Motoring News » Motor Insurance

Is it illegal to drive with no shoes on?

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:21:33 +0000

You’ve passed your test and are ready to (figuratively) tear up the roads in your mum and dad’s Fiesta. You’re going to push the boundaries of your independence, go where no teenager has gone before. But how far is that, within the bounds of the law?

Below, we attempt to answer some of the most pressing questions that face new drivers – the ones that weren’t necessarily covered in your theory test. Our list is by no means comprehensive so our overwhelming advice is: if you suspect it’s illegal, don’t do it. Ignorance is no defence against a hefty fine or a driving ban – if you ignore your instincts you might find you’re using your bare feet to kick yourself all the way to the bus stop.

Can you drive with bare feet?

There’s no law against it. Some might argue that your naked soles don’t have enough grip to be effective on pedals, and their slipping might make you leaden-footed; others argue it’s possible for your toes to get stuck.

However, if the choice is between driving in your new stilettos and going foot-commando, driving with bare feet may be the safer option. Likewise, sandals and flip-flops are arguably more dangerous than bare feet because it’s possible for the pedals to get caught between their sole and your foot.

If you’re wearing inappropriate footwear, or none at all, a particularly strict policeman might fine you for driving recklessly. Why not keep a pair of cheap plimsolls in the car, just in case?

Is it illegal to hang stuff off your rear-view mirror?

By law, it’s illegal to have anything that might obstruct your vision or distract you while you’re driving, and on balance, it’s not logical to tie something dangly at eye-level when you’re trying to concentrate. This doesn’t stop people with smelly cars hanging air fresheners up or people with strong religious beliefs tying symbols of their faith where they can see them.

Chances are you won’t be stopped for having your bog standard rosary or cardboard evergreen tree if it’s tied at a sensible length. If you are, the police officer will probably let you off if you take it down. Still, it’s best to err on the side of caution: if you were to get in an accident, even if it was nothing to do with your trinket, it could be cited as a sign that you are an irresponsible driver.

Can I use my mobile?

No, if you’re under 18: not in any way shape or form. If you’re over 18 you can use a hands-free device, like a headset or speakerphone, but texting or holding your phone to your head to talk is completely out of the question. Even if you’re within the law, it’s best not to make a habit of taking calls while you’re driving. Listening to the little voice in your ear rather than the traffic around you might mean you don’t notice a potential hazard.

Do I have to be insured to drive?

Yes. Car insurance is an essential expense for any driver, and is a fact of your life from now on. If you’re the primary driver of a vehicle, you must take out your own policy – pretending you only use the car occasionally while insuring it in someone else’s name can mean that you lose your right to a pay out if things do go wrong.

If you get caught without insurance, you can face a heavy fine; if you have an accident without insurance, you face a whole lot of cost and a whole lot of bother.

Can my dog put its head out of the window?

There’s no real law against it but it’s extremely unadvisable. Dog’s eyes and noses are very sensitive and at risk of damage if they’re struck by grit or dust. And in the worst case scenario Rover might end up being beheaded by a Stop sign.

If your dog is calm in the car, think about using a doggie seatbelt to restrain them – open the window and they’ll still be able to smell the exciting outdoor smells and see what’s going on without being at risk. Don’t feel too bad about putting your pet in a cage in your boot– the enclosed space can help keep them calm as you whizz along. There’s the treat of a walk at the end, too.

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Petrol stations across Europe set to become unmanned

Alan — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:01:05 +0000

One in ten European service stations won’t have any staff by 2013

The need to cut costs combined with a slow decline in diesel and petrol sales has forced many of the fuel retailers across Europe to turn service stations into unmanned fueling sites according to a new survey by Verdict from the Datamonitor Group. In fact, the group predicts that by the year 2013 one out of every ten service stations inEuropewill not have staff forcing motorists to pay using fully automated payment options.

Research* by Verdict discovered that 3% of manned service stations were contracted since 2008 but 5% of unmanned stations were contracted. Many fuel retailers that have decided to expand their unmanned fueling stations include those offered by the top grocery chains such as ABC, Neste, Tesco, St 1, and Colruyt. Larger oil companies such as Q8 and Esso have also followed suit and according to Verdict this trend will continue.

Alex Jeater, retail analyst at Verdict said: “Unmanned service stations, which typically sell cheaper fuel than regular petrol stations, are a common sight across Europe, especially inScandinavia,Franceand theBeneluxregion. InFinland, for example, 54% of all service stations are unmanned. However we’ll see more unmanned service stations open in theUK,Germany,SpainandItaly, as fuel retailers look to reduce fixed costs such as staffing, while maintaining fuel sales.”

