It’s not only cats who have nine lives, but drivers too…

If only drivers could predict when they are about to be involved in a car accident, then they could try to avoid them and minimise the stress in their lives.

New research reveals that on average a driver will be involved in a car accident every six and a half years, totalling nine times in a lifetime.

The research from car insurer Churchill shows that there are 3.9 million car accidents every year in the UK. This means that every minute of every day, 7.4 car accidents happen on the nation’s roads.

Churchill analysed its claims data and also calculated how frequently both men and women will have car accidents.

The results allude to the myth that men are better drivers than women, revealing that men crash every seven years and one month, and women will have an accident every six years and seven months. This means that women will rack up more accidents in a lifetime, with a total of 9.5 in comparison with men who will have just 8.2. However, because the figures take into account the average life expectancy of a woman to be 80 years and a man’s to be 75 years, the frequency of accidents average out to be more or less the same.

Darren McCauley, Head of Car Insurance at Churchill, said, "People will be surprised at how frequently they need to make a car insurance claim over their lifetime, which highlights the need for comprehensive insurance."

The insurer also looked at other types of car insurance claims and found that 73% of the driving population will be victims of car theft in their lifetime, with 76% of women likely to report their car being stolen, compared with 70% of men.

Drivers should also keep the number of a windscreen repairer handy though, as both women and men are likely to claim for windscreen damage three times during their driving lifetime.

"Car accidents are one of the less enjoyable things about being a driver, but it’s inevitable that you will have to make a claim at some point. However competent you are at driving, you cannot avoid someone hitting your car when it’s parked or an object hitting your windscreen causing its repair or replacement" said McCauley.