The AnswerBank Articles

Avoiding A Parking Fine Could Cost Your Car

Motorists could face having their vehicles clamped or seized if they run up three or more outstanding parking tickets. The Department of Transport (DoT) says that it is being forced to consider the drastic measures to make reluctant drivers cough up. It is also considering a national parking fine database, which could...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Speed convictions against women on the rise

The number of women convicted of speeding has leapt up in the past few years, says motor insurance research. Speeding charges brought against women have increased by a quarter since 2000, while successful prosecutions against men have fallen by 14 per cent, says the motor insurance industry. Motor insurance and s...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Huge Increase In Numbers Without Motor Insurance

There has been a 40 per cent increase in the number of drivers without motor insurance in London in just two years, the London Liberal Democrats have announced. Nationally, the numbers caught without motor insurance have increased by around 20 per cent. The Liberal Democrats described the increase as a "major soc...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Clampers Still Crooks After Law Changes

Most drivers want to see wheel clamping outlawed on private land says a new motor insurance survey. Ninety four per cent of drivers in England and Wales think that the rest of the UK should follow the example of Scottish authorities that have made it illegal. The result comes despite legislation passed six months ago...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Drivers Distracted By Roadside Jumble

Almost a quarter of drivers have found themselves so distracted by signs, advertising or bright lights beside the road that they have veered out of their lane. Roadside objects such as flashing signs, billboards and Christmas decorations cause a third of motorists to lose their concentration behind the wheel, says mot...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Driving Destiny May Be Written In The Stars

Your driving destiny is written in the stars, claims a new motor insurance survey. Motor insurance companies analysed 160,000 accident claims to find which astrological sign was the most accident-prone. Bad news for impatient Geminis – in the unlikely event that you still have your motor insurance no claims bonu...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Motor Insurance Firms Warn Of Speed Camera Disdain

Motor insurance companies have warned that the continued expansion of speed cameras on our roads is breeding complacency among drivers. Motorists have grown to expect having a few points on their licence, say motor insurance firms. This has devalued the system of using cameras in sensitive places, such as near spots ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

One In Ten Passengers Failing To Belt Up

Despite long running awareness campaigns by safety organisations and motor insurance companies, one in 16 drivers and one in ten front seat passengers are still failing to belt up, says motor insurance research. And despite the law requiring back seat passengers to wear seatbelts being almost 15 years old, a fifth of ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

ABD Urges Government On Only A Fool Campaign

The Association of British Drivers (ABD) is launching a campaign to reduce accidents and fatalities caused by 'rear ending'. The ABD and motor insurance firms are lobbying the government to bring back its Only a Fool Breaks The Two Second Rule Campaign, encouraging motorists to use a fixed point at the side of the roa...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Motorists Still Failing To Belt Up

A third of all motorists are failing to observe the laws of the land and not belting up in the back says new motor insurance research. Fewer than one in two Londoners say that they belt up when riding in the backseat of a car, compared to the virtuous south west where three quarters told motor insurance researchers th...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Future Of Monza In Doubt

The future of Italy's historic Monza race circuit has been thrown into jeopardy after a judge ruled that racing there produces too much noise. The court said that any motor sports events held there in the future must make sure that it conforms to sound emission limits far below the volume produced by Formula One vehic...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

IAM Questions Fleet Safety

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has issued some alarming statistics about the safety of fleet vehicles on the UK roads. The information was gathered through the IAM's 'Drive and Survive' training course, a safety program for business drivers enabling companies to cut their motor insurance costs. The company&...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Plate Recognition Cameras Faulty

High tech number plate recognition cameras being used by the police to crack down on drivers without motor insurance cover and crooks are misreading plates, the home office has admitted. A Home Office minister has revealed that one in five readings is currently coming up wrong, meaning thousands of drivers are being w...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Motor Insurance Companies Warn On Tyre Wear

Motor insurance firms and safety campaigners are warning motorists that the increasing safety and toughness of new cars may actually be making them more dangerous. This is because while the average service period of cars has grown considerably, some components, such as tyres, may well wear out between times say motor i...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Research Suggests Third Of Speed Gun Convictions Wrong

New research has suggested that almost a third of readings from speed guns are wrong. The findings mean that thousands may have wrongly received licence points, had to pay higher motor insurance premiums, or even lost their licences over faulty equipment. Researchers testing the handheld radar devices found that nearl...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Dodgy Bumpers Costing Motorists Unnecessary Millions

Dodgy designs of car bumpers are costing UK motorists £250 million every year, says recent motor insurance research. This could lead to higher insurance premiums, loss of valuable no claims bonuses and unnecessary inconvenience. The motor insurance industry testing discovered that under all the secure plastic an...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Deflating Tyres Leak Pennies

Drivers who do not regularly check their tyre pressure could be wasting £6 on every £50 fill up, motor insurance companies have warned. There are also less tangible costs, with tyre life reduced by almost a third when they are run under-inflated. "While the safety message surrounding driving with the...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Massive Decrease In Car Theft Reported

Motor insurance theft claims have halved in the past five years says the motor insurance industry. The fall is nothing to do with a decline in the number of would-be car thieves, say motor insurance companies, but modern cars have far more sophisticated security systems. Typical types of modern security include GPS tr...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Millions Of Kids At Risk In Cars

Millions of parents are putting their children's safety at risk in the car, says recent motor insurance research. Motor insurance researchers found that over half of all parents would not check a child seat after they had an accident, compared to 92 per cent who said that they would remember to check their lights. Al...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Learner Drivers To Receive Eco Testing

Learner drivers are to face a new challenge when they sit their driving test: they will be judged on how environmentally friendly their driving is. In a departure from traditional motor insurance concerns of safety, drivers will be judged on their ability to conserve fuel while driving. This will be doing things like...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010