However, Jeater is keen to stress that the expected rise in unmanned sites does not signal the end for the service station convenience store, “Converting some service stations to ‘unmanned’ allows fuel retailers to develop a comprehensive convenience store at a smaller number of busier, better located service stations”.

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Grey Fleet lack proper car insurance

Alan — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:42:42 +0000

The so-called Grey Fleet is quite common in the U.K. but too many employers and employees are uninformed (or misinformed) about the responsibilities of both parties in the situation. A grey fleet consists of drivers who use their own vehicle for company business, whether it’s commuting to work, taking extended field trips or just making a quick run for coffee and sandwiches.

A recent survey by Trimble, the leading telematics solutions provider, reveals that well over half of the drivers using personal vehicles for company purposes are not aware of their own liability, and in many cases employers either don’t know or cannot adequately oversee and control the grey fleet drivers and their vehicles. Drivers need to be aware that they may be putting themselves and their company at risk if they are not properly insured for business travel.

The use of the grey fleet strategy as opposed to maintaining a fleet of company cars is most common in smaller and medium sized businesses, as they believe it’s more economical, and often cannot afford a designated fleet manager with sufficient knowledge and competence to deal with both drivers and vehicles in the field. The fact is that a company has more responsibility than just paying mileage, and a driver using a personal car has an obligation for adequate maintenance and insurance.

According to Vikki Woodbine at the business law firm DWF, there is considerable risk to companies trying to manage a grey fleet that include the liability for accidents if an employee is not complying with insurance and other legal requirements for the operation of a motor vehicle.

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Tesco cuts petrol prices independents call foul

Alan — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:14:22 +0000

Tesco will be cutting its petrol prices by 2p, making it the second reduction in price this week. The countries most powerful petrol supplier made the decision after crude oil prices fell dramatically last week. While the fall in crude oil price is a concern for the global economy, at least it provides some good news for motorists.

The move follows other leading supermarkets who have also cut their prices twice in the last week. Independent stations are finding it hard to keep up with the supermarkets pricing. Many claim that the supermarkets promotions on petrol are get people into the stores to buy groceries and this has lead to the price difference reaching a new record level. The owners of these independent stations say they simply cannot match this loss-leading practice.

The majority of petrol stations in the UK are independent and many are represented by RMI Petrol. Brian Madderson from RMI has said, “loss-leading like this is a new behaviour for supermarket petrol stations.” He goes onto comment that, “the wholesale prices are still higher than expected given the fall in the cost of crude oil. This is very confusing and we have requested the government investigate this.”

RMI has stated that rural stations cannot afford to compete with the supermarkets and are having to close down; this has lead to long distances between petrol stations. In the last thirteen years over 6,000 forecourts have been forced to close as they cannot afford to compete with supermarkets.

Crude oil slumped from $117 to $103 last week, eventually ending the week at $108. The AA has stated that the lowering of petrol prices by Tesco and other supermarkets is beneficial for the UK consumer as they encourage price drops across the UK.

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Which is the Nightmare Car found on UK roads

Alan — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:00:12 +0000

Which is the Nightmare Car found on UK roads

If Dr Frankenstein had given up creating creatures and turned his hand to cars, the results of his endeavours have been revealed and given the name of ‘Monster MK1’. This beast has been inspired by Warranty Direct, and as well as breaking down every other month it would reward its owners with an annual repair bill of £2,050.

Warranty Direct have united all the worst profiles from across the various categories that go into making up is unique Reliability Index (www.reliabilityindex.com). This tool; measures the reliability of cars by taking into consideration the average repair costs, frequency of failure, and the mileage and age of the vehicle. By putting all the worst bits together Warranty Direct reckon they have come up with a car that really is the stuff that nightmares are made of.

This cocktail of disastrous cars is powered by an MG TF Engine, has the suspension of a BMW M3, suffers from the electrics of a Renault Megane, the gearbox comes from a Land Rover Freelander and the inferior braking ability of an Audi A8. The monster Mk1 overall has a Reliability Index Figure of well over 500, more than 5 times the score of an average car.

The ‘body parts’ of the ‘Nightmare MK1’

Make and Model	Car part
Audi A8	Brakes
BMW M3	Suspension
MG TF	Engine
Land Rover Freelander	Gearbox
Mercedes-Benz V-Class	Ignition
Renault Megane	Electrics
SEAT Alhambra	Air-conditioning
SEAT Toledo	Heating & Cooling systems
Volvo C70	Steering system

The Reliability index shows that 4/10 cars need a trip to garage every year and some models cost up to £7,000 a time to repair. The MD of Warranty Direct, Duncan McClure has said that the Monster MK1 is a representative of the worst performing cars over all sectors that are on our roads today. This includes everything from electrics to suspensions.

