By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM residents are some of the most likely in Melbourne to have their vehicles damaged by wayward trolleys, new figures have shown.
An analysis of RACV insurance claims data from the last three financial years shows that Wyndham residents made 14 claims for damage made by trolleys.
The figure was the eighth highest in Melbourne.
RACV General Manager of Insurance, Paul Northey, said with the average repair last financial year costing $1625, up from $1273 in 2010/11, shoppers should take precautions in carparks.
“Motorists should slow down and look carefully when parking or reversing, as trolleys can sometimes be hard to spot,” Mr Northey said.
Mr Northey said shoppers could also help reduce the risk of damage to their cars or other vehicles by returning their trolley to the designated area.
“At the end of a long day in the shops with the sales crowd, it can be tempting to just leave the trolley and go home, but RACV urges shoppers to take a few seconds to return it to a designated trolley bay,” Mr Northey said.
“Following these tips will help prevent the scratches and dents that result from a collision
between a car and a trolley that cause so much angst for motorists and yet often go unreported.”
The figures also show that the most common time for a collision with a shopping trolley to occur
was between midday and 6pm.
“This is when shopping centre carparks are often at their busiest, and that is why it is important to be always vigilant when driving and parking your car,” Mr Northey said.
