As COVID-19 lockdown restrictions ease, solicitor warns of potential road accidents

After reporting a significant fall in the number of injury claims arising from road traffic accidents following the COVID-19 lockdown, a solicitor with one of the region’s largest independent law firms warns that road users should take extra caution and drive safely as lockdown restrictions ease.

Claire Parfitt, a solicitor with GHP Legal which has offices both sides of the border, in Oswestry, Wrexham, Llangollen and Chirk, says the decline in accidents and injury claims was due to a fall in road use following the implementation of lockdown measures, to levels not seen since 1955.

“Road traffic accidents are however already on an upward trend”, she warns, “as lockdown and travel restrictions ease and the roads become busier as people start returning to work. In addition, the 5-mile travel limit in Wales has been lifted.

“Sadly, this is also likely to mean the number of road traffic casualties will increase, and with some pubs now re-opening we are unfortunately likely to see more accidents caused by drink-driving.

“It is now more important than ever that people take extra care and vigilance on the road, both to avoid accidents and to allow the NHS to continue focusing their efforts on the coronavirus pandemic and catching up with the significant backlog of other appointments and operations which have been postponed. This is one small way we can each do our bit for the NHS.”

For those who must travel, the advice from ‘Road Safety GB’ is to take care and do all you can to avoid collisions and casualties by keeping to the speed limits, wearing your seatbelt, never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and never using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

Pictured: Claire Parfitt, a Solicitor with GHP Legal.