Car insurance news

Many drivers feel that 24 hour licensing may result in more car accidents

According to a survey by www.motorinsurance.co.uk as many as half of all drivers feel that the roads will become more dangerous as a result of the new 24 hour licensing laws. They also believe that 94% of people who have been drinking will get behind the wheel of their cars the next morning and drive. Lots of people don’t realise that you are likely to still be over the drink drive limit the morning after drinking alcohol.

The results are based on the responses of 539 people who were quizzed about their attitude towards the new licensing laws and drink driving offences. The survey showed that people are genuinely concerned about people drink driving and the devastating effects that it can have. 68% of people thought that drinkers will find it more difficult to keep tabs on how much they have consumed under the new laws and will get in their car without thinking of the consequences.

The number of women convicted of drink driving has risen in recent years. There is still a higher level of male convictions however, in 1997 there were 11 male drink driving convictions to every 1 female conviction. In 2002 there were 8 male convictions to every 1 female. Women who are convicted of drink driving force up the cost of insuring their cars. The cost of car insurance for women is generally lower than male car insurance but once someone is convicted of a driving offence they may find themselves paying a lot more than they had in the past.

People who are convicted of drink driving may have to deal with a broad range of consequences. These are:

Losing their license

Possibly having to live with the consequences of causing a car accident and maybe injuring or even killing another person

Having to pay a fine

Possibly facing a prison sentence

Maybe having to retake their driving test

Having higher car insurance premiums due to their conviction and becoming a higher insurance risk

*A replacement car can normally be arranged under one of the following conditions: (1) Comprehensive policyholders – a replacement car may be available under the terms of your insurance policy. Please check your policy details for more information. (2) Non fault accident – where we have the name, car registration number and insurance details of the person who caused the accident, we can supply a replacement car. This is done on a credit hire basis which means the costs for this service will be passed onto the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. We may not be able to arrange a replacement car where we are unable to get an admission of liability from their insurance company, or where the driver is untraceable or uninsured. (3) Repair garage – if your car is booked in for repairs following an accident, the repair garage may be able to provide a replacement car (subject to availability).