Greater Manchester Police has advised florists van insurance holders that they stand a better chance of preserving their no-claims bonus if they remain with vehicles at all times during frosty winter mornings.
In advising the general motoring public of the importance of ensuring that they do not leave vehicles unattended while warming engines and defrosting windows, the police's comments had especial pertinence to florists' van insurance policyholders, who are far more likely than most to begin their working days with pre-dawn mornings.
And the risks involved in leaving running vehicles unattended extends beyond losing a no-claims bonus – many insurance companies may refuse to pay out an insurance claim if it can be proven that the florists van insurance policyholder was negligent in leaving the vehicle.
A police spokesperson commented, "Insurance policies may be invalidated, so the decision to leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running could be an expensive one."
There is also a concern from some business owners that their large commercial fleets may be vulnerable if they are targeted by thieves during the dark hours of the winter mornings.