Would you admit to denting someone else’s car? Research sheds light on dent and dashers

Almost one in seven UK motorists would not own up to denting someone else’s car, surprising new research has revealed.

According to a survey by YourParkingSpace.com, 14.3% of drivers wouldn’t leave their details if they hit a parked vehicle and no-one spotted them.

But if you're one of those unscrupulous drivers, do you know where you stand with the law?

• 16 Highway Code rules you shouldn’t ignore

Under the Road Traffic Act (1998), it’s technically an offence for motorists to fail to stop and provide their contact details following a collision on the road, no matter the nature of the incident itself.

The Act states: “If you’re driving a motorised vehicle and are involved in an accident which causes damage or injury to another person, vehicle, property or animal, you must stop and give your vehicle registration along with your name and address to 'anyone with reasonable grounds to be asking for those details'.”

The report, which surveyed 500 UK motorists, found that almost three quarters (74.3%) would admit to hitting someone else’s car, while 11.4% refused to give an answer.

But while just 8.3% admitted to having dented another car while parking, a surprising 34.6% say they’ve witnessed another driver unintentionally hit another parked vehicle.

Just over half (50.6%) also say they’d intervene if they saw an incident take place by approaching the driver that had dented the other vehicle.

What to do when you've hit another vehicle

1. As a driver, you should leave your contact details for the owner of any cars hit, providing details of the vehicle’s owner (if different), along with the car’s registration number and insurance information.
2. If the other driver is not at the scene, leave a note with all your details on the car’s windscreen and take down details of any other passengers or witnesses to the incident. 
3. You should also inform your insurance company as the small print of your policy is likely to state it’s your responsibility to tell your insurer about any collision, regardless of how minor.

For a full rundown of all the steps you should take if you've been unlucky enough to end up in an accident - read our advice article here.

Copyright Press Association 2019. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.