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Cover it and don't risk it, say insurers
publication date: Sep 24, 2009
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author/source: Robin Roberts
With insurance premiums for younger
drivers sky high, and one in five people getting behind the wheel without motor
insurance, Brits believe young motorists caught driving without insurance
should face tougher penalties, according to research from moneysupermarket.com.
The
survey by the price comparison site found two thirds of Brits (62
per cent) think motorists caught behind the wheel without adequate motor
insurance should face heftier penalties than are currently being enforced.
In
addition, 18 per cent think the driving age should increase from 17 to 21 and
16 per cent think either the Government or the motoring industry should
subsidise younger drivers to stop them getting behind the wheel uninsured.
Steve
Sweeney, head of motor insurance for moneysupermarket.com said, "While 17-year-olds will be rubbing their hands with glee at finally being
able to own their own motor, most will be in for a big shock when trying to
insure their car.
"Insurance
providers view younger drivers as high risk and often inflate premiums to
reflect this. Despite this, young drivers should not use this as an excuse to
get behind the wheel uninsured. It is vital this age group compares as many
premiums as possible to get the best possible deal. | | | | | "Premiums can
run into the thousands meaning they are out of reach for many drivers; however
I don't think harsher punishments are the right way to combat this.
"We need a
solution, not more fines. Some car insurance providers had piloted a
‘pay-as-you-drive' insurance scheme which saw lower premiums for Britain's
younger motorists.
"It also made them think twice about driving their cars
unnecessarily. I would suggest it is time for the insurance industry to revisit
these innovative models to help drive down the cost of insurance.
"The
Government could also take a look at driving tests and whether they should be
changed to reflect actual driving habits. More lessons for younger drivers, the
inclusion of motorway driving and lessons at night could reduce the
underwriting risks associated with younger drivers."
Additional
research also found the number of motorists driving uninsured across all age
groups has risen by a third (33 per cent) compared to 2008. | |
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has
announced the launch of its own video sharing channel on YouTube.
DSA
has joined YouTube to publish official road safety videos on the world's
largest video sharing service, with over 100 million videos viewed every day.
Nick
Carter, DSA's Director of Strategy & Performance, said: "Using YouTube
will let DSA reach a wider audience than ever before - we want to talk to our
audiences on the platfortms we know they use.
"By
putting our videos on YouTube, we're catering for the growing number of people
whose first choice to find information is to go online." | | | A fifth
of motorists have broken the law compared with 15 per cent in
2008 - stark figures considering last week's announcement on new
rules against Brits who leave their cars uninsured.
They could face fines of up
to £1,000, even if the car is kept in a garage or on a driveway. The law change will still exempt cars from having
cover if it has a valid Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
The Motor Insurers'
Bureau has today launched its ‟Stay Insured‟
campaign, designed to target drivers who may be wavering when it
comes to renewing their insurance policies due to increased financial
pressures.
There
are concerns that the recession may increase the number of drivers allowing
their insurance to lapse in a bid to cut their outgoings, especially since 3 in
4 drivers are currently looking for ways to reduce motor insurance costs.
There
are currently an estimated 900,000 drivers under the age of thirty driving
without insurance, of which nearly 600,000 are aged between 21 and 29 years
old. This age group represents 14% of the total driving population and 1 in 3
(34%) of all uninsured drivers. While the typical uninsured motorist is likely
to be a male aged 17-29, 15% of uninsured drivers fall into the
40-49 age range. |
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