Latest Car Insurance News
Welcome to Expert Car Insurance News. Here you will find all the latest information concerning the motor insurance industry.
Posted April 2007
Parliament urged to act on young driver road deaths
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has added its considerable weight to calls on the Government to act now to bring down the amount of deaths and serious injuries to our young people on the nation’s roads. The Director General of the ABI took the opportunity of a meeting with more than 50 MPs recently to call for more effective training for young drivers to equip them for today’s complex and crowded roads.
He said that in excess of 1400 young persons die or are seriously injured on our roads each year, amounting to around four every day, this amounts to an avoidable tragedy.
He called for a limit on the number of passengers that young drivers are allowed to carry, similar to laws currently in place in Scandinavia and America, citing that the number of young drivers killed carrying more than two passengers is 300% higher than those carrying no more than two. This is down to the ‘egging on’ effect and straight forward distraction.
The Director General also said young drivers, and in particular young males who are involved in 1000% more accidents than older more experienced drivers, are not prepared for motoring hazards and their potential consequences awaiting them on today’s roads. He made an urgent call for a new driver learning program which should involve a full year of learning activity.
Can it be right that drivers can take an accelerated course over three weeks and although they can pass a test at the end of that time they have so little practical experience of the myriad of circumstances that they will encounter.
Posted April 2007
Friday the 13th; unlucky for some drivers - it’s official
For centuries people from various nations around the globe (notably English, German, Polish and Portuguese-speaking peoples) genuinely have an unnaturally negative feeling about anything starting or happening on Friday 13th. According to Norwich Union insurance paraskevidekatriaphobia or a fear of Friday the 13th isn’t as daft as it may sound to many.
Regardless of the fact that this is the day you would think many more car drivers than usual would be taking greater care; it is in fact the day that most accidents happen. And the extent by which this day’s claims exceed all others is an eerie 13%. A study covering the last five years insurance claims shows that Friday the 13th is always heavy in claims whereas the months where 13th is on another day of the week, claims on the 13th days were lower than average.
A Norwich Union spokesperson said that the numbers were such that some credence had to be given to the effect of superstition on people’s bad driving. He said that it was possible that motorists may be amending their driving behaviour because of the perceived unlucky nature of the day, and in those changes to driving style, may not be reacting with the same speed and accuracy as they normally would. Thus, by being more cautious, these motorists are inadvertently making themselves a less safe driver and more likely to have an accident. All of which stacks up more evidence, helping to make unlucky to drive on Friday the 13th a self fulfilling prophesy.
Posted April 2007
Young drivers pay £££’s to keep their cars legal
A recent study from car insurance company Direct Line has shown that even though the government has brought in a minimal level car maintenance section to the driving test, many under 25 year olds are forking out millions of pounds every year on maintenance fees. They calculate that it is costing this group approximately £140 million annually to have sometimes the most basic of tasks carried out.
In terms of mechanical basic knowledge, they found large numbers of young drivers had problems with around 50% not knowing how to change a tyre or to carry out the procedure for jump starting a car. Although it is included in the test 37% could not confidently check their car’s brake fluid. When it came to changing light bulbs, 55% said they didn’t know how to change a brake light, indicator or headlight. And whilst 62% admitted to asking their parents for assistance, 51% said that they turned to mechanics for aid and had spent an average £111 per year.
A spokesperson for Direct Line car insurance said that it is essential for youngsters to be able to carry out the basic checks before undertaking a journey of any length, and they should be able to do this without always asking for help. This is not only practical common sense but could save young motorists a lot of money. Even more concerning is the fact that 43% of young drivers put up with potentially dangerous faults until their yearly service came round instead of getting the problem fixed. These drivers are travelling around in un-roadworthy vehicles that could lead to unnecessary and avoidable accidents.
Posted April 2007
Make a call to increase your car insurance premiums
Admiral have added their weight to the common-sense call against the increasing expensive illegal act of using a mobile whilst driving.
They report that police forces all over the country are planning or actively involved in a firm crack down on drivers using hand held mobiles at the wheel. They also confirm that getting caught is likely to push up your car insurance premium by around £100 at your next renewal, that’s on top of the £60 fine and the three points on your licence.
The reason is a simple one, statistically, those drivers that break the law and obtain a conviction in any way are more likely to make claims on their car insurance. From their own research, Admiral found that a massive 33% of drivers still use their mobiles illegally, just a 4% fall from last year, despite the increased penalties. Men remain more likely to transgress than women with 36% and 30% respectively affirming that they still use their phone at the wheel. This even though 91% agreed that the practice was bad and should be banned, apparently succumbing to the regular motorists habit of ",,, but it’s OK for me because I’m a fantastic driver!", Let's see how many still keep the habit when the costs start mounting up.
February 2006 to March 2006 News Articles
January 2006 to February 2006 News Articles
December 2005 to January 2006 News Articles
August 2005 to November 2005 News Articles
April 2005 to July 2005 News Articles
May 2004 to December 2004 News Articles
March 2004 to April 2004 News Articles
