Allianz data reveals new ‘crash hour’
New research from leading UK insurer Allianz has revealed that rush hour is no longer the peak time of day for collisions.
According to its own data, the afternoon school run has replaced the traditionally busy times around 8am and 6pm as the time when most road incidents occur.
It revealed that it received more than 10,300 claims last year following car accidents around 3pm, making it the highest peak for collisions in the day. In contrast, it received only 4,500 claims from around 6.30pm and just 1,600 claims from 8.30am.
The total cost of 3pm claims last year rose £7m to 51m – or about £5,300 per claim – while the total cost of claims made at 6.30pm was up £8m to £27m.
Caroline Johnson, claims director at Allianz personal lines business said: “Our data has highlighted interesting patterns in the frequency and severity of claims, and mid-late afternoons on the road seem to be a real hot spot for minor accidents.
“There can be a number of additional distractions at this time, from increased numbers of pedestrians and cyclists, to having excitable children in the car, and even just that determination to get home quickly after work.”
