Research commissioned by the UK’s leading independent road safety charity has revealed many drivers do not know when they should prioritise calling police over their insurance company in the aftermath of a minor accident.
In a survey for IAM RoadSmart of more than 1,000 motorists, more than a quarter – 28 per cent – said they would call police as a first port of call in the wake of a low-speed accident involving damage to their car, such as a dent to the bumper.
In contrast, 36 per cent said they would call their insurance company first.
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, commented: “After an incident on the road, it can be difficult to remain calm and consider the most logical course of action.
“Calling your insurance company is the right thing to do, although it is important to remember the nature of the situation.
“We would only suggest calling the police if somebody is hurt, a crime has been committed, or you are in the live lane of a motorway or dual carriageway, with no other way of getting help.”
Some 30 per cent of drivers said they would call a family member first, while nine per cent said they would call a friend.
The decision on whether or not to call the police fetched the most polarised results, with one in three – 33 per cent – saying they would be the last people to call in the event of a minor incident.
The survey also found over one third (36 per cent) of survey respondents would try to get a confession from the driver who hit their car.