- High incidence level of driving through water clogged areas
- Wrong reaction – cranking engine in water clogged areas
- Poor understanding – many believe motor insurance covers consequential losses arising out of engine seizure
India
continues to see a plethora of new vehicle launches, as consumer show
preference to purchase new and innovative models rather than purchase
the regular versions. Even as Indians choose the new and innovative,
they continue to display lethargy when it comes to safe driving and
maintaining their vehicles, especially during monsoon season. It is a
common sight to see cars and two wheelers being driven through water
clogged areas, posing a threat to the vehicle as well as the passengers.
To
understand the current driving behaviour of Indian car owners during
rains, ICICI Lombard undertook an on-field survey across 4 metro cities
in July. The sample size for the survey was 1000 respondents, current
owners of a 4 wheeler vehicle and who had in the past, driven their
vehicle during the monsoon season. The majority (56%) of the respondents
surveyed were between the age group of 22-35 years old. The company
will utilize the findings to create programs aimed at creating awareness
among Indian vehicle owners on safe driving during monsoon.
When
questioned about the kind of vehicle damages they envisage when it
comes to driving their vehicles in the monsoon season, majority of the
respondents felt that ‘Tyre Puncture’ (70%) and ‘Damage caused due to
potholes’ (61%) were the key perils associated with the season. What’s
interesting is that on an average across the 4 cities, people are aware
about the damages caused to engine, due to ingression of water while
driving through clogged water (26%) and seepage of water inside the
engine compartment (53%), when parked in submerged water.
However,
Mumbai seems to be unaware of the impact of driving through water
clogged roads. Only 13% (the lowest among all 4 cities) were aware of
engine seizure in case of driving through water. Again, a lower 43%
respondents in Mumbai were aware of seepage of water inside engine
compartment during monsoon compared to 4 city average of 53%.
All
|
Mumbai
|
Delhi
|
Bangalore
|
Kolkata
| |
1000
|
250
|
250
|
250
|
250
| |
Tyre puncture
|
70
|
74
|
56
|
76
|
76
|
Damage to undercarriage while driving over potholes
|
61
|
46
|
64
|
59
|
74
|
Seepage of water inside vehicle compartment
|
58
|
55
|
64
|
46
|
69
|
Damage to vehicle due to road accidents
|
57
|
67
|
30
|
59
|
72
|
Damage to vehicle due to falling tree/ branches
|
55
|
66
|
31
|
74
|
48
|
Seepage of water inside engine compartment
|
53
|
43
|
66
|
40
|
64
|
Engine cease while driving in water clogged areas
|
26
|
13
|
34
|
25
|
32
|
Headlight off/head lamp damage
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Despite
being aware of the perils caused to the vehicle engine due to water
ingression, 72% of respondents admitted to having driven their vehicle
in water clogged areas and 34% among them had encountered a situation,
where their car had stalled, while driving through low-lying areas. All
respondents from Delhi admitted to driving their vehicle in water
clogged areas with 61% of the respondents having encountered situations
where their cars had stalled while driving through water clogged areas.
Mumbai
respondents were more cautious here with 41% respondents having driven
through water clogged areas during monsoon and 22% facing an issue while
doing the same.
All figures in %
The
perturbing fact which came across from the study was that 64%
respondents tried to restart the vehicle by pushing with help from
passer-bys while 58% respondents admitted to crank the engine for
restarting the vehicle, with the vehicle still being part submerged in
water.
Despite
being cautious of not driving through water, a higher number i.e. 58%
of Mumbai respondents tried to crank their vehicle’s engine to restart
the vehicle. Bangalore respondents were the most cautious with only 33%
trying to forcefully start the engine when stuck on a water clogged
road.
Reaction in Water Clogged Area
|
ALL
|
By City
| |||
Mumbai
|
Delhi
|
Bangalore
|
Kolkata
| ||
720
|
104
|
250
|
151
|
214
| |
Seek help from passer-by to start vehicle by pushing
|
64
|
50
|
53
|
73
|
81
|
Crank the engine for re- starting the vehicle
|
58
|
68
|
65
|
33
|
68
|
Stop the car and leave it till water level recede
|
48
|
69
|
4
|
66
|
52
|
Seek help from a towing company
|
20
|
28
|
4
|
26
|
23
|
Call mechanic
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
The
limited awareness regarding avoiding driving through water clogged
areas is also extended to lack of understanding of the motor insurance
policy. Only 35% respondents surveyed were aware that motor insurance
does not cover damage to engine if the vehicle is driven through water
clogged areas. Kolkata was the least aware with only 11% respondents
being aware of the same. To add to this, 41% respondents across the four
cities were not sure if their car insurance would cover such instances.
Coverage of Insurance if driven through water clogged areas
|
ALL
|
By City
| |||
Mumbai
|
Delhi
|
Bangalore
|
Kolkata
| ||
1000
|
250
|
250
|
250
|
250
| |
Yes Insurance covers such damages
|
24
|
19
|
32
|
12
|
32
|
No Insurance does not cover such damages
|
35
|
45
|
41
|
43
|
11
|
Not sure
|
41
|
36
|
27
|
45
|
58
|
All figures in %
A
vehicle which is stalled in water is caused due to the mechanical
failure called ‘Hydrostatic Lock’, wherein water enters the engine due
to driving in flooded waters or by cranking the engine in submerged
water, leading to stalling of the vehicle. A mere 7% of the respondents
were aware of this technical aspect.
Hydrostatic
Lock occurs due to consequence of the driver’s actions once a vehicle
is submerged in water and by forcing the car to start by cranking the
engine. It is important to note that engine damage due to hydrostatic
loss is classified as a ‘consequential loss’ as per motor insurance
regulations and is not covered under a regular motor insurance policy.
This is because the damage is a consequence of a certain action
resulting from having cranked the engine and not an outcome of an
uncertain event.
However,
today insurance companies do offer Add-on covers such as Engine Protect
which reimburses the claims arising from the Engine due to Hydrostatic
Lock. Among the respondents, barely 11% of the respondents were aware of
this Add-on cover and only 1% had opted for an Engine Protect cover.
Your
car is indeed a safer vehicle when driving through rains compared to
two wheelers and other modes of transport. However, it is extremely
essential that we are aware and show caution when driving in the rains.
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