Car Insurance
Football car flags 'a hazard'
Tue, 13 Jun 2006
With English football fans eager to make the most of any opportunity to wish the team well in the World Cup finals, the sales of small England flags that can be fitted to cars have gone through the roof this summer.
However, both police and environmentalist have warned motorists over the possible hazards of flying the flags.
First, the environmental concern is that the added wind resistance created by the flags will increase fuel consumption, meaning that more CO2 from exhaust fumes will be released into the atmosphere.
But the police more worried about the possible danger that such flags could pose to pedestrians or cyclists.
Motorists are warned that if a flag was to fly off their car or van in a gust of wind, they would not be able to cover it with a claim on their car insurance – rather they could face charges of assault.
"We are not trying to be killjoys," explained police constable Derek Grist of Hampshire police.
"All we ask for is a bit of consideration."
© Adfero Ltd
