Most drivers don't admit damaging another car

Photo / Dean Purcell

More than 80 per cent of drivers do not leave their details after crashing into a parked car, a new survey has found.

An unscientific survey by AA Insurance found of 1000 drivers surveyed online, two-thirds of the respondents had experienced returning to find their parked car damaged, and in 86 per cent of those cases, the person who caused the damage did not leave a note.

AA Insurance customer relations manager Amelia Macandrew said the same survey respondents were also asked how they would behave if they damaged a car and no one had seen them.

"While the reality is that most people don't leave a note, only one person in five was prepared to admit that they would not.

"There seems to be a huge disconnect between what people say they'll do and what they actually do."

The survey found that 38 per cent of motorists aged 25-34 years and 24 per cent of female drivers were most likely to think twice about leaving their details if they damaged a parked car and thought they could get away with it.

Meanwhile, 12 per cent of motorists aged over 60 and 18 per cent of male drivers were found to be most likely to leave their details, Ms Macandrew said.

In the 12 months to September 30, AA Insurance received claims for almost 7700 cars damaged while parked - at a cost of more than $11.5 million.

Ms Macandrew said if the motorist who caused the damage did not leave their details the owner of the car was left to claim on their own insurance and pay an excess, or if the damage is minor - to foot the bill for getting their car repaired out of their own pocket.

"Some drivers don't realise that if you damage someone else's property you're legally required to give your contact details and registration number to the owner within 48 hours, unless of course you're unable to because of injury.

"According to the Road Code if you hit a parked vehicle, or are involved in a collision, and don't know who the owner is or how to contact them, you should report it to the police within 60 hours.

"Or, do the right thing and leave a note with your details tucked under the windscreen wipers of the other person's car."

Ms Macandrew said motorists who had returned to their parked car to find it had been damaged were sometimes able to track down the culprit by reporting the incident to car park security or mall owners.

"They may have CCTV footage that's captured the entire event."