Motorists are being warned that their passengers’ actions could invalidate their car insurance policies and cost them hundreds or thousands of pounds.
UK drivers are carrying more passengers now than in recent years as households look to downsize to one shared car.
With carpooling to work on the rise, experts are warning motorists that they are responsible for their passengers and their actions.
Drivers have a legal responsibility to ensure they are driving lawfully and safely, which includes being responsible for all passengers they carry.
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Drivers could see their insurance invalidated based on the actions of their passengers
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Under UK law, the driver is legally responsible for ensuring that children under 14 are properly restrained.
This responsibility extends to animals in the vehicle as well, even if they belong to a passenger rather than the driver.
Failing to meet these legal obligations could have serious consequences for motorists, as the driver must maintain control of the vehicle regardless of who else is present.
Passengers obstructing the driver’s view can lead to serious insurance issues, while behaving in a loud or distracting manner while someone is driving puts everyone at risk.
Adding heavy items that overload the vehicle is another common problem that could invalidate insurance, which could spell trouble if someone is helping their passenger move house.
Even if passengers engage in dangerous or illegal activities, the driver bears responsibility if they’re aware of such behaviour.
One expert warned that insurers could “refuse claims or cancel policies” entirely in these situations, leaving drivers completely unprotected.
Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone, said: “A recent Quotezone survey showed 15 per cent of households had downsized to one shared vehicle in order to try and find savings.
“With the potential for increased volumes of people per vehicle, the likelihood is that drivers will have more risks and distractions to deal with behind the wheel.
“Any passenger or animal that is travelling in the car is the driver’s responsibility, and as the driver, they need to make sure the behaviour in the car doesn’t affect their ability to drive safely.”
Failure to control passenger behaviour could lead to accidents, fines and penalty points. Last year, UK insurers paid out £11.7billion in motor insurance claims.
The overall number of settled claims totalled 2.4 million – a four per cent rise from the previous year.
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Drivers are also responsible for any pets in their vehicles
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With insurance claims increasing, Wilson warned that it’s crucial that motorists don’t allow passenger actions to void their protection.