As of this Saturday, automobile manufacturers will equip all new car types with eCall to automatically dial emergency services in the event of a serious road traffic accident detected by vehicle sensors. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association welcomed this milestone, which has been made possible thanks to huge investments by the industry. “eCall has the potential to save many … [Read more...]
Young driver curfew criticised by insurer
Proposals to ban new young drivers from the roads at night have been criticised by one insurance provider. insurethebox, the telematics-based car insurance, believes proposed driving licence changes that would ban young motorists from driving at night is an ineffective and punitive solution to a very real problem in the fight against the high numbers of young drivers involved in serious … [Read more...]
Driver training needs better targeting by firms
The availability of better data means that a more targeted approach should be the future of driver training, says Arval. As well as collision and damage information, data ranging from telematics analysis through to fuel use and tyre wear can increasingly help fleet managers to identify who needs specific driving help, says David Watts, Fleet Consultant at the leasing and fleet management … [Read more...]
Younger drivers’ perfect storm over premiums
A perfect storm is battering premiums for younger drivers, says MoneySuperMarket. Quarterly data from MoneySuperMarket, reveals that young drivers shouldered hefty car insurance premium increases from July to September 2017. Of the three main factors affecting premiums in 2017 - changes to the discount rate applied to claims pay-outs, the increase in June to insurance premium tax (IPT) and … [Read more...]
Drivers must share blame for accidents
IAM RoadSmart is disappointed with another year of negligible overall progress in the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on the roads in the UK and suggests drivers must take their share of the blame. IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, said that although cars are getting safer and there has been a step change in new road investment, careless human … [Read more...]
Automated driving to cut accidents, but at what cost?
British Insurers have highlighted the potential dangers of ‘autonomous ambiguity’, as vehicles with different levels of autonomy, or driverless technology, increasingly become a feature of UK roads. With important and wide-reaching changes being defined by international regulators on what Assisted and Automated systems can and can't do, the Automated Driving Insurer Group (ADIG), led by the … [Read more...]
Silent witness could save your honour
The arrival of the first "standard fit" in-car camera used on some new Citroen C3 models will improve their insurance rating. The camera is integrated infront of the rear view mirror and works automatically to record rolling footage or can be set to take individual images, all downloadable to a smart-phone in the car. But you dont have to spend tens of thousands of pounds on a new C3 if you … [Read more...]
Cardiff bus lane accidents prompt safety statement
Cardiff Council has issued an urgent appeal after accidents in the newly created bus lanes in Caerphilly Road. In what some may see as a “damage limitation” or legal step to mitigate insurance claims or court action, the council is urging motorists to look out for the new lane, especially when joining from side roads and to reduce speed. The statement says, “The scheme on Caerphilly Road is … [Read more...]
Britain’s most dangerous roads are in Wales
Main roads in Wales managed by Welsh Government are the most dangerous in Britain, says the Road Safety Foundation. Comparing the British regions with Scotland/Wales, average risk on the strategic ‘A’ road network is highest in Wales. On Welsh roads there are 23 fatal and serious crashes per billion vehicle km travelled. Wales also has the widest spread of costs to individuals involved in … [Read more...]
Casualties are worrying indictment of Government
The Great Britain road casualty statistics released by the Department for Transport yesterday are worrying in a number of ways said David Davies, Executive Director of PACTS. The executive director of PACTS added, “The Government is failing in its manifesto commitment to reduce the number of road users killed or seriously injured every year. “There has been very little reduction in these … [Read more...]