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Otter warning for car insurance customers

22/06/07

Car insurance customers have been urged to be on the lookout for otters in East Riding of Yorkshire.

According to a report in the Driffield Times, there have been several otter road deaths in the region over recent years, which could potentially pose a road safety hazard to car insurance policyholders.

And Elly Andison, biodiversity technical specialist at the Environment Agency, has indicated that the otters may have been forced onto the roads because of rising water levels.

This in turn floods the tunnels that have been designed to keep otters away from car insurance customers and other road users, leaving them with no choice but to use the roads.

"Usually they go under a bridge but when the water comes up their normal route is flooded so they have to find another route," she explained.

"But then they are more at risk of being squashed by a car."

As a result, the Environment Agency is asking motorists to report any sightings of otters that have been struck by passing vehicles.

Animals appearing unexpectedly on traffic routes could potentially represent a road safety issue as car insurance customers swerve to avoid the creature.

In related news, car insurance policyholders may be interested to hear that non-motoring traffic is to be segregated from cars and light commercial vehicles in Leicestershire, following news that final approval has been granted to a proposed bypass.

As part of the £14.8 million project, a footpath and cycleway will be built by the A47 around Earl Shilton to minimise potential road safety issues as pedestrians look to cross the route.