For many in the smash repair trade, 2013 was a year of doom and gloom. The way some insurance companies wanted to do business meant that change was constant and fast, with business growth in numerous shops stalling. Some repairers began focusing on the reasons why and then questioning the viability of continuing in the industry.
There is a theory that states that whatever you focus your attention on, you expand in your consciousness. Or put simply, what you think or worry about most, appears bigger or more serious than it really is. In fact, you actually begin to see
more of it around.
Five minutes can seem like an eternity if you’re running late, extremely stressed and constantly checking your watch for how much longer to go. Conversely, doing what you love to do and being totally focused on that activity can have two or three hours feel like a matter of minutes.
It would make sense then in 2014 for those in the trade to change their focus to growth and opportunity. This is not about positive thinking; rather, it’s about being aware and alert to all that is going on around you that could be beneficial to your business.
With a bit of lateral thinking away from the bleeding obvious, those seemingly obscure decisions made by ignorant boffins in government and in car manufacturing itself appear to work in the smash repair industry’s favour. The following samples taken from assessors’ work during the last few months of 2013 shows that all is not lost with the industry. The cause and effect of each should be more than enough to put a smile on any repairer’s face.
Prang stars
CAUSE: State governments’ obsession with revenue-raking mobile speed cameras and the ever expanding number being rolled out.
EFFECT: More and more at fault drivers involved in minor prangs admitting to taking their eyes off the road and speedo gazing to maintain a legal speed. This is becoming especially prevalent while driving through known speed camera locations. The result was plenty of choice rear quarter panel and front end repairs.
CAUSE: Local governments’ obsession with traffic calming devices like chicanes and speed humps to discourage use of rat-runs through suburban streets. Traffic calming equals peak hour congestion.
EFFECT: Traffic calming also equals driver agitation and impatience. To overcome the delays, risk-taking and poor judgement become the order of the day. There were plenty of jobs from peak hour nose to tail crashes and poorly timed turns into on-coming traffic to deal with.
CAUSE: The laudable greening of our suburbs. However, there seems to be little or no corresponding thought and action by residents and local government as to regular trimming and maintaining the proliferation of trees.
EFFECT: A record number of claims for damage caused by decent-sized branches breaking off and doing a merry tap dance and tumble across boot lids, turrets and bonnets.
CAUSE: More cars equipped with safety and collision avoidance systems giving some drivers a false sense of security.
EFFECT: Relying on the rearview camera for entry into difficult parking spaces left a few drivers red-faced and their wallet lighter. Baffled by the on-screen guidelines and being unpractised in the use of the technology, their new cars bumped and gouged the side panels of neighbouring cars.
CAUSE: A second-rate licence testing system that afflicts all states.
EFFECT: Several young drivers who obviously thought they were still on their computer game consoles and with little sense of reality slid into and bounced off gutters and roundabouts. Their antics kept the repairers happy and the respective insurance companies looking forward to recouping some of the damage costs through the policy renewals.
Rear view of the iPad
It’s also an absolute cinch as you drive around to turn your focus onto accidents waiting to happen. You don’t even have to look closely because out there and in your face is a generation of numbskulls who apparently believe that driving is something you do in between texting or reading emails on a smart phone.
For all intents and purposes, if someone didn’t know better, they appear to be playing with their genitals.
Ah, but the trophy for the finest accident waiting to happen I saw, had to go to the driver of a white, ACT registered, Volkswagen Passat. He had his iPad attached to the phone bracket on the windscreen. It pretty much took up the space between the top of the dashboard and the rearview mirror.
As I approached the car from behind, I thought it was being driven by a drunk by the way that it was weaving in and out of the lane. I’m certain that car has ended up in one of your workshops as I write this.
So there! With all that and more to focus on, 2014 and beyond looks good for the industry. And no, I haven’t been smoking any funny cigarettes.