As Guy Fawkes Night approaches and families start getting excited about bonfires and fireworks, Sabrina Webb, insurance expert at Uswitch.com, the price comparison and switching service, has the following advice for those who are looking to transport fireworks in their cars: “People all over the country will be looking to put on dazzling displays for friends and family around Bonfire Night, so it’s important to remember how dangerous fireworks can be.
“Fireworks are dangerous items and you must make sure to take the proper precautions not just at home and in public but also when transporting them. By ensuring your car is adequately set up to transport them you should be covered if something goes wrong.”
A few helpful tips:
Always check your policy documents – Most car insurance policies will cover drivers who are transporting fireworks for personal use within the limits allowed by the government (currently 5kg or, if you possess a firework storage licence, up to 50kg). However, it’s always important to check the terms and conditions of your policy, before you set off to the shops. If you have any questions about whether transporting fireworks would void your insurance, call your insurer and ask them directly.
Get your car ready – You should make sure that the vehicle you are transporting fireworks in is prepared correctly. If the fireworks do spark, these could cause the fire to spread quickly. Remove any explosive liquids or flammable items that you might be carrying in the boot of the car, such as spare fuel canisters, white spirit or matches and take out any cardboard boxes or paper that you might be transporting.
Don’t let fireworks take the back seat – It is much safer to transport fireworks in the boot of your car where they are relatively enclosed rather than on the back seat. This keeps them away from most of the possible spark threats and keeps them more stable during the journey.
Make sure you have a spark-proof box to hand – It can be easy to get carried away and purchase more fireworks than you really need. Make sure you stick within your personal allowance and they fit into your box. The best item for this job is a plastic household storage tub, the sort you might store clothes in under your bed. Label the container ‘Fireworks – highly flammable’ and always keep the containers closed.
Find out how you could save over £1,000 a year with Uswitch here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rory Stoves
Phone: 020 3872 5613
Email: rory.stoves@uswitch.com
Twitter: @UswitchPR
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