Car insurance: Police crashes cost thousands

Tuesday, 09 March 2010

Hundreds of thousands of pounds in potential motor insurance claims have been caused by Scottish police officers crashing their vehicles into walls, trees and even parked cars, it has been revealed.

What is more, only a small proportion of the 1,216 collisions which damaged police vehicles between January 1st 2008 and January 25th this year occurred while officers were responding to 999 calls.

One officer who was reversing a vehicle caused £229 of damage by hitting an overhanging branch, Northern Constabulary said.

In August the same year, another officer hit a barrier, causing a repair bill of £404, and in March this year a car was a "write-off" after leaving the A9 on a bend.

Strathclyde Police - Scotland's biggest force - said repairs to police vehicles not involving other vehicles or persons cost a total of more than £700,000.

Last month, a hard-hitting Think! campaign was launched in Scotland with the aim of improving road safety in the region.

Posted by Noel Martin

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