The number of resident drivers from other EU states on UK roads has risen on UK roads by 270,000 in the last six years.
Research by insurance company LV= reveals the cost to the economy of foreign EU drivers will total £795 million in 2008 - a rise of more than £100 million from 2006.
The number of foreign EU drivers resident in the UK has risen by more than 50 per cent between 2001 and 2007.
With 88 per cent of these newcomers coming from 2004 onwards, the report indicates the ten countries that joined the EU in that year, and the two doing so in 2007, have driven the increase in total EU drivers.
Additionally, HGV traffic has also risen by over 33 per cent in the same six year period. One in seven HGVs on UK roads is from another EU country.
“There has been a steep rise in drivers from other European countries over the past few years and our report shows the cost of insurance claims, accidents and potential congestion has escalated as well,” said John O’Roarke, managing director of LV=.
“The development of the EU has enabled people to be much more mobile in their lives and work, however, there appears to have been little forward planning to cope with the impact of this. For the safety and benefit of all drivers on UK roads - both UK and foreign nationals - we believe the tightening of driving standards across the EU should now be a government priority.”
LV= is calling on the government to introduce more stringent EU-wide driving standards to diminish the extra cost for UK drivers.
Insurance claims involving foreign EU drivers in the UK have grown in number since 2001, according to data from the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).
Since 2001, collisions involving said drivers have risen by 61.4 per cent (from 11,685 to 18,865). Polish motorists top the accident tables, with 16.6 per cent of all claims.
“One of the particular problems we as an insurance industry, and therefore motorists, suffer is the ability to resolve a claim quickly when it involves a vehicle from outside the UK,” Mr O’Roarke continued.
“When two vehicles from different countries are involved in an accident the current process is costly and slow, meaning that the most complex claims can take years to settle.
“This is because there are so many intermediaries involved in the negotiations. By tightening up driving and vehicle standards across the EU we can hopefully reduce the number of accidents.
“The insurance industry is already feeling the effects of the increasing numbers of EU drivers on British roads through rising claims costs.
“This could potentially impact insurance premiums, while the expense of additional emergency services and road maintenance will inevitably have to be met by the British taxpayer.
“There is already some Europe wide legislation planned but this needs to be widened and brought forward to help alleviate the issues.”
Steve Green, chief constable of Nottinghamshire police and the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on road policing, said: “We are aware that with the changing economy and cultural diversity brought about by the development of the EU, there has been a significant increase in the number of foreign nationals using our roads.
“This obviously has an impact on congestion and puts additional pressure on the Police and emergency services. However, we are working closely with the Department for Transport to ensure that our legislation and policing methods are evolving to make dealing with foreign national drivers easier.”
In contrast recently released by the AA finds average comprehensive car insurance premiums fell 0.5 per cent to £681.93 in the first quarter of 2008, down from £685.29 in the previous quarter.
Similarly, the average third-party fire and theft car insurance premiums fell 0.9 per cent to £838.50 over the period, down from £846.28 final quarter of 2007.
Indeed, the AA research finds the industry remains unprofitable, with insurers paying out £112 in claims for every £100 taken in premiums.
Advantage HGV Training & Jobs - 1st in the UK for HGV / LGV News & Information