
