UK motor insurance customers ‘don’t know traffic light sequence’

traffic lights

More than half of all motor insurance customers in the UK do not know the traffic light sequence, new research has revealed.

Autoquake, the UK’s largest online car retailer which boasts being ten per cent cheaper than car supermarkets, asked 1,000 car insurance policyholders to name the signal after amber.

Just under half (48 %) said red, while 39% thought the amber light would turn green next.

Almost one in ten motor insurance holders thought a green and amber signal would follow in the sequence, while six per cent thought red with amber would appear.

“We’re surprised that so few drivers remember the traffic light sequence correctly,” said Dermot Halpin, chief executive officer at Autoquake.

“Drivers should remember that an amber light means stop unless it is unsafe to do so. As pedestrians we’re worried that so many drivers expect to see a green and amber signal since this doesn’t exist!”

In central London there are 2.4 personal injury accidents per year at traffic lights, according to GLA Economics.

Due to so few drivers knowing the signal sequence, “perhaps this is one of the reasons”, he said.

News source credits: swiftcover.com

Proposed fuel tax plan shelved

Fuel Tax Plan

The proposed fuel tax plan designed to protect car insurance holders from volatile oil prices has been shelved, it has been reported.

According to the Daily Mail, the coalition government has decided to ditch the idea of a fair fuel tax stabiliser, which was one of the key commitments outlined in the Conservatives’ election manifesto.

The government’s new document of policy pledges makes no mention of the tax plan and AA president Edmund King has written to the chancellor George Osborne to voice his concerns at the move.

“This will concern Britain’s motorists if it has been dropped without the promised consultation. It was something that appealed to Britain’s 33 million motorists,” the newspaper reports him as saying.

Transport secretary Philip Hammond had previously pledged to end the previous government’s ‘war on motorists’ by bringing down the cost of driving.

However, Mr King believes the decision to scrap the fuel tax plan is another blow for car insurance customers.

News source: news.swiftcover.com

Car insurance customers at risk this bank holiday weekend

Micheldever Tyre Services

Millions of car insurance customers will put their lives at risk this bank holiday weekend by not checking their tyres.

Research by Micheldever Tyre Services, a leading supplier of tyres and experts in automotive care, found that more than 30% of the cars owned by motor insurance policyholders that are brought into its flagship outlet in Hampshire have at least one illegal tyre.

A year ago, only 19% of cars had one or more un-roadworthy tyres.

More than 80% of the cars brought in also have badly worn tyres with a tread depth below 2mm, which urgently need replacing.

Car insurance customers who drive with tyres that are not roadworthy not only risk causing accidents, which could harm themselves or others, but could also incur a fine and penalty points on their licence, which would result in higher motor insurance premiums.

There are more than 31 million cars registered in the UK and these figures from Micheldever suggest that around 1.5 million car insurance customers could be flouting the law with illegal tyre treads.

Highways Agency to suspend roadworks on many major roads

Highways Agency

Car insurance holders worried about endless traffic jams this bank holiday weekend have been given a boost after the Highways Agency announced it is to suspend roadworks on many major roads.

In addition, the body is to provide live traffic information to road users, with Friday evening and Saturday lunchtime predicted to be the busiest periods.

The agency states that more than 228 miles of road improvement works will be suspended on motorways and major A roads.

Motor insurance holders can access up-to-the-minute travel information from the body’s website as well as on local radio stations and on mobile platforms such as the iPhone.

Roads Minister Mike Penning said that the move will ease congestion and help people enjoy their extended break.

“To help road users with their journeys, the Highways Agency will remove as many sets of roadworks as it is safe and practical to do so,”  he stated.

News source: news.swiftcover.com

Car insurance affecting scam warning in Nottinghamshire

nottinghamshire Police

Drivers in Nottinghamshire have been warned about a scam which could have an impact on their car insurance policy.

There have been two incidents reported in the last month where drivers have been stopped and asked for directions only to find valuables have been taken from their vehicles.

In one incident, a woman was approached in a Tesco car park by a man seeking directions and while she was telling him where to go, his accomplice stole her handbag.

The second case involved the same car park and circumstances, only this time the victim had her bank card taken from her purse.

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police said it is important that car insurance holders remain aware of all potential threats.

“We ask people to remain vigilant at all times and to be cautious if approached by someone with a map. Keep an eye on personal belongings and make sure other doors are locked within the vehicle,” the representative added.

