Why a cyclist could write off your vehicle

An impact of just 6mph, which could be caused by a cyclist, mobility scooter or snaking caravan, could make repairing damage too costly – and cause the insurer to write the vehicle off.

A front and rear simultaneous shunt could cost over £4,500 in damages.

The Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre (MIRRC), located at Thatcham in Berkshire, has investigated the safety of front and rear bumpers on motor vehicles and is producing a traffic-light standard of effectiveness.

The MIRRC website says: "Thatcham, on behalf of the UK insurers, has worked with a number of international partners from RCAR, the Research Council for Automobile Repairs, to study these costly issues and design an insurance crash that will encourage manufacturers to fit deeper, wider and more energy absorbing beams to their future vehicles, both front and rear."

The majority (85 per cent) of all crashes are classified as 'minor' accidents.

10/12/2007 13:45:11