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Archive for March, 2010

Easter Weekend Travel Tips

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

It is going to be a busy weekend on the roads.  The Easter holiday weekend is a time for family, for escaping the daily grind, or for making that first springtime daytrip out.

As a result, the AA are predicting that a huge 56% of UK motorists will hit the roads this weekend.  Last year, the figure stood far lower at 32%, so be prepared for even worse congestion if you were caught out then.

The survey polled more than 17,000 motorists on their plans for the Easter weekend.  They found that the most popular reason for getting in the car over the Easter weekend was day trips (44% of participants cited this), whilst 31% said they were planning a weekend away.

The findings were similar nationwide, although there were a few notable differences.  Northern Irish drivers are most likely to be heading off in their cars over the weekend, with 65% planning a break away, whilst Scottish drivers are the most likely to be making a weekend of it and going away for an overnight stay.

UK tourism has been on the increase due to financial strains reducing our holiday budgets, and the Eater weekend is set to follow this trend.  However, foreign travel will still peak this weekend, with 39% of those surveyed planning to head off to foreign shores.

All this holidaymaking, sadly, makes for tricky travelling conditions.  This year in particular, planned national rail strikes will pull travellers from the railways back onto the roads.

Steward Topp, a patrol driver for the AA, advises that “It’s very tempting just to jump in the car and head off but it really does pay to spend a few minutes checking your car and making sure you have everything you need for the journey.”

There are a number of preparations you can do which should help you get to your Easter destination in good time and without too much stress.

Before you head off, take the time to plan out your route and make sure you are fully covered with up to date car insurance.  Look out for hotspot areas, for example major airports or busy towns which are likely to be traffic-heavy.  Live travel updates are available on websites, local radio stations and television.  To make the most of this information plan out a few alternatives to your primary route and mark them down.  Make sure your passenger knows your plan too.

The heaviest period of travel is expected to be Thursday and Friday between 11am-3pm, and then the return on Tuesday as everyone heads back to work.  If at all possible, try to avoid driving at these times.  Setting off that slight bit earlier could save you lots of time and frustration.  If your journey is particularly long, why not add another destination to your weekend itinerary, and stop off somewhere en-route midday whilst the worst of the traffic clogs up the roads?

Occasionally despite all your best planning, and the advice of traffic watch services, busy roads are unavoidable.  This can be a real dampener on the start of your weekend break.  In order to minimise the pain, make sure you’ve allowed good time for your journey, and factored in contingency for hold-ups.  To keep everyone happy, stock up your car with refreshments, games, CDs and anything else you might need to get your holiday started early.

Have a great Easter weekend, and a safe and clear journey to wherever you are travelling.

Tags: easter travel, travel tips
Posted in Car Insurance | No Comments »

Just how ‘much safer’ are women drivers?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

It has been statistically proven in recent years that women are considerably less likely to be in a driving accident than men. A leading Insurance company has just released figures showing that women are also 150% less likely to have a driving conviction.

It has also been revealed that 18% of all British motorists have incurred at least one driving conviction. 4% were found to have been hit with more than one. The proportion of drivers breaking the law has reportedly risen 4% over the last decade.

However, it is debatable whether British drivers have become more unsafe. CCTV has given the police significantly greater powers of surveillance and those law breaking drivers who may once have slipped through the net are now being caught. There are thought to be more of these cameras per person in Britain than in any other nation in the world.

85% of total convictions are for speeding offences. This is far in excess of the 9% that are for jumping traffic lights. Drink driving offences account for a further 2%. Men are twice as likely as women to take the risk of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Young drivers are the most likely group to act irresponsibly on Britain’s roads. Nearly 25% of men aged 25-34 have incurred at least one motoring conviction. Men in the 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 age brackets are equally likely to have two or more convictions.

There are significant regional differences in the likelihood of drivers incurring a conviction. Just 9% of men and 6% of women in Northern Ireland had a driving conviction against their name. Drivers in the Midlands are apparently far more likely to break the law. The figures are 31.5% of men and 16.6% of women in this area.

