Drive Carefully on the Roads this Easter

Published with permission from Vero Insurance New Zealand.

Easter is a great chance to get away for a few days or visit friends and family. When long weekends arrive, New Zealanders love to just get up and move, even more so now the borders are open!

However, with higher volumes of traffic on the roads, more accidents are possible. Each Easter period for the last five years, claims for motor collisions spike on average about 10% than the weekly average for the rest of the year. People think if they’re insured, they can take risks – but what really matters are the people in your car and the vehicles around you.

Before you leave

There are plenty of small things motorists can do to take care of themselves and others on the roads this Easter – and make sure they don’t become an insurance claim statistic!

1. Check your WoF, registration and car insurance are up to date.
2. Check petrol and oil levels are topped up.
3. Make sure you have your driver’s licence.
4. Plan your route
5. Drive to the conditions

Five easy steps if you have a collision

If you’re in an accident, priority one is the safety of yourself and others involved, and making sure no one is injured. If you can, and it’s safe, there are a few steps you can take to make it easier to sort out your insurance claim later.

1. First take care of yourself, and others’ safety.

2. If you can, and it’s safe, take photos of the collision while cars are still in position. Send them to your insurer when you make your claim

3. If there are independent witnesses, get their details if you can

4. Take down the other driver’s details – name, registration, phone number and insurance provider

5. Provide all the details to your insurer when you make your claim

From all of us at GrownUps, we hope you have a safe and happy Easter.

By Jimmy Higgins