'Punctures, potholes big risks for motorists during rains'

Tyre punctures and damage caused due to potholes pose as key perils for car owners during monsoon, according to a survey by ICICI Lombard released here today.
While punctures constitute 70 per cent of the risks, potholes account for 61 per cent, the survey report stated.
The survey was conducted across four metros in July to understand the driving behaviour of car owners during rains. The sample size was 1,000, including current owners of four-wheelers and those who had driven their vehicles during monsoon in the past.
Some 56 per cent of respondents surveyed were between 22 years and 35 years.

The company plans to utilise these findings to create programmes aimed at creating awareness among vehicle owners on safe driving during monsoon.
On an average, people are aware about damage caused to engine due to ingression of water while driving through clogged water (26 per cent) and seepage of water inside the engine compartment (53 per cent) when parked in submerged water, the report added.

Only 13 per cent car owners surveyed in Mumbai were aware of engine seizure in the case of driving through water.
Again, a lower 43 per cent in Mumbai knew of seepage of water inside engine compartment during monsoon compared compared with the 4-city average of 53 per cent, the survey said.

Some 72 per cent of respondents admitted to having driven in water-clogged areas and 34 per cent among them had encountered a situation where their cars had stalled.