Motorists forced to make do (and not mend) reveals Swinton
| Author: Irene Robertson | Published: 23rd November 2008 18:17 |
Motorists forced to make do (and not mend) reveals Swinton
potentially important car maintenance is being put off by people in an attempt to save money
Motorists forced to make do (and not mend) reveals Swinton
Car insurance provider Swinton have found that potentially important car maintenance is being put off by people in an attempt to save money.
In a survey of 1,000 Swinton motor insurance customers 78% said they had put off ‘minor and cosmetic' repairs (such as dents and scratches) while 34% said they consciously hadn't put their car in for a service - despite having exceeded the manufacturers recommended mileage in recent months.
Another 22% said they would wait for their next MOT to discover the significance of ‘uncharacteristic' engine noises and squeaks - even if there was a ‘noticeable effect' on the car's performance and handling.
Swinton's research also revealed that many motorists are ignoring or putting off maintenance and repairs that could have serious implications if they remain unchecked.
For example:
- 23% admitted they would not be replacing tyres until they were very close to the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimetres (despite most manufacturers recommending 3 millimetres for safety reasons)
- 9% stated that they would put off replacing windscreen wipers until totally worn-out, even if this meant poorer visibility
- 14% said they had ignored engine management warning indicators on the dashboard
- 3% revealed that they had not immediately acted on warning indicators specifically relating to airbag and brakes - despite the obvious safety implications
Of the motorists surveyed, 38 % stated ‘recent financial pressure' was the main reason for putting off maintenance they deemed ‘non-essential', with 59% admitting they would have acted far more quickly on such repairs if they had occurred six months ago.
Chris Collings, Insurer Development Director for Swinton said of the research:
"We all know the credit crunch and fuel prices have had a big impact of motorists recently and it seems that keeping a car in tip-top condition is far less of a priority than it was six months ago. However some people's cost cutting could cost them dear in the long run both in terms of a bigger maintenance bill and an increased risk of having an accident.
"We strongly advise all motorists to ensure their vehicle is 100% safe and roadworthy at all times and we want to highlight that putting off even a small repair now could be a false economy longer term."
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