By: Irma Venter
The South African Short-term Insurance Association (SAIA) on Wednesday called on motorists to be careful when driving during the coming Easter Weekend.
This warning followed a call for caution by the association in February when heavy rains caused damage to roads and led to an increase in short-term insurance claims, owing largely to vehicle accidents and damage to vehicles.
"The motor insurance claims trends have shown that driver behaviour still contributes to more than 60% of road accidents and 80% of all motor insurance claims are accident related in South Africa," said SAIA insurance risks GM Vivienne Pearson.
"This is alarming because of high claims ratios, and considering that only 35% of the more than ten-million vehicles on South African roads are insured, the result is that motor insurance is becoming expensive."
According to the International Transport Forum’s (ITF’s) 2013 Road Safety Report, road accidents cost the South African economy an estimated R300-billion a year.
In 2011 the ITF revealed that South Africa’s accident rate, coupled with the number of fatalities, was the worst out of a total of 36 countries surveyed.
"Should the unacceptably high number of motor vehicle claims in South Africa continue, insurance premiums could become unaffordable for the ordinary person," warned Pearson.
"What is further of serious concern for the industry is the fact that the number of vehicles on our roads is increasing."
Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
Source Engineering News
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