Equality for car insurance

Young drivers should have limitations on their licence, for the first year they should be forced to drive 600cc cars or disallowed to carry passengers.

I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t new drivers restricted for so long from carrying passengers now?

Not allowing males to drive til say 21 is franky, ridiculous.

Young males crash due to inexperience, bad judgement and poor grasp of car control at the higher speeds they invariably reach through the first two factors.

Its almost genetic that young men will speed (and crash) because young blokes are well, a bit dumb and full of testosterone.

My idea is simply to teach these people how to handle a car at higher speeds. I’ve done track days for years and it was instruction from a well trained profesional driver that has saved me before when people have cut me up on the motorway or pulled out in front of me on country roads.

Im not advocating teaching 17 year olds scandanavian flicks or heeling and toeing, but just ask a group of young drivers “in a front wheel drive car when the back steps out, what do you do?”

Most will say, “slam the brakes on!” When of course in fact with oversteer like this, steering into it with some throttle is what keeps you out of the scenery. Yes they shouldnt be going that fast anyway BUT they will do wont they? So lets at least try and keep them alive….it works in Scandanavia.

I think they probably do.
After all, one has to discriminate in this sense because in the cold light of day, certain age/sex groups have more accidents statistically than others and insurance premiums have to reflect that.
It isn’t a very palatable thought because in all other contexts, I hate discrimination, but in this instance, it is necessary to protect all on the roads.
Finally, I would say that driving standards in the UK are generally very high save for excessive speed. Poor driving is noticed because it is still relatively uncommon whereas in some countries such as the one I grew up in, it is the norm to the point where, if you signal a lane change, people either think you are stupid or foreign.

….. My wife (who is a woman), and who works in the insurance business (but not car insurance) has just pointed that insurance companies also age-discriminate, which is also illegal in the EU…

The age discrimination works against older drivers as well as young.

On balance I think the insurance companies get it right.

@tornado64
I don’t think that’s the case. Transport is essential for economic activity, and harming transport harms the economy. In any case, making the test harder will not deter people from getting car licences, as a car licence is almost a pre-requisite for many jobs. The increased numbers of tests does deter new motorcyclists as often a motorcycle is an optional method of transport (despite it being more efficient, less congesting etc). I have a driving licence and I walk almost everywhere. Being overweight is due to eating habits mostly, not lack of exercise. I could walk for 3 hours and maybe just burn 1000 calories. I could eat a bar of chocolate and the exercise is wiped out completely.

Me! I am disabled and can’t walk 100yards without severe pain or falling over.
Yes I drive to another supermarket because usually fat munters with no blue badges or little children have taken the disabled bays! Is that honest enough for you.To preempt the next(usual) question. I then use a Supermarket trolley as a zimmer even if I want only one small item!

there are obviously exceptions but a great percentage of the uk are fat and idle and do nothing to help thier situation

i’m partialy disabled but i walk most places and work ( even though it is painful ) because if i don’t i am not helping my own situation

the day i stop making the effort is the day i join the rest on mobility scooters riding around tesco for thier next microwave meal and tub of icecream

my own observations round my own town of obese people with obesity related walking problems on mobility scooters ( and i can’t see it being much difrent anywhere else in the uk ) speaks volumes

eat less and walk more / do more excercise

obesity was not a problem until everyone drove everywhere looking back to the 60’s obesity wasn’t a problem ( sure you got the odd one ) but in the main the population did manual jobs and more often than not worked close by so heaven forbid walked

we have to get our mind sets away from the car and change the way it is used therefore making them more expensive and harder to get can only be a good thing

but sureley today making any vehicle harder to obtain is a good thing especialy on britains roaads

we are like america in some senses we are becoming fat and idle because of car habits
now be honest on this , how many drive to another supermarket if they can’t park close enough to the doors ??
use of vehicles has become disgusting in the uk i live close to a villiage retraunt and it is unreal ( on a nice summer evening ) how many will go to the effort of starting the car to go to the village shop less than 100 yrds away
anything that makes people think can only be a good thing

Me! I am disabled and can’t walk 100yards without severe pain or falling over.
Yes I drive to another supermarket because usually fat munters with no blue badges or little children have taken the disabled bays! Is that honest enough for you.To preempt the next(usual) question. I then use a Supermarket trolley as a zimmer even if I want only one small item!

You wouldn’t be opposed to employers choosing men instead of women, due to the increased cost of employing a woman compared to a man then? 🙂

and that is the whole point !! giving cheaper insurance by age or sex is discrimatory

if white drivers were proven to be better than black and insurance was offered at reductions because of colour there would be riots

even though the proof may be there it is discriminating certain groups

the only thing insurance should go off is the individuals experience and record whereby everyone starts on a level premium until difrent is proven

why should the little old dear that has many little claims pay less

than a young lad who may until proven difrently be an accident free motorist

it is discrimination and needs stamping out !!

There is no point imposing arbitary restrictions like that, just because it seems like it might be a good idea. The purpose of these regulations is not to make the roads safer, it is to gradually reduce the numbers of motorcyclists on the road by making the licence almost impossible to obtain. The UK govt doesn’t want this, but some countries (e.g Sweden) would LOVE to ban motorcycles, and see this as a major milestone on the route to doing that. Also, as the number of riders drops off, expect the price of motorcycles and related items to go up 😉

If we want to lower motorcycle KSI stats per 1000 riders, we need to target bikers in the 35 to 55 bracket. Motorbikes are a great method of transport, low cost and low congestion with potential for very high MPG figures. Most of the cars on major roads seem to be single occupant, so those who choose to use a motorbike instead of a big saloon car should be rewarded, just as they are for small cars.

