In Latvia, there are five times more Jānises than Līgas, and on the road men “holders” of the most national name cause disproportionately more trouble to other participants of traffic and provide policemen with more work. Within the time-frame as of Līgo festivities last year until Summer Solstice this year mandatory third-party lability insurance (MTPL) claims submitted by Jānises and Līgas to BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS testify that Jānises are to blame for 92.2% of all the traffic accidents caused by both Jānises and Līgas. It means that Jānises are guilty in having caused a traffic accident 12 times more frequently than Līgas, or twice as much as they are “supposed to be” proportionately.

According to the information of Data Base of Proper Names of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, currently in Latvia there are 48220 Jānises and 10415 Līgas. There is a similar proportion in the area of road traffic, wherein, according to the data by Road Traffic Safety Directorate (Latvian – CSDD), Jānises have approximately six times more driver’s licences than Līgas. However, Jānises are far more insubordinate car drivers than Līgas. Gentlemen not only cause traffic accidents more often, but also aversion of the consequences thereof is more expensive. Having considered five largest MTPL compensations disbursed by BTA, in four occasions BTA had to cover consequences of accidents caused by Jānises. Over a year, Jānises managed to damage two private properties owned by other persons with their vehicles. Līgas have always got off only with damage to other cars.

“Traditionally, immediately prior to Līgo festivities people are concerned about rational driving and the dangers of drunk driving. However, statistics show that car drivers cause traffic accidents throughout the year, and accidents have no evident seasonal patterns. That is why we encourage not only Jānises and Līgas, but also all other participants of traffic to stay alert while driving, to observe traffic regulations and to be polite towards other drivers. And not only during Līgo festivities. Let’s drive safely and with a sense of responsibility,” encourages director of BTA Insurance Claims Handling Department Kārlis Liepiņš.

Should we regard insurance claims from the injured party perspective, the number of accidents complies to the proportion of drivers. Jānises have submitted five times more CASCO insurance applications, however, Līgas received larger compensations for car theft.

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 close to 200 years of experience in the insurance business. With about 50 companies in 30 countries and more than 25,000 employees, Vienna Insurance Group is a clear market leader in its Central and Eastern European markets, and takes care of more than 22 million customers. Vienna Insurance Group is the best-rated company of ATX, the leading index of Vienna Stock Exchange (since 1994) with a rating of A+ with stable outlook from Standard & Poor’s; its share is also listed on the Prague Stock Exchange. Vienna Insurance Group works in close partnership with Erste Group – the largest retail bank in CEE.

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