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GREEN FLAG PREDICTS A CHILLING 82 PER CENT INCREASE IN SEASONAL INCIDENTS AND BREAKDOWNS. According to Green Flag Motoring Assistance, this winter an estimated 271,000 drivers could end up stranded at the roadside following an accident or a breakdown and may need to rely on help from either a breakdown mechanic, or a fellow motorist. As a result, Green Flag has launched its own search for the country''s Motoring Heroes ? those people in society who selflessly use their vehicles for the good of others. Green Flag''s latest research ? conducted alongside its new Motoring Heroes awards campaign ? looked into the increased number of accidents and breakdowns during the winter months and has produced some chilling findings. ''The dangers of the dark mornings and evenings, snow, ice and sleet begin to take their toll from November onwards and generally peak in January, as the number of road traffic accidents and breakdowns begin to soar,'' explained Melanie Denny, spokesperson for Green Flag Motoring Assistance. During the winter, Green Flag expects to experience an 82 per cent increase in the number of accidents on the UK''s roads compared with the summer months. In January, the motoring assistance service recorded a 80 per cent rise in road traffic accidents attended, compared to figures recorded in October of the same year. What''s more, the numbers of those stranded at the roadside leaped by a staggering 91 per cent over winter and this January (2004) alone, Green Flag attended almost 70,000 breakdowns - almost double the amount on a summer month. Melanie Denny added: ''While Winter brings with it a whole host of driving dangers, it also heralds the emergence of many motoring heroes ? for example, drivers who help their fellow motorists at the scene of an accident, or those offering to tow a broken-down vehicle to safety. As the statistics show, driving over the winter period increases the need for more motoring heroes and our latest campaign has certainly uncovered some extremely worthy stories. ''Safety of our customers and agents is paramount in our operation, so we always advise people to wait in a safe place for help to arrive. But occasionally, we hear of people who feel compelled, despite the obvious dangers, to stop and help a distressed family or person of either sex struggling with changing a wheel.'' Mary Williams, chief executive of Brake, the national road safety charity, commented: ''The Motoring Heroes campaign is a great way of saying thank you to those people who come to the need of others. Here at Brake we regularly hear of heroic cases where a person''s life has been saved by the unselfish actions of other drivers, however with harsher weather on its way, we urge all motorists to take extra care, slow down and if at all possible avoid driving in all severe weather conditions.'' So, this winter, if you are stranded at the roadside and are helped by a fellow motorist, say thanks by nominating them as a Motoring Hero by calling 08705 100 701 or logging onto the company website at www.greenflag.com.
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