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Report on motoring 2003 - car crime and personal safety
Debates around the safety of motoring have historically centred upon minimising the risk of accident to the individual motorist and the wider motoring public. The issue of motorists' safety on the roads however is a much broader one.
Car-related crime remains a serious problem for motorists
Car-related crimes are putting the personal safety of motorists at risk. These crimes range from those such as car vandalism or theft from a vehicle to those of a more serious nature, such as 'car jacking'.
There is a high level of concern over car crime among Britain's motorists
Research shows that a high proportion of motorists worry about the threat of crimes. More than 8 in 10 motorists admit to worrying about a range of issues from breaking down on the motorway at night to having their home burgled:
Over half of motorists worry about their home being burgled
A third of motorists worry about their car being stolen from outside their house
A quarter worry about being stopped and having their car stolen by a 'car jacker'
Concern of motoring incidents is higher among female motorists
Despite the increasing penetration of mobile phones, improving access to communication, female motorists are much more concerned than males about safety in situations involving driving alone and at night:
3 in 10 female motorists worry about being attacked or robbed while in their car compared to 1 in 10 male motorists
Nearly half of female motorists worry about breaking down on the motorway at night compared to 1 in 10 males
4 in 10 women worry more about driving alone at night compared to 1 in 10 men.
Four million motorists have been a victim of a transport-related crime in the last 12 months
Whilst 86% of motorists have not personally been the victim of a car or public transport-related crime in the last 12 months, just over 1 in 10 (14%) say they have which equates to around 4 million motorists.
Car break-ins and car thefts
These are the crimes motorists are most likely to have experienced personally or know of somebody who has:
1 in 10 motorists have had their car broken into or vandalised.
Items most likely to be stolen
Car parts and car radios are the most commonly stolen items. Theft of valuables is also common.
'Car jacking'
Whilst a relatively new phenomenon in the UK 'Car jacking' is a growing concern for Britain's motorists. A probable explanation for its emergence being the increased security of cars on the roads today. Newer, unattended cars are now more difficult to break into and violence is increasingly used to obtain the car keys from the driver.
Personal security is high on the agenda when buying a new car
With data showing that the public perceive the overall crime rate to be increasing and motorists showing continued fears of being the victim of car crime, security remains a key concern. Motorists rate security from the threat of personal attack and robbery more important than comfort, performance and a satisfying driving experience.
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