| SWINTON WARNS MOTORISTS TO ACCLIMATISE TO | | | | impaired stopping speeds and reaction times. |
| MONSOON CONDITIONS | | | | The problem is that Britishdrivers are not |
| | | | used to travelling in these sub-tropical |
| Leading high street broker issues "Monsoon | | | | conditions which unfortunatelyappear to be |
| Motoring Mantra" to combatextreme weather | | | | happening more frequently." |
| dangers. | | | | |
| | | | Swinton has now produced a "Monsoon |
| The increasing frequency of freak weather | | | | |
| conditions in Britain has led to a rashof car | | | | Motoring Mantra", which it is advising |
| accidents, and car insurance claims, caused | | | | drivers to adhere to: |
| by drivers failing to respondquickly to | | | | |
| sudden downpours. | | | | · Switch on headlights |
| | | | |
| Leading high street car insurance broker, | | | | · Check wipers are effective front and |
| | | | back |
| Swinton, is advising UK drivers, most of whom | | | | |
| are not used to extreme weatherconditions, to | | | | · Avoid overtaking |
| take extra care. The move comes as Swinton | | | | |
| reports an 8 per centrise in motor accident | | | | · Slow down, using a lower gear if |
| insurance claims during the recent round of | | | | appropriate |
| deluges. | | | | |
| | | | · Keep wing mirrors clean so that rain |
| Monsoon-type rain is a particular problem, | | | | water drips clear |
| with sudden torrential downpours | | | | |
| causinglocalised flooding and with it, a | | | | · Keep your mobile phone to hand |
| flood of claims. Gusting winds are also a | | | | |
| problemat this time of year, bringing down | | | | · Listen to weather updates |
| trees and power lines. | | | | |
| | | | · Pack water-proof clothes in case of |
| Swinton believes that an increase in | | | | breakdown |
| motorinsurance claims is caused by motorists | | | | |
| driving too quickly, and respondingtoo | | | | · Ensure inside windscreens are |
| slowly, to the sudden loss of visibility and | | | | grease-free and so they don't steamup |
| the rapid build-up of road waterduring | | | | |
| tropical downpours, resulting in minor | | | | · Plan unfamiliar routes and identify |
| accidents. | | | | places to pull over such as servicestations |
| | | | |
| The Swinton warning echoes a similar call | | | | · Make sure tyres are regularly checked |
| from researchers at Newcastle Universityin | | | | for tread and pressure |
| September, who said that extreme rainfall | | | | |
| events have become more frequentand intense | | | | · Stop vehicle in very poor visibility and |
| over a 40-year period in Britain. They said | | | | apply hazard lights |
| the examination of weatherrecords from | | | | |
| 1961-2000 proved further evidence of climate | | | | In the last month alone torrential rain and |
| change occurring. | | | | heavy thunderstorms raged across the |
| | | | |
| Swinton Marketing Director, Nick Bowyer, | | | | UK. Extensive flash flooding was reported |
| warned: "Monsoon rain conditionsare now a | | | | across the regions, with Devon, Cornwall, |
| reality in the UK. They can occur with | | | | |
| frightening immediacy. Driversmust take more | | | | Somerset, Wales and the north west |
| care when extreme weather conditions are | | | | particularly badly hit. Two women had to |
| forecast or occurring. | | | | berescued from their cars after they became |
| | | | trapped in their vehicles because offlooding |
| "We have seen a significant rise in minor | | | | in east Devon. |
| accidents where we believe thatthe rain | | | | |