Avoid being scammed with these tips from IAM
Attention all drivers, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM)’s head of driving standards, Peter Rodger, reveals his tips on how to avoid being scammed by intentionally staged road accidents that force insurance companies to pay out high claims.
For starters, motorists should always be very aware of their surroundings at all times. However, should you be travelling through busy urban roads, it’s important to stay extra alert. Don’t be afraid to overuse your mirrors in order to maintain constant alertness of what is going on around you. If you spot a hazard early such as a motorist driving in an unusual way or a surge of oncoming traffic, make sure to slow down right away. Wait until it’s the right time to pass them and do so safely.
It’s also important for drivers to be able to spot hazards before they happen. If you can spot a hazard, you can probably stop it before it occurs. Many accidents happen when you’ve been following too close to another vehicle.
Always maintain a safe following distance from the car in front of you as a precaution. The general driving rule of thumb is to keep a two second distance behind any vehicle on any road. This allows you to have much more time to react than if you were directly behind the vehicle should they have to brake suddenly.
Even though you won’t be tailgating anyone, it is possible that others will not extend that courtesy to you. Always be aware of anyone that may be tailgating you and never let your guard down! Always keep your eyes on the road before you.
However, if the motorist behind you makes you feel threatened, pull over somewhere safe and legal to allow time for them to pass you.
Even if you feel safe to proceed with your journey, it is imperative that you continue to use caution. Don’t continue the drive if you don’t feel safe enough on the road. Only when you’ve regained your cool and feel safe should you do so. If you think a driver is flashing their headlights to give you way, think again. They could be doing this as a way to distract you. Always use your better judgment.
Road rage is a major factor in accidents, which is why it’s important to avoid engaging in an argument with the driver behind you. If you do, you run the risk of angering them further and increasing the chance of a collision. Again, should you feel threatened, pull over and call the police.
No matter how safe you are, accidents will happen. If a collision occurs and you don’t think you’re to blame, call the police. If anyone is injured, it’s imperative to the call emergency services – don’t try to fix the problem on your own.
Once you’ve called everyone that needs to be informed, be sure to collect the other driver’s details. Take pictures of any damage and the people involved so that you can’t be cheated later on. If you can prove that their were less people in the car, you can avoid the potential of injury claims being made. The same goes for damages. If you can prove what damages there were, you reduce the risk of being cheated.
Witnesses to the collision can be important, but seeing is believing. A dashboard camera is the best bet on understanding how an accident happened and who was involved. All motorists are encouraged for all motorists to install one in their vehicle.
If all drivers follow these tips, they can avoid getting scammed on the road. However, if you still need more assistance, consult the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).
Being involved in an accident is scary enough. Don’t let yourself be scammed on top of that.
