The recession is like a game of bowling. With just one push in the right direction, the bowling ball will knock down as many pins as possible.

Let's just imagine each pin stands for a part of the financial industry, i.e. banks and mortgage lenders, the insurance industry, the housing market and so on. And together, these pins make up the UK economy.

With the force of the push being so strong, the recession has made an impact on each pin with just a touch. Although the ball may not have necessarily hit all the pins, each pin that it does hit will fall and may have a great impact on those surrounding it. Leaving the other pins unstable and likely to be knocked down from the next blow.

And so far, the recession has hit a majority, if not all, the pins, which has left unemployment levels soaring as industries attempt to stand back up. As a knock on effect, Brits are tying out new ways to cut costs.

But how does this relate to car insurance?

Insurance fraud

With many Brits struggling to save cash, the numbers of motorists going against the law is soaring.

it has been noted that the increase in car insurance fraud, known as the Crash for Cash scams where more people stage accidents in order to receive payouts from insurers.

Earlier this year, AA Insurance had announced that motorists should expect to see their insurance premiums soar by at least ten per cent throughout 2009.

Yet with more pins being knocked down, could premiums increase further as more people look for newer ways to save?

Drink driving

According to recent research, more Brits are turning to drink driving during the recession, in a bid to cut down on taxi costs.

A survey conducted by Direct Line Car Insurance revealed that over one million motorists in the UK may be tempted to drive under the influence of alcohol to avoid paying for a taxi ride.

The poll found that those aged between 18-34 were more likely to do so, compared with just three per cent of 34-55 year olds, and only one per cent of those over the age of 55.

Maggie Game, the head of Direct Line Car Insurance, said: "It's worrying to see the number of people who would drink and drive because they feel saving a few pounds outweighs the risk to themselves and others."

As a result of dangerous driving, the number of car accidents is also more likely to soar along with the car insurance premiums of innocent motorists.

Furthermore, the growing number of potholes has also led to an increase in dangerous drivers.

How do you avoid potholes?

According to the motor repair specialist firm, Kwik-Fit, within the past two months, a third of UK motorists have risked their lives by resorting to dangerous driving as a bid to avoid potholes.

Some drivers have even swerved to face oncoming traffic in fear of having to fork out extra cash to repair pothole damage.

The Customer services director of Kwik-Fit, David White, said: "Potholes are like the mines of the road with motorists doing whatever they can to dodge them. The huge rise in numbers since the winter means that millions of motorists are regularly making dangerous split-second decisions to avoid damaging their cars.

With motorists having to pay so much attention to minesweeping the road ahead, the worry is they aren't focusing enough on the everyday, expected motoring hazards either."

So as the ball continues to knock down the pins one by one, more Britons will be searching for new ways to save money, which could end up with more expenses for themselves and others in the long run.