'Foreign drivers responsible for thousands of traffic incidents'
Date: 23/01/2008 08:59:21
This week sees the Association of British Insurers (ABI) release a report showing that motorists from continental Europe are responsible for 18,000 road incidents every year.
As a result, the ABI is calling for a review of licensing standards, enhanced driver guidance and better information sharing between countries to improve enforcement.
The lack of information sharing means that when drivers who have committed an offence return to their home country, they often escape punishment.
Responding to the findings, Cathy Keeler, head of campaigns at road safety charity Brake, said: "This report confirms what Brake already feared; the lack of coordination of driving legislation and enforcement across Europe means drivers feel they can get away with not sticking to, or understanding, local laws."
She added that differences in driving habits may inconvenience some motorists but foreign drivers who fail to adapt their skills put themselves and others at risk.
Department for Transport figures show that on an average day, there are 12,000 foreign lorries and 95,000 British lorries on UK roads, the BBC reports.