The unusually warm autumn has been kind to the people in Latvia allowing them to enjoy particularly nice weather. Although the first snow has already been experienced in many places in Latvia, BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (hereinafter – BTA) emphasizes that as the snow cover is getting thicker, the number of road traffic accidents due to accidental swerving of the vehicle, goes up. BTA reminds drivers be particularly careful and timely prepare for the winter – switch summer tyres to winter tyres, an exercise caution on bridges and road cross-overs, as they get get ice-coated and road junctions – jammed.

The first thick snow blanket on the driving part of roads in Latvia is a test for drivers and public transport users alike. The weather in this autumn season have been unpredictable, therefore BTA, suggests all road users, especially drivers, selecting an appropriate driving speed, avoid fast breaking and direction change manoeuvres, when roads are snow-covered and road junctions and bridges – iced.

As the snow on the driving part of the roads is getting thicker, road users should be aware of potential traffic jams in cities. Drivers should be extra tolerant during this time, going easier on treading on the accelerator and better maintaining a larger distance to cars in front. Last year, the first snow came to Latvia on the 25^th of October, and in November, the snow thickness in some places even exceeded ten-centimetre mark. Within the timeframe from the 1^st November to the 21^st November this year, BTA has received 559 insurance claims, which is by 17% less than the same period a year ago. For the major part, they were due to failure to maintain safe distance, the car swerving, when a car parked on the street gets caught, or skidding on a snowy or iced road.

According to the Latvian Road Traffic Safety Directorate (Ceļu satiksmes drošības direkcija – CSDD) regulations, the switch from summer to winter tyres must be accomplished until 1^st December. Therefore, when a road traffic accident occurs in November and the customer has failed to manage to change them, the insurer has no reason to reject accepting insurance claim. In case of occurrence of a potential insured event or road traffic accident, BTA advises its customers to call BTA’s 24/7 hotline at +371 26121212 as soon as possible and provide information about the accident and follow the received instructions. If a road traffic accident has occurred, one should act according to the effective legislation, notifying the police thereof or completing the agreed statement of facts on motor vehicle accident.

About BTA

BTA Baltic Insurance Company is one of the leading insurance companies in the Baltics, offering the broadest range of non-life insurance services in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. BTA employs more than 1,000 employees in the Baltics. The largest shareholder of BTA is Vienna Insurance Group AG with 200 years of experience in the insurance industry. More than 50 companies in 25 countries constitute the group, which employs 25,000 employees. Vienna Insurance Group AG is a clear leader in its core markets in Europe maintaining high rating of financial stability – Standard & Poor’s A+ (stable outlook), with a listing on the Vienna and the Prague Stock Exchange.

Additional information:
Elīna Rasmane
Marketing and Public Relations Department Director
BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS
e-mail: elina.rasmane@bta.lv