He added that the wide range of vehicles included in their evil hybrid highlights how cars that are mainly reliable can be dragged down and their performances affected by one part that proves to be problematic. Take the BMW M3 for example, the components in their suspensions and axles require repairs on a yearly basis, while the same amount of Renault Megane’s suffer electrical problems.

One in five Land Rover Freelanders suffer transmission glitches each year and the same number of Audi A8s will need repairs to their brakes.

Close to a quarter of MG’s TF sports cars will experience engine troubles, while if you like keeping cool, beware the SEAT Alhambra; more than one in eight will need their air-con fixed during a typical year.

The Monster Mk1 was created using Warranty Direct’s database of 50,000 live policies on cars aged five years on average.

Warranty Direct cover starts from as little as £15 a month. For more information on the reliability of your vehicle, visit www.reliabilityindex.com, or for a quote on cover www.warrantydirect.co.uk.

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Avoiding insurance claims – Car security basics

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:39:28 +0000

It is a shocking fact that over a quarter of all recorded crimes in the UK are car related. Car thefts and thefts of property from cars cost a fortune in insurance payouts and police time, not to mention the hassle and distress suffered by owners. When it comes to car security, the purchase of adequate insurance from a reputable provider like Santander is of course a necessary precaution. However, this really is the final resort, a safety net that is often deployed after the failure in basic security precautions that allowed the theft to occur in the first place. Insurance claims can get complicated and take time to process, so obviously the most desirable scenario involves avoiding being a victim of crime in the first place.

As with pretty much all theft, it is near on impossible to deter the most ardent thief. This belies the fact many thefts are opportunistic. There are several simple precautions that are quick and easy to take that can substantially limit the scope of opportunity for thieves. Additionally, for more basic vehicles the addition of some important security devices also has tangible benefits.

Car alarms and engine immobilisers are a good deterrent to many would be thieves, and so an investment in these devices where necessary will not only make your car more secure, but also bring the additional benefit of lowering car insurance premiums.

More simply, where you park your car has a massive impact on the risk posed to the vehicle by thieves and vandals. If you park on a driveway instead of on the road the risk of malicious damage or theft is significantly lowered, a fact that is again recognised by insurance companies. Better still, if you have a garage stuffed with kipple, it can be well worth clearing this out to make space for your car. The obvious boost to security a locked garage brings also, you guessed it, brings a reduction in insurance premiums.

When away from home, try and park in well-lit, public places where the car will be visible to as many people as possible. It is crucial to remove all personal items of value from the car, including not just laptops and mobile phones but also things like jackets and even shopping as well. The aim is to remove any temptation to break in for the casual thief. Try to opt for a detachable stereo, and most importantly, don’t leave any cheque books or credit cards in the glove box. A whopping one in five cheque books and credit cards are stolen from cars, and this is the reason that coats and jackets should not be left behind, as they may potentially contain wallets and other valuables in the eyes of a passing would-be thief. Remember, not every thief is a master criminal, and so similarly, remove shopping or put it in the boot, as even a small amount of alcohol can be enough temptation to trigger a break-in.

Take a look at various insurance providers before you commit to an insurance policy.

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Northern Ireland car insurance feels strain of compensation culture

Alan — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 07:33:47 +0000

The motor claims culture in Northern Ireland, already quite notorious, is being pushed to even more extremes from claims management companies and the personal injury lawyers it has been discovered. Because of this motorists are getting hit with the UK’s highest premiums and soon they will increase even more.

Statistics show the claims for compensation made for serious neck or injuries like whiplash in Northern Ireland can get the claimant up to £250,000 compared to the rest of the UK where the ceiling is £86,000. Also, 12 times more motorists’ claims end in courts in Northern Ireland as in the rest of Britain.

Even though the province accounts for only 2.5% of all the cars registered in the UK, motorist in Northern Ireland claim over 5.4% of the total amount paid out in insurance claims for a total of £447m.

The shocking and disproportionate figures are increasing because of claims management companies who are out seeking out victims of accidents and encouraging them to make a claim. It is not hard to find them since there are insurance companies that sell information about the customers to these same claims management services.

There are also claims that in a number of cases passengers or motorists that reported they were not injured at all, were encouraged to file a claim for compensation. A ban has been called for from a high ranking member of the Northern Ireland Justice Committee to ban insurance companies from selling their clients personal details to third parties.

Paul Givan said there was great concern about the high amount of spurious claims many of which are caused by others encouraging those involved in the accident to file a claim, causing premiums for insurance to skyrocket to never before seen amounts. The sooner this practice can be eliminated the better it will be for those that are law-abiding drivers.

