Green Flag reveals the most common key mishaps

24 February 2010

As well as dealing with snow, ice, collisions and general breakdowns, motoring organisation Green Flag helped over 20,000 motorists in 2009 who had a ‘key related’ incident which stopped them using their car.

Dan Robinson, head of Green Flag, comments, “Locking keys in the car is not only frustrating, it can be dangerous too. Young children can often find themselves inside the car with parents or guardians looking in, hoping they don’t nudge the handbrake or get hurt. We prioritise any calls where children are at risk and our highly skilled technicians are able to get into a car within a matter of minutes.

“After locking your keys in the car, the next most common key callout is jammed keys in the ignition barrel or locks. December saw the highest volume of keys broken or snapped. It is important you don’t force your key into the barrel if the lock is iced over or feels stiff.”

Top five Green Flag key callouts by frequency

  1. Locked keys in the car
  2. Jammed keys in locks
  3. Lost keys
  4. Keys broken or snapped
  5. Keys stolen

Green Flag offers a number of tips to help eradicate ‘key-tastrophes’

  • Keep keys on a key-ring so they are easy to find
  • Don’t leave keys unattended anywhere
  • When at home, hang the keys somewhere that can’t be accessed through the letterbox and wouldn’t be an obvious place for a burglar to spot
  • In most cases of vehicle thefts, the car is stolen with the keys so don’t make it easy for thieves by hanging them near the door

Robinson concludes, “Never be tempted to leave your keys in the ignition to warm up the car. Thieves thrive on cold weather car jacking while motorists leave the car unattended and you are unlikely to be insured if your car is taken in this way.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact:
Claire Foster
Green Flag Press Officer
Tel: 020 8285 8682
Email: claire.foster@rbs.co.uk

Green Flag

With over 30 years experience, Green Flag provides customers with rapid breakdown cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Customers have access to a national network of thousands of independent recovery agents in the UK and mainland Europe

Green Flag is part of RBS Insurance, the second largest general insurer in the UK* and is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Customers can find out more about Green Flag products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 1557 or visiting www.greenflag.com

Green Flag Motoring Assistance breakdown cover is underwritten by Direct Line Insurance plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: 3 Edridge Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1AG. Registered in England No. 1810801. FSA registered No. 202684. The Financial Services Authority's Register can be accessed through http://www.fsa.gov.uk

* Based on 2008 FSA returns (policies in force).