Vape? You Could Be Refused Your Car Insurance Claims
Drivers who vape whilst behind the wheel could soon find themselves being denied car insurance payouts if they were using the devices during an accident…
Car Insurers Clamp Down
Drivers who vape at the wheel could soon be denied insurance claim payouts if they use the device at the time of an accident. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has spoken of the ‘growing and concerning trend’ of using a vaping device from behind the wheel. This can create a thick layer of smoke that can obstruct the driver’s view or distract them. Nick Lloyd, head of road safety at RoSPA, emphasised the risks of distractions whilst out on the road. He said, “distracted driving is a leading cause of road accidents in the UK”. He continued, “any secondary activity which takes eyes off the road is potentially dangerous. As well as being a physical distraction, vaping while behind the wheel can create visibility problems if clouds of vapour are produced”.
Currently, it isn’t illegal to vape whilst driving. Nor are there any fixed guidelines in insurance policies. But it could be classed as distracted driving in the event of an incident. But insurers and lawmakers are now turning their attention to the matter. A spokesperson for specialist car insurance broker Carbon suggested that exclusions could soon appear in car insurance policies. They said,“there could be exclusions written into some insurance policies in the future”. They added, “even though our panel of insurers doesn’t currently ask whether drivers vape when they’re looking for a quote, it may well be something that gets asked in the near-future”.
More Reasons Not To Vape In The Car
Whilst ‘vapers’ face the risk of losing out on car insurance and being charged with distracted driving, there are other things to be aware of. Like smoking, vaping can embed particular smells and fragrances into the interior of a car; its fabrics in particular. Sometimes, smoke can even leave stains. Removing these can prove to be extraordinarily difficult, even if professional help is sought. As a consequence, the car’s resale value can take a significant hit. If you want to preserve the value of your car save the vaping for when you’re outside of the vehicle. And, if you must smoke or vape from behind the wheel, ensure that you roll down the windows and keep the air conditioning on; your wallet will thank you later down the line.
Smokers Can Lose Up To £2,000 When They Sell Their Cars – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/smokers-can-lose-up-to-2000-when-they-sell-their-cars/
What To Do Following A Car Accident – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/being-in-a-car-accident-what-you-need-to-do/
