MORE ACCIDENTS?

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1940, Page 9

MORE ACCIDENTS?

INSURANCE CLAIMS RISE

"The outstanding aspect. of war-time conditions which are affecting the affairs of the company is the introduction of petrol restricions," stated Mr. B. L. Donne, chairman, at. the annual general meeting of the N.I.M.U. Insurance Co. at Hawera on Monday. "It is possible," he continued, "that this is the reason for some motorists acting as their own insurers, arguing that as they can do only a limited mileage there is no need for insurance." That contention was proved by the experience of the company to be incorrect, Mr. Donne stated, as despite petrol restrictions hundreds of motoring mishaps still occurred every month. He pointed out that during the year, despite the existence of petrol restrictions for 10 months of the 12, the ratio of claims payments was 4.5 per cent. higher than for the previous year. It was of interest that the claims ratio of the S.I.M.U. Mutual Insurance Association had increased by 4.7 per cent. "It may be," concluded Mr. Donne, "that some motorists consider that the lessening of traffic on the road gives them an opportunity to travel at excessive speeds, but it is an unhappy fact that last year the number of serious mishaps showed a more than proportionate increase."