Direct Line comments on ABI's whiplash epidemic report

Direct Line Car Insurance supports the ABI's report exposing the UK's whiplash epidemic, which reveals that everyday nearly 1,200 people claim for whiplash injuries following a motor collision.

Frances Browning, spokesperson for Direct Line, comments: "One of the main reasons for whiplash highlighted by the ABI's report is tailgating.

Tailgating has a huge impact on road safety and we fully support measures which aim to educate drivers of the risks involved.

"At Direct Line, we're calling for a fundamental change in driver behaviour.

Our own in-depth study, in conjunction with TRL (Transport Research Laboratory), concludes that motorists adhering to the Highway Code are effectively bullied into speeding by other motorists who tailgate in an attempt to force other motorists to go faster.

In fact, it showed that 93 per cent of motorists under observation were tailgated by other road users when they were driving in accordance with the Highway Code.

"Drivers need to understand that the increased stress caused as a result of tailgating can lead to volatile situations on the road and that tailgating is responsible for approximately seven per cent of road traffic accidents in the UK.

"We urge drivers to try to prevent whiplash by keeping a safe distance - at least two seconds from the vehicle in front of them and not to put pressure on other road users in an attempt to speed them up.".

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