Women have, however, grown increasingly likely to have committed a motoring offence in recent years. 15% of all British women currently have a conviction against their name. This figure has risen 4% over the last decade. This still puts them 5% behind the total amount of men who have a conviction.

One potential reason that men are convicted more often than women is that men drive 20% further than their female counterparts, according to the latest Department for Transport statistics. It seems almost as likely that women will be found breaking the law as men.

The closing gap between men and women committing motoring offences is reflected in the costs of motor insurance premiums. Although young male drivers have to pay out about twice as much as young females, premiums are still becoming increasingly expensive for women.

Simon Douglas, Director of the insurance group, said, ‘in 2003, the point at which premiums for both sexes became similar was at about age 60, now it’s between 45 and 50. This is because more women are becoming car owners, they are driving more often and further and are thus more likely to be involved in accidents – as well as commit driving offences’.

‘But whatever your age or sex, insurers take notice of driving offences, especially multiple offenders and this is reflected in premiums. That’s because regular offenders are much more likely to make an insurance claim than those who have a clean license’. ‘Keeping the right side of the law is one of the best ways to keep your insurance premiums in check’.

Tags: Car Insurance
Posted in Car Insurance, Women's Car Insurance | No Comments »

Accidentally Driving Without Cover

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Each year people who think that they are fully insured discover that they have an invalid policy. There are a number of steps which you can take to ensure that your insurance remains valid.

It is always best to be realistic about the amount of miles that you are going to drive in the average year. An insurance policy will stipulate how many miles you are covered for. It is necessary to tell the insurer if you go over this set amount if you want your insurance to remain valid.

It is also a requirement that you inform your chosen insurer of any changes of address or occupation. Otherwise you may find yourself driving without insurance.

It is important to make sure that your vehicle has a valid MOT. Without one your car insurance will become invalid. It is a legal requirement that a vehicle has an MOT. The only times when you can drive without an one are when your driving your car to have its test or to obtain the necessary parts should it fail.

Drivers should never deliberately deceive an insurance company in an attempt to obtain a cheaper policy. All of the details on your insurance documents need to be 100% accurate. This means telling the insurer the exact location that your vehicle is being kept in. Do not try and fool your insurer into believing that your car is safer than it actually is.

One final piece of advice is to inform the insurance company of any modifications that have been made to a vehicle. It might be tempting not to tell them that you have added a new trim or exhaust to your motor as this can substantially raise the costs of insurance. However it’s much better to pay the costs of insurance premiums than to face the costs of having an accident, should you not have insurance.

Five percent of all drivers in Britain run the risk of driving without insurance. They incur a total of £500 million in accidents each year. They also add anywhere between £30 and £60 on to the cost of insurance for motorists.

According to research, uninsured drivers are also at greater risk of being in accidents. There is a chance that they may also be involved in other criminal activity. To avoid falling into this category it is necessary to fill out your insurance documents accurately and to tell the insurer if your circumstances change.

The potential costs of driving without insurance are substantial. The maximum fine currently stands at £5,000. Uninsured drivers may also have their licenses confiscated and face 6 to 8 penalty points. Nearly 3,000 drivers are convicted of the offence each year.

There are a variety of ways in which you can cut the costs of motor insurance. You may be surprised by how much money you can save.

Drivers who park their cars in garages or driveways are thought to be at less risk of potential damages than those who do not. By parking in more secure areas drivers can cut their insurance costs by anywhere between 3% and 7%.

It may also be worth considering your options before rushing off to purchase a new car. While you may want to splash the cash on a trendy vehicle, the insurance premiums that you will incur may mean that this isn’t a viable option. You should consider the engine type of any potential purchase.

If you want to reduce your motor insurance costs you should also avoid the temptation of making modifications to your vehicle. Adding additional features, apart from those designed to make your car safer, can result in a more expensive premium.

You may also like to consider reducing the amount that you use your vehicle. Short trips can often be made by foot. Reduced mileage will mean reduced motor insurance expenses.

Tags: Car Insurance
Posted in Car Insurance, Car Insurance Claims | No Comments »

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