Press Release: 22 MIMLLION MOTORISTS REFUSE TO ABANDON BROKEN DOWN CARS BECAUSE IT'S COLD, DARK AND WET

Stick a blanket in your boot to help save your life

RAC warns drivers to prepare for the cold weather ahead

Over two-thirds (67 per cent) of Britain’s motorists are putting lives at risk to simply avoid the cold and rain.

Research by Mediwrap® to launch its new range of thermal blankets shows that despite government figures revealing a 71 per cent increase in the total number of hard shoulder casualties in the last three years, over 22 million motorists stay firmly seated in their cars when they break down if it’s cold, raining heavily or dark outside.

A practice highly discouraged by RAC, this potentially life threatening action is not helped by the fact that almost two thirds (64 per cent) of drivers questioned admitted to not keeping blankets or even a coat (73 per cent) in the boot of the car they drive.   

In a bid to rid the country’s hard shoulder of shivering motorists and keep them safe, RAC has teamed up with the British makers of the Military Forces endorsed Mediwrap® blanket to provide some much needed technological relief from the cold.

Available to the UK public for the first time, the reflective RAC Mediwrap® products are designed to stave off the effects of even the harshest of weather by maintaining core body temperature, keeping drivers warm, safe and visible at all times. Used by the UK’s emergency services, they are particularly lightweight and even considered part of a standard First Response kit by British Medics and the Army.  

When breaking down RAC always advises drivers and passengers to wait for help away from the vehicle and passing traffic – either behind the crash barrier or on an embankment if there is one.

RAC’s Patrol Ambassador of the Year, Prakesh “Crackers” Patel, said:

“The number of people who set off on car journeys unprepared for cold weather is a real worry.  If your car breaks down, you must get out of the car and away from the moving traffic, for your own safety.  Waiting to be rescued in cold, wet weather is never nice and if you have nothing to keep you warm and dry you’re likely to catch a chill.

"Patrols often end up donating coats, hats and gloves to drivers who have travelled unprepared.  Keeping RAC Mediwrap® blankets in the boot of your car will help to keep you warm and dry in case of emergency.”

Paul Fensome, Halfords Product Manager says, "As the country adapts to the change of the clocks resulting in darker nights, it is a timely reminder to get prepared for winter driving conditions. Rain, ice, fog, sleet and snow can catch even the most experienced driver unawares. The RAC Mediwrap® Adult and Child Size Blanket is an easy way to keep your family safe and warm should an emergency arise.”

The new RAC Mediwrap® blanket is available in stores nationwide and online. For further details on this product or information on Halfords ‘Be safe, be seen’ campaign visit www.halfords.com.

For more information on this ground-breaking technology, visit www.keepingbritaincosy.co.uk. 

RAC advice on winter essentials to stock in your boot

• RAC Mediwrap® blankets or ponchos to protect against wind, rain and cold in the event of a breakdown
• Windscreen scraper or de-icer to remove ice from vehicle
• High energy food, water and thermo flask filled with a hot drink
• First aid kit
• High quality torch
• Spare fuel can
• Warning triangle
• Fire extinguisher
• Mobile phone charger
• Light bulb kit and fuse range

-Ends-

For media Information please contact: Brando

Ash Gerrie on 020 7419 7320 or Ash@brando-world.com  

Ivana Zecevic on 020 7419 7313 or Ivana@brando-world.com

High res. images available on request

Note to editors:

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,961 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 16th - 19th October 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+)

RAC Mediwrap® blankets and ponchos are available in a range of sizes and are extremely affordable pieces of life-saving kit for drivers who find themselves caught out in the cold.

RAC Mediwrap® products’ technology can also be used to assist people who are in shock due to an incident by maintaining the body’s core temperature.

All the items in the range are highly thermally retentive and help prevent convective, conductive, evaporative and radiative heat loss.

The innovative and versatile Mediwrap® textile works to prevent hypothermia and is widely used by Ambulance Services, Fire, Police and the British Military in victim retrieval and stabilisation prior and during hospital treatment.

- Mediwrap commissioned survey by YouGov.  Sample size 1527 drivers. Drivers were asked where they would wait for help to arrive if their car broke down and it was very cold, raining heavily and dark outside. 67% said they would wait inside their vehicle.

- Official DFT figures show the number of casualties involving parked vehicles on Hard Shoulders / layby. In 2006 the total number of reported casualties on motorway hard shoulder / layby was 82 compared to 141 in 2008.

- Considering 33.7 million of the UK population are drivers and calculating 67% of these, this equates to 22,579,000.

- Mediwrap commissioned survey by YouGov. Sample size 1527 drivers. Drivers were asked what they currently keep in the boot of their car. 36% said they carry a blanket, whilst  64% do not.

- Mediwrap commissioned survey by YouGov. Sample size 1527 drivers. Drivers were asked what they currently keep in the boot of their car. 27% said they carry a coat, whilst  73% do not.