Rural insurer NFU Mutual warns of high risk of road accidents and burst pipes as arctic weather grips UK.

Large rural insurer NFU Mutual is warning people to take extra care during the current arctic conditions following a sharp increase in vehicle damage and burst pipe claims.

“Large areas of the UK are seeing the worst winter weather for 20 years and rural areas in particular are experiencing heavy snowfalls and very hard frosts,” said NFU Mutual Claims Manager, John Kenny. “As a result we’ve seen an increase of 25% in motor claims reported since the cold spell began on December 18 – many on untreated country roads. We’re also getting a lot of calls from people whose windscreens have cracked when they use hot water to defrost them.

“We can’t stress enough the importance of driving very carefully – especially on country roads which often have not been gritted.”

Worrying levels of burst pipes damage claims are also being reported. “We are finding that people who have put extra insulation in their lofts are particularly vulnerable as they are at greater risk of damage to pipes and tanks in their roof spaces,” he explained. “When pipes rest above the insulation they become exposed to the cold and this is why they’re freezing. To protect against this it’s vital to install extra insulation around pipes and tanks.

“Country properties tend to be particularly vulnerable to frost damage because they tend to be in isolated locations where they are exposed to the full force of the elements, and unlike urban properties they rarely have other buildings around them to provide a degree of protection from the worst of the winter weather.” He warned that highest risk of water damage was when a thaw came and frozen water expanded.

NFU Mutual, which has won numerous awards for customer service – including being voted top motor insurer by Auto Express magazine for the last four years - has put special measures in place to help its customers report claims during the icy spell. Its network of local offices, regional service centres and emergency helplines have put in place special procedures to help customers.

“At peak times – such as early morning when many motor claims and breakdowns happen callers may have to wait a few minutes for calls to be answered - but we are doing all we can to maintain our very high standards of customer service,” said John.

NFU Mutual’s winter driving and burst pipe guides follow:

Driving in winter weather

• Be aware of your surroundings – the road itself, other road users and their positions, and any changes in the weather

• Leave at least twice as much space as normal between you and the vehicle in front

• Don’t make harsh or sharp movements, when you brake and accelerate do it slowly and smoothly

• Drive slowly in as high a gear as possible

• When ascending a slippery or snowy hill, approach it from a good distance at a steady speed in second or even third gear. Keep it ticking over while continuing as consistently as possible

• If you feel your vehicle starting to skid, take your feet off the pedals. Braking will cause the wheels to lock leaving you unable to steer while accelerating could see you shooting off in a random direction if the tyres suddenly find a patch of grip. Turn gently into the skid and let the car come slowly to a halt

• Be prepared for an unscheduled overnight stop if the weather suddenly closes in

• Keep a torch, blanket (useful for you if it’s cold, or for laying on the ground to provide traction if the car’s stuck), a bottle of water and a chocolate bar or two in the boot

• Make sure your mobile ‘phone is fully charged, and tune into the radio to keep up to date about road conditions Preventing pipes freezing

Check those pipes:

• If you do install insulation in your loft then make sure you also lag your pipes

• Pipe lagging should be at least 5 cm diameter – thicker if your loft is well insulated

• Do not insulate underneath your tank – warm air from the room below will keep the tank heated

• Find out where your tank is situated and make sure the room below is heated

• If you are leaving your home unoccupied for a short time, leave your heating on its usual setting (or a few degrees lower)

• It is also a good idea to leave your loft hatch open a fraction if you think your pipes are at risk on very cold nights

• Don’t forget to lag the pipes in your garage our any outbuildings

• Check your plumbing system – some homes don’t include tanks and pipes in the loft space