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'Fat' cars blamed for scrapes on narrow roads

25/05/2010

Wide modern cars are a "major contributory factor" in minor accidents, an accident management company has claimed.

Accident Exchange says that the increase in the girth of today's cars, mandated partly by safety regulations - and also due to customers demanding greater comfort - has led to the phenomenon of "narrow road blindness", where drivers experience difficulty gauging the exact size of their car.

It adds that cars' extra width poses a hazard near parked vehicles in urban areas and on narrow country lanes - where one in 40 accidents happen.

Underlining its point, the firm pointed to the long-running BMW 3 series, which it says has widened by 192mm (7.5 inches) since 1992. At 1,683mm across, the BMW MINI is 261mm (10.3 inches) wider than the last of the original Minis.

BMW spokesperson Gavin Ward explained that legislation had forced manufacturers to strengthen structures such as doors and windscreen pillars, and to provide larger door mirrors.

Accident Exchange claims settlement director Lee Woodley added that, in recognition of the trend, lane markings on major roads were widened in 2005. However, he said that "almost all single carriage roads have remained unchanged since the day they were originally built".

He added that motorists' had not adjusted their driving for wider cars, and that they lacked an understanding of "narrow lane etiquette".

The Institute of Advanced Motorists sounded a warning to drivers ahead of the coming bank holiday weekend. It said that wildlife, "lush grass" and the unfamiliarity of quiet roads all contributed to the risks faced by drivers and motorcyclists in the countryside.

Pointing out that twice as many riders died on rural roads than urban roads, it added that accidents in the countryside tended to be more serious - even in modern cars.

Gavin Ward added: "There are always going to be pinch points on country lanes, especially if they have overgrown hedges and no white lines."

"Drivers simply have to be more courteous."

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