Car insurance news

22/12/2008

Woman insurance and drug driving tests

Most woman insurance buyers realise the importance of not drinking and driving, but as the festive season goes on cheap car insurance companies are dismayed by the amount of news reports concerning police arrests for drink or drug driving offences.

The BBC Radio One Newsbeat team have reported concerns from road safety campaigners that lives are being put at risk because roadside drug testing kits are not being issued to UK police forces.

Currently, if police officers suspect that a person is driving whilst under the influence of drugs they can only check the driver by using the field impairment test (FIT test) examining eyes, and testing balance and co-ordination.

Safety campaigners believe that the FIT test in inadequate and that police need drug testing kits, just as they have breathalysers for alcohol-related driving offences.

However, the law is not concerned whether or not a driver has drugs in his or her system, but only if those drugs mean that their driving ability has been impaired. The Department of Transport is reviewing the laws governing drug driving.

Drug testing kits are already being used in some EU countries, but the Home Office says it is concerned that the technology has not yet been perfected.

A spokesperson for CoverGirl said, "Woman insurance buyers can currently take advantage of cheap car insurance, but if they are convicted of a drink or drug driving motoring offence it is likely that they will see their premium increase steeply upon renewal."