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Millions blown away by storm

25th January 2007
Page 7
Page 7, 25th January 2007 — Millions blown away by storm
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

LAST WEEK'S STORMS cost UK industry in the "high hundreds of millions" according to the Association of British I nsurers, wi al the road transport industry picking up a large chunk of the bill.

Fleets stood idle across the UK as record numbers of trucks were tipped over by galeforce winds which hit the North-East and North-West particularly hard.

About 35 trucks were blown over despite urgent warnings from the Highways Agency that high-sided vehicles should get off the road as soon as possible. In addition, some operators report that north-south journey times were doubled.

The Highways Agency and the Met Office fear such storms could become more frequent as a result of climate change.

The Freight TransportAssociation and CM put their heads together and calculated that if just 10% of the 430,000 UK vehicles over 3.5 tonnes were parked up during the worst of the storm the cost to the industry was almost £50m. Trucks written off, including recovery costs, could amount to a further R2.6rn.

The Association of British Insurers says the increase in claims will be calculated at the end of the quarter, but spokeswoman Kelly Ostler adds: "We know it cost a lot of money. Overall we're reckoning it in the high hundreds of millions."

Catastrophe risk modeller AIR Worldwide estimates that the total cost across Europe could be as high as El Obn.

In addition to immediate costs, there is the consequential loss of undelivered freight and road closures. Geoff Dossetter. external affairs director at the FTA, says: "Although warnings were there on Wednesday. no one anticipated the severity of the storm. Operators were not being cavalier or foolhardyno one foresaw this." 11As CMwent to press the Met Office was forecasting much colder weather with snow and frost in many parts of the country. Scotland, which escaped the worst of the storm, is already seeing snowfall.

The Highways Agency advises drivers of high-sided vehicles to take extra care on the roads, to plan journeys carefully and to be properly equipped with warm clothes, food, water, boots, de-jeer, a torch and a spade.

Critters are on alert to cover the whole network in advance of the cold spell.


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