Brit Insurance unveils new Gibraltar boss

Brit Insurance Logo

Brit Insurance has promoted Andrew Cunningham to head of office for its Gibraltar business who has 17 years of experience in the insurance sector. As well as being a qualified actuary, with experience of providing statistical and financial modelling of complex reinsurance structures, he also has significant underwriting experience. He has worked for Brit since 2000, holding a number of senior positions.

Reporting to Brit Insurance’s general manager in the Netherlands, Ferdinand Voskens, he takes up the new role immediately and will also join the board of Brit Insurance Gibraltar (PCC) Limited.

Peter Goddard, commercial director at Brit Insurance said:

“Andrew has played a key role in the establishment and ongoing success of our Gibraltar office and is ideally-placed to lead our operations there.”

Brit is a leading provider of commercial insurance products in the UK and a leading participant in the London Market for commercial insurance and reinsurance business.

Motor insurance customers running risks with car maintenance

car maintenance

Millions of motor insurance customers in the UK are running risks with their car maintenance in a bid to save money on motoring costs, it has been claimed.

Car manufacturer Ford found that one in five UK motor insurance policyholders have no breakdown cover.

Due to rising road tax and fuel costs, roadside assistance cover is neglected by younger car insurance holders, with 28 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds forgoing any cover.

All of this is surprising considering recent independent research from consumer group Which? revealed that one in six motor insurance customers experience at least one breakdown a year.

“It’s a story we hear often but while trying to avoid the cost, many of these drivers could regret skipping basic maintenance and roadside cover” said Mike Weatherston, group service marketing manager at Hendy Ford.

Recently, Motor Codes offered drivers a checklist to follow to ensure they were not ripped off by car servicing or repair garages.

Car insurance holders should be advised of the cost of repairs before they are undertaken, technicians should talk to them about the work they have carried out in layman’s terms and the garage should collect customer feedback to improve, according to the self-regulatory body.

Volcanic ash cloud has changed consumers approach to travel insurance

Volcanic Ash Cloud Iceland

The disruption to air travel caused by the volcanic ash cloud has changed consumers’ approach to travel insurance, new research has suggested.

According to a study conducted by TNS RI Travel and Tourism on behalf of Travel Weekly, one in five holidaymakers would now be more likely to ensure they had the correct travel insurance policy in place so they would be covered should any problems arise.

In addition, 80 per cent of the organisation’s members said that the authorities were correct in closing UK airspace on the grounds of health and safety.

However, a quarter of those questioned stated that the decision to resume flights could have been made quicker.

Tom Costley, head research partner at TNS RI Travel and Tourism, said: “As a one-off event, it was unlikely to have a significant impact on travel patterns for the rest of 2010, with the possible exception of an increase in travel insurance.”

News source: swiftcover.com

Related news story: Aviva launches volcanic ash insurance

Car insurance premiums are cheaper for Audi drivers

Audi Badge

Car insurance premiums are cheaper for drivers of cars from the Audi range than those of any other German premium-sector car maker, according to Swiftcover.com

Motor insurance costs are lower for Audi drivers because of the award-winning security measures and competitive repair costs of the models.

According to data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which represents the collective interests of the insurance industry in the UK, Audi drivers pay less for their car insurance than the owners of other equivalent premium-sector models.

The ABI data was used to calculate the average motor insurance group ratings for Audi models and their rival premium counterparts.

Cars are rated using a system which allocates penalty points to each vehicle based upon a number of different factors.

These include the purchase price of the car, the cost of its key parts, ease and cost of repairs as well as the results of an independent crash test.

Vehicles with the most penalty points end up in higher car insurance groups.

Almost every range of Audi’s cars posted low average ratings, meaning they cost less to insure.

News source: swiftcover.com

Car insurance group Admiral bringing 750 more jobs to Wales

admiral-logo

Car insurers Admiral have announced their plans to bring a further 750 jobs to Wales by the end of June. The positions will be shared out across three of the company’s bases in Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea.

Admiral already boasts a large employment base in its home country of Wales with a workforce of 3,000 and a further 800 employees outside of Wales. According to the bosses at Admiral, they’ve already recruited 490 new workers and are looking for a further 261 employees to fill their available positions.

Recruitment on this scale has not been a walk in the park, with the insurance company interviewing approximately five people for every single position filled. They estimate that between January and March of this year, Admiral’s recruitment team have conducted 2,338 telephone interviews, seen 1,894 people at their assessment centres, and interviewed 819 people.

The burgeoning insurance group say they have been less affected by the economic downturn compared to other industries, one of the main reasons for this is that car insurance is a legal requirement and not something motorists can afford to go without.

Due to the growth the insurance company has experienced of late, Admiral is able to recruit on this high level, meaning their workforce will have grown by 11% in the first of 2010.