Uninsured driving and young drivers insurance in the spotlight

Surfing across the web for information about young drivers insurance, I came across a worrying trend - it seems many younger motorists are failing to get insured. It turns out that some 60% of drivers convicted for driving while uninsured are under 25 years old.

At the same time, I did spot a pretty good idea that deserves to catch on that might help cash-strapped young drivers. Apparently, a new poll has revealed about half of all motorists, young and old, would support speed cameras that reward drivers who keep to the speed limit.

Car insurance is compulsory - and that is a good thing. To err is human and without appropriate cover for people behind the wheel, the cost of medical and legal expenses, as well as inevitable repairs, would be a huge cash burden that most would be unable to meet.

Unfortunately some irresponsible young drivers, faced with paying hundreds of pounds for car cover, are choosing to drive on UK roads without the protection the law requires. This means that retrieving compensation from them should they cause damage or any accident could be impossible or very difficult.

What is of the greatest concern here is that the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has discovered that these illegal drivers are deliberately trying to "get away with it". Such a mindset results in us all paying for the irresponsible actions of a minority.

This is because the insurance industry uses part of the premiums paid by law-abiding motorists to provide a pool of money that covers the costs caused by non-payers. Currently the amount that is added to the premium of those properly insured is £30 per policy.

I find that shocking and deeply unfair - as a law-abiding, insured driver, I'm paying for the mainly male joyrider or boy racer-type who happily breaks the law without thinking of the societal and sometimes personal cost inflicted on the innocent.

If you know someone who drives without insurance, it is somewhat pleasing to know - provided it is done effectively - that the government and insurance industry are taking steps to shine a spotlight on their rogue actions and to continue to clamp down on such behaviour.

By utilising technology, databases linking the police to insurance and vehicle excise systems will soon be able to better detect drivers suspected of uninsured driving. Perhaps it is a long haul to track them down but to know these people face "their collar being felt" gives some semblance of justice to this matter. Either these people pay what is owed or they must stay off the road.

What appealed to me about the suggestion to reward law-abiding drivers who kept to speed limits was that such a system encourages people to behave better i.e. rewards good behaviour.

At the moment, this country sets laws and then beats up anyone who crosses the line and breaks the law. Why not move towards a carrot and stick approach, rather than only always using a stick? It makes a great deal of sense to encourage better and safer driving on our often busy and dangerous roads.

The idea is that speed cameras would flash randomly when motorists stick to the speed limit. Anyone caught driving safely and within the law would receive a congratulatory letter in the post containing a cash reward or some kind of money off voucher, perhaps even a council tax reduction.

It is a never-ending source of frustration to me that the law-abiding majority are continually shelling out for the misdemeanours of a minority. If supermarket loyalty cards can successfully encourage good shopping behaviour, why can't the government and insurance industry develop schemes that reward good driving behaviour.

Maybe I'm naive and dreaming of nirvana - but by improving driving standards, we could look forward to the cost of young drivers insurance, as well as cover for more experienced motorists, being cheaper over time.

Digg!

 

 

 

More Cheap Car Insurance News

Young drivers and crash scams
Chewing gum helps car insurance
Car insurance claims for young men are disproportionate
Young drivers and hangovers don't mix
Going to a party? Leave the car keys at home.
Young driver insurance costs
Young drivers and speed cameras
Teen driver in serious condition after accident
Small is best for young driver insurance
Young drivers to downsize cars
Break-ins and young drivers insurance
Car insurance and iPods
Wall smashes and car insurance
Young drivers car insurance rises
Young drivers in training plea
High cost of young drivers car insurance
Dangerous roads of Rome
Plans for car insurance crackdown
'Fronting' by young drivers
Ford and young driver car insurance
Studying and young driver car insurance
Car insurance for young drivers price drop
High cost of young driver car insurance
Sheepish Rooney in motoring mix-up
Cheap car insurance for uninsured drivers
cheap car insurance and named drivers
Texting and car insurance companies
Free car insurance advice for young drivers
Car insurance at electric races
Bad time for new car insurance quotes

Car Insurance News Archive