Women's car insurance news
13/09/2007

Call Divert course saves cheap car insurance

Ladies in Oxfordshire who still use their hand-held mobile whilst driving are being warned that they are risking more than their cheap car insurance by doing so.

More than 170 motorists have been caught using their mobiles illegally in Oxfordshire since the new, harsher, penalties came into place in February 2007. These penalties mean that points are added to a driver's licence, which usually means costlier motor insurance quotes in the future, and in addition the motorist receives a £60 fine.

However, these Oxfordshire drivers have been offered the chance to go on a Call Divert course which teaches them about why hand-held mobiles are banned for those behind the wheel of a car.

The course reveals that motorists who use their mobiles whilst driving have very impaired reaction times, and may perform even worse than drink drivers in tests.

A spokesperson for the course said: "It is not a finger-waving exercise. We want to explain why police are treating this so seriously and I think education can play a part."

Those who go on the course can avoid the penalty points on their licence, so preserving their cheap car insurance rates. It also seems that the course could prevent them from offending in the future.

The course spokesperson went on: "They come in with their arms crossed thinking I'll sit here for two-and-a-half hours, then go away. But when they leave, they have realised it is a worthwhile experience.