Would you own up to damaging a parked car? A third of Brits admit they’d ‘dent and run’ – but are risking a £5,000 fine
A third of drivers would drive off if they were caught up in a minor scrape like scratching or keying a car - but they're risking prosecution for criminal damage if they're caught
BRITS are risking a £5,000 fine and a criminal damage charge because they're driving away from incidents.
A third of drivers admitted they'd "dent and run" rather than leave their details.
Minor scrapes like bumping into a parked car, scraping bodywork or knocking a wing mirror would be ignored by most motorists.
Research by dealer Shelbourne Motors found 10 per cent of Brits would drive off regardless of what had happened.
That's even if they'd done visible damage to the other car - including smashing a window or keying a car.
And these runaway drivers are at risk of a hefty fine and criminal damage charge.
Here's what to do if you bump a parked car
- Treat it like any other accident - take photos of the damage to your car and theirs.
- Leave a windscreen note with your name, address, phone number and explanation of what happened.
- Take information about the car you've hit - including make, model and registration. Also note details of the scene like road condition, lighting or if the car was badly parked.
- Don't run off because if you get caught and haven’t owned up, you could end up with a charge for criminal damage.
- Decide with the third party whether you want to contact your insurer or pay the repair bill yourself. You still may be require to notify your insurer even if you don't want to claim.
If you're caught dashing off you could be liable for a court date and a fine of up to £5,000 - no matter how minor the damage.
With car parks often fitted with CCTV cameras - plus witnesses in other parked cars - the chances are someone will have spotted you.
And failing to leave any details - even if it's just a windscreen note - could mean cops come knocking on your door.
The study found 25-34-year olds to be the biggest offenders, with 50 per cent stating they'd flee the scene without leaving any details.
Know your road laws
Over 65s were most responsible - just six per cent would do a runner.
Ronan Marshall, group marketing manager at Shelbourne Motors, said: "We were particularly shocked by how many members of the UK public would drive away after causing a collision.
"The research also suggest that you are better to have an altercation with an older driver as they are more likely to leave details."