Car insurance quote news - Numbers of blind spot accidents have increased

Car insurance news - Quotes may be affected blind spot crashes

Drivers who complete a thorough annual search for a car insurance quote would also be well advised to pay close attention to their blind spots when they are behind the wheel.

Research carried out by a crash management company, Accident Exchange, has revealed a 48% increase in collisions over the last two years which could be largely due to holders of men and women's car insurance failing to check their blind spots.

It is thought that the problem may have arisen from stringent safety requirements imposed by the European Union amid fears that new lighter materials which cars are being built from don't provide enough protection.

The requirements have seen the metal structures between the front and back windows of cars widened in a bid to reduce injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) banned the use of Mini convertibles in driving tests after examiners repeatedly complained about poor rear visibility.

In response to the problem, a number of car manufacturers have designed safety devices to minimise blind spot errors. Amongst these are Volvo and Mercedes which have installed cameras on the blind spots of certain models which flash a warning onto the car mirror if another vehicle is detected.

Mercedes and Citroen have also created functions which cause the steering wheel to shake if the car begins to drift into another lane.

The AA's head of road safety, Andrew Howard, said, "Lane change collisions are the result of a number of factors. Drivers need to check their mirrors and look over their shoulder to ensure that they have covered any potential blind spots."

Motorists who frequently check their blind spot are less likely to become involved in a car accident and may improve their chances of finding a cheap car insurance quote.