Huge cost of ‘blind spot’ accidents

13th October 2011

The number of ‘lane change’ collisions has risen by 48% in the past two years and now accounts for more than 6% of all accidents on the UK’s roads, according to a study by Accident Exchange. 

The accident management company analysed more than 50,000 accidents reported between 2099 and 2011, and estimates that lane change accidents now top 152,000 a year. 

In most cases, the ‘at fault’ driver changes lanes without indicating and collides with another vehicle.  Poor rear or side visibility and driving ‘without due care and attention’ are cited as the typical causes.  Poor all-around visibility from large door pillars can make matters more difficult still.  In the majority of incidents, the ‘at fault’ party moved from the right to the left, striking the driver’s side of the innocent car or van.  

“The sharp rise in drivers seemingly unaware of the presence of another driver in an adjacent lane is pretty startling,” said Lee Woodley of Accident Exchange.  “Today’s vehicles are packed with ‘active’ safety equipment but, for some, strengthened frames can mean reduced visibility and bigger blind spots.  Older vehicles tend to have slimmer pillars which don’t obscure the driver’s view to the side or rear as much.  This is certainly part of the problem.”

Department for Transport figures show that simply failing to check for another vehicle is the most frequently reported contributory factor (38%) to an accident.