There were 38.8 million licensed vehicles in Great Britain at the end of September 2020 with cars making up the lion’s share with 31.9 million and the rest being a combination of LGVs, HGVs, motorcycles, buses and other vehicles. This means that there is roughly 1 car for every 2 people in Great Britain, which is a staggering amount.
Roads Getting Busier
While the roads might have been quieter during the pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in traffic as restrictions have lifted and you can fully expect roads to be full once again when restrictions (hopefully) lift on the 21st of June. Many people will be returning to work while other road users will be shopping, travelling, seeing friends, ferrying the kids around and much more. The average annual mileage per car in England was 7,400 in 2019 which goes to show just how important they are to people’s lives.
More Cars = More Danger
With so many people on the roads and this number likely to increase in the coming years, it is important to understand the danger that this presents for every road user. More cars and other vehicles on the roads will increase the chance of being in an auto accident, which is why it is so important for motorists to drive with caution.
Car Insurance
Even a cautious driver can still be involved in an accident that was not their fault and this is why it is so important to protect yourself. Obviously, car insurance is a legal requirement and you will need to make sure that you have an adequate policy in place, but there is still more that you can do to protect yourself.
Gap Insurance
GAP insurance is an optional form of insurance but one that could save you a fortune. If the car were to be written off, your car insurance would only pay the current market value and without GAP insurance this would leave you out of pocket. GAP insurance will bridge the gap between the shortfall and the amount originally paid (or amount outstanding on a finance agreement). Is gap insurance worth it is a common question, but when you consider that a car depreciates by as much as 35% in its first year and 50%+ after three years, it is clear to see that this is a smart way to protect your investment.
There are a staggering number of cars on the roads and this figure is likely to increase moving forward. The more cars that there are, the greater the chance of an auto accident and motorists need to be wary of this. Optional policies like GAP insurance are a smart way to protect yourself and could end up saving you thousands of pounds if you were in an accident and the vehicle was written off.
