MAY DAY MAYHEM TO COST MOTORISTS £21 MILLION

• Over 10,500 accidents estimated for Friday, April 28 for bank holiday weekend
• Spike in accidents to cost UK motorists’ insurers more than £21 million
• Heavy traffic and April showers – and snow – could take their toll on UK motorists

Bank holiday motorists are heading toward the worst day of the year for accidents, according to the latest statistics from Accident Exchange.

In 2016, Friday April 29 recorded the biggest spike in accidents of the year, recording a rise of more than 75% on the average.

A combination of spring showers, possible snow and Northern Rail strike action could be the root cause, after data analysed by accident aftercare specialists Accident Exchange identified that the Friday of the May bank holiday sees more accidents than on any other day.

The surge in crashes suggests that there will be over 10,500 accidents on the 28th April this year, compared to 6,000 on an average day, as motorists take to the road for their long weekends.

With the average repair costing motorists around £2,050, the charge toward the first May bank holiday weekend could end up costing motorists’ insurers more than £21 million.

Scott Hamilton-Cooper, Director of Operations at Accident Exchange, commented: “A high volume of motorists rushing onto the roads to take advantage of the long weekend and traditionally poor weather conditions means that a spike in accidents comes as little surprise.”

The accident doomsday also saw nearly eight times the number of accidents than the least accident-prone day, December 25th.

The study examined 27,000 accidents recorded by Accident Exchange between January and December 2016.

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