Rear-end bumps cost £500m

Motor insurer Admiral claims there are more than 420,000 rear-end bumps - one in four of all road accidents - in the UK each year costing insurers more than £500m.

Payout cover car repairs and total loss cars but also personal injury claims.

Around one in ten rear-end accidents cause whiplash for the occupants of the car. Whiplash costs insurers £1.9bn a year and accounts for 75% of all bodily injury claims.

Stopping distance

Admiral managing director, Sue Longthorn, said: "Rear end bangs and shunts are all too common on our roads, I think this is indicative of how many of us drive. On main roads, many drivers don't leave enough space between themselves and the car in front so if that car brakes they hit them in the rear. The stopping distance at 40 mph is 36 metres, the equivalent of nine car lengths.

"In built-up areas, where traffic is so slow moving, people tend to get frustrated and drive a little too aggressively. When they do this there is more of a chance they will bump the car in front."

All the world’s a stage

Admiral also claimed that the number of staged accidents is rising and rear-end accidents are the easiest to stage. Fraudsters will pull off in traffic or at a junction and then break suddenly. This will cause the car behind them to hit their rear. They will then make a claim for not only car damage but more importantly whiplash. All insurers have reported an increase in this type of fraudulent claim.

Longthorn, said: "Insurance fraud costs our industry £3bn a year. Unfortunately this cost has to be met in increased premiums, so it is definitely not a victimless crime. It works out at an additional £40 on everyone's premium. We'd ask everyone to be vigilant on the roads and just don't drive too close to the car in front."