| The amount of car accident compensation claims | | | | being sustained and the need for car accident |
| made in the UK has undoubtedly risen since the | | | | compensation claims to be made would result. |
| number of roadside distractions became more | | | | Signs of the times |
| commonplace. In fact, a survey carried out by | | | | Recent reports have also shown that UK |
| Privilege Insurance in 2005 found that a total of | | | | motorists are distracted by the amount of signs |
| 83% of UK motorists are affected by roadside | | | | featured on our roads which are actually designed |
| distractions when driving. | | | | to aid them while driving. However, it seems that |
| Whether you spy someone streaking alongside a | | | | there are now many more homemade signs, |
| motorway, catch a glimpse of a busty lady on a | | | | advertising everything from school fetes to |
| large poster or slow your car and crane your | | | | charity auctions, appearing along particular |
| neck to see the aftermath of smash, roadside | | | | roadsides. A total of 17 signs were posted on one |
| distractions certainly put drivers and their | | | | roadside verge just outside Midhurst, a village in |
| passengers at serious risk of sustaining car crash | | | | West Sussex, during autumn 2005, which caused |
| injuries as a result of just a few seconds of | | | | major concern for road safety experts and the |
| lapsed concentration. | | | | Government alike. |
| Alluring ads and scintillating statues | | | | Yvette Cooper, Housing and Planning Minister, has |
| Although the temptation to take your eyes off | | | | commented on the subject of excessive signs |
| the road ahead and take a sidewards glance at an | | | | and ads, "Too many of our motorways are now |
| attractive member of the opposite gender has | | | | strewn with illegal trailer adverts, which cause |
| always been there, suggestions have been made | | | | hazards for drivers and are unsightly too. Just |
| that modern advertising could be one of the most | | | | because the ads are parked on trailers doesn't |
| potentially serious road accident hazards around. | | | | mean they should be able to dodge proper |
| There has been much speculation about men and | | | | planning and safety rules. |
| their one-track minds but research by Privilege | | | | "Twenty three percent of drivers say they have |
| revealed that male drivers were more likely to be | | | | been so distracted by roadside distractions, such |
| distracted by advertising displaying scantily-clad | | | | as ads, that they have swerved out of lane. |
| women than women were to be by images of | | | | That's why applications need to go through the |
| men in various states of undress. | | | | proper planning system so they can be |
| The use of stunning supermodels such as Eva | | | | appropriately assessed." |
| Herzigova advertising underwear is likely to gauge | | | | How much of a distraction? |
| the attention of any passer-by but if placed on a | | | | According to a poll carried out by Privilege, 30% |
| huge billboard beside a busy motorway, this is | | | | of drivers say that the have lost their |
| likely to cause eyes to wander and all | | | | concentration when behind the wheel by looking |
| concentration from driving to be lost, leading to a | | | | at a sign or billboard. Many even admitted to being |
| definite risk of a road accident occurring. | | | | distracted for up to five seconds, which, if |
| A few years back, The Body Shop faced having | | | | travelling at 60mph, equates to the length of |
| to remove part of the ornamentals outside their | | | | football pitch, ample time for a car accident to |
| headquarters in Littlehampton, West Sussex. A | | | | occur. |
| number of statues, one of which was a woman in | | | | In response, Dr Mark Young from Brunel |
| her natural form, were featured on the land of | | | | University has said that when driving our visual |
| the beauty product company that is famously | | | | workload varies throughout the journey, which |
| against animal testing. | | | | means that when undertaking more difficult tasks |
| The lesser-clothed of the three figures, arranged | | | | like negotiating a roundabout, it is easy to become |
| as seen in the impressionist painting Luncheon on | | | | preoccupied by roadside advertising or any other |
| the Grass by Manet, was causing drivers to crane | | | | distractions. |
| their necks so that they could sneak a look at her | | | | A more recent study carried out by Nottingham |
| bare physique and car accidents as a result of | | | | University in 2006 found that as much as 50% of |
| such peeping-tom antics were reported to have | | | | a driver's time can be spent looking at distractions |
| happened. | | | | by the roadside. A particularly worrying figure |
| An influx of requests for the statues to be | | | | which strongly points towards an explanation for |
| removed followed. It was thought that by getting | | | | the rise in car accident compensation claims dealt |
| rid of the temptation for drivers to take their | | | | with by personal injury claim firms, such as The |
| eyes off the road, a decrease in personal injuries | | | | Claim Solicitors. |