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Tough vehicle insurance laws now in place

Alan — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:49:00 +0000

In an attempt to clamp down on drivers that are uninsured more restrictive car insurance rules were put into effect by the government. Starting Monday drivers have to declare their car off the road if they do not want to insurance it. Before offenders had to be caught driving without insurance to be prosecuted. Those drivers deemed to have been found uninsured will be sent a letter of warning followed up by a £100 penalty.

If there is no change in the status of the car it can then be clamped, seized and destroyed or the owner could receive up to a £1000 fine. Enforcement action should start from mid July. There are over 1.4 million vehicles in the UK uninsured compared to 34 million that are insured. This may affect which car insurance many people choose as some features, like with the current Aviva insurance offer, insure against being hit by an uninsured driver. Car insurance companies will have to think about how to make their insurance features more attractive with this new rule in mind.

The Department of Transport says over 23,000 are injured and over 160 killed each year by uninsured motorists. Malcolm Tarling of Association of British Insurers said uninsured driving in the UK is serious saying more than 4% are not insured. It is proven that not only are they more apt to cause accidents they also increase insurance premiums for everyone else that have insurance.

They warned that offenders caught under the law will get a criminal record as well as have to pay higher for their insurance. The DVLA, Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency will work to identify non complaint drivers with the Motor Insurers Bureau. The two groups launched an ad campaign over a month ago to heighten awareness of the changes to the law.

Any driver who may have doubts about their insurance status can check it online to see if they appear on data base for motor insurance used to identify offenders. Those who wish to stop paying for insurance must issue a statutory off road notification to the DVLA.

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The never ending rise in insurance excess costs

Alan — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:54:22 +0000

With the amount of excess customers will have to pay to file a claim being increased by insurance companies what will this do to the young drivers that are already famous for having to pay high premiums for their insurance.

The answer may be Young Marmalade. Young Marmalade is UK’s only young people’s specialist insurance provider and created to help the young motorists afford insurance and newer, safer cars as a package.

Young Marmalade’s goal is to lower the cost of insurance for young drivers by giving them new or close to new, safe low-powered cars. The discounts they receive from bulk purchasing they use to provide premiums insurance at affordable rates as part of the combined package.

Referring to their latest venture – intelligent marmalade – is where cars receive a device attached to them that monitoring an individual’s driving habits and Managing Director of Young Marmalade, Crispin Moger said that reduction of premiums is all about the management of the insurance companies exposure to risk.

“The more information we can build up about the driver, the more we can reward safer driving with reduced premiums.”

Intelligent Marmalade gives them the opportunity to prove their driving skills and save money,” said Mr Moger.

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Don’t caught short by CIE law warns leading price comparison website

admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 22:21:11 +0000

Motorists are being advised not to get caught out by new legislation aimed at reducing the number of uninsured drivers on Britain’s roads.

From June 20, the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) legislation will make it illegal to own a vehicle without valid insurance, unless it has been declared as off the road (‘SORN’). Those people who break the law face the prospect of a fixed penalty notice or possible further legal action.

As the countdown continues to CIE coming into force, research carried out by moneysupermarket.com, the leading price comparison website, has revealed that one is six drivers has admitted to driving uninsured.

That, in turn, is increasing the price of car insurance for law-abiding citizens by an average of £30 per driver, per year. Vehicle owners, though, are offsetting the impact of that rise by shopping around online and cheap car insurance quotes from moneysupermarket could save them an average of around £280.

Peter Harrison, a car insurance expert at moneysupermarket.com, believes that it not only pays to scour the web for the best deals, but that drivers should also be extremely wary about the exact date that a policy expires.

Harrison stated: “Uninsured drivers cost the industry £500 million each year, which as a result adds an average of £30 to every motorist’s premium.”

“Our own research has found a staggering one in six UK motorists has admitted to driving a car uninsured. With CIE legislation coming into force, this should help drive down the number of uninsured drivers on our roads, a move which can only be applauded.”

“All motorists need to be vigilant though – especially leisure drivers or motorbike enthusiasts who only use their vehicles occasionally and let their insurance lapse in the meantime; they need to declare their vehicle as SORN or renew!”

“Additionally, our research shows the legislation will go a long way towards encouraging Brits to shop around at renewal time to find a better deal on their insurance. That said, there are clearly still motorists out there who will just accept a renewal quote out of convenience – a bank-breaking move I would advise against.”

“With insurance premiums rising on average by 44p per day, or by 31 per cent last year, shopping around for the best deal is crucial to ensure you aren’t paying over the odds for your car insurance.”

“The average saving on an annual car insurance policy using moneysupermarket.com is £282, so I urge everyone to do their research and not automatically accept their renewal without checking there isn’t a better alternative.”

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