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but sureley today making any vehicle harder to obtain is a good thing especialy on britains roaads

we are like america in some senses we are becoming fat and idle because of car habits
now be honest on this , how many drive to another supermarket if they can’t park close enough to the doors ??
use of vehicles has become disgusting in the uk i live close to a villiage retraunt and it is unreal ( on a nice summer evening ) how many will go to the effort of starting the car to go to the village shop less than 100 yrds away
anything that makes people think can only be a good thing

Having had a full motorcycle licence since I was 16(yes in those days 1961) I have ridden bikes on and off since then and as an old codger ten years ago a Honda Pan European. I think any amount of training and restriction is not going to solve two main causes of death. One lack of attention by the rider(it has to be 110% ALL the time). Clip a kerb at speed in a car and you may have a ******** wheel on a bike you could have a coffin. Two, SMIDNSY, motorists do not realy see bikes even when stationery and do not seem to be able to estimate their speed when moving. All the training and restrictions on motorcyclists I am afraid will not reduce the death toll by much unless people on two wheels or four concentrate on their roadcraft and give it their full attention. You would not saw a plank of wood with your eyes shut or watching TV would you?( unless we have a lot of members with missing digits)

personaly i think it is a good thing but it should be fair and braught in across the board i think the car test is way too easy and should be toughened up the same as for bikes

i also think all drivers should have to do 12 months on a motorcycle there is no finer way to make people think about their behaviour in traffic than when the car is taken away and your body is the crumple zone !!

There is no point imposing arbitary restrictions like that, just because it seems like it might be a good idea. The purpose of these regulations is not to make the roads safer, it is to gradually reduce the numbers of motorcyclists on the road by making the licence almost impossible to obtain. The UK govt doesn’t want this, but some countries (e.g Sweden) would LOVE to ban motorcycles, and see this as a major milestone on the route to doing that. Also, as the number of riders drops off, expect the price of motorcycles and related items to go up 😉

If we want to lower motorcycle KSI stats per 1000 riders, we need to target bikers in the 35 to 55 bracket. Motorbikes are a great method of transport, low cost and low congestion with potential for very high MPG figures. Most of the cars on major roads seem to be single occupant, so those who choose to use a motorbike instead of a big saloon car should be rewarded, just as they are for small cars.

With regard to the new motorbike driving test, here is how it will work:

New Motorcycle Test 2013 (3rd European Driving Licence Directive)

A1 (Standard)
This can be taken on a machine between 115 and 125cc. If you are aged between 17 and 19 this will be your only option.
Upon passing the A1 you will get a full licence to ride on motorways and take pillion passengers, but you will never be able to ride anything bigger than a 125cc machine that produces a maximum of 11 Kwh (14.6 Bhp) until you pass the next test (A2) when you reach a minimum age of 19 or two years after passing your A1 test.

A2 (Middleweight)
The test and training must be taken on a machine of a minimum of 395cc that produces a maximum of 35 Kwh (46.6 Bhp). This can only be taken when you are at least 19 years old or two years after passing your A1.
Upon passing you can ride any size of motorbike but the power is capped at 35 Kwh (46.6 Bhp) this will never increase!. The other “restriction” on this category, is the machine cannot be restricted to 35 Kwh if it produces more than 70 Kwh or 93.5 Bhp in standard trim.

A (D.A.S)
The Direct Access Scheme will still be available but the minimum age will rise from 21 to 24. The bike engine size of at least 595cc and must produce at least 40 Kwh (54 Bhp). You must be at least 24 years old or can be taken two years after passing your A2.
It is possible to obtain your A Licence at 21, ONLY IF you have already passed your A2 licence at 19.

http://www.artmotorcycletraining.co.uk/new-motorcycle-test-2013.htm

@VeeOne
You wouldn’t be opposed to employers choosing men instead of women, due to the increased cost of employing a woman compared to a man then? 🙂

One of the worst driving traits is arrogance and I think we see too much of it. None of us are above making errors while driving, it is a complex business after all and when things happen it is the assumption that it always the other driver’s fault. No-one seems willing to admit making an mistake.

I don’t care how much anyone has driven or what vehicles they’ve driven, there is no age, sex, colour or any other barrier to crap driving. Everyone is capable of it.

Arthur. we have not always agreed on things but I think you are spot on with this observation!

BTW most insurance companies use The Thatcham ABI Group Rating as their yardstick with their own experience to tweek premiums.

realy ??? i mean realy ??? now lets think about this !!

http://youtu.be/Y8zmv5Zd_cs

I guess if you form your opinions from Youtube then you can get all of your prejudices reinforced for you at the click of a mouse.

In a round trip of around 60 miles today we saw poor driving from a elderly bloke in Focus, a thirty something in a Volvo XC70 and young woman in a Golf and bloke in a brown (:eek:) Mini Cooper . From this I have come to conclusion that everyone that drives a Focus/Volvo/Golf/Mini is useless. 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39qdhbkTko4&feature=related
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjxY9rZwNGU&feature=related

I don’t care how much anyone has driven or what vehicles they’ve driven, there is no age, sex, colour or any other barrier to crap driving. Everyone is capable of it.

realy ??? i mean realy ??? now lets think about this !!

http://youtu.be/Y8zmv5Zd_cs

LOL..love those clips…especially the very last .

One of the worst driving traits is arrogance and I think we see too much of it. None of us are above making errors while driving, it is a complex business after all and when things happen it is the assumption that it always the other driver’s fault. No-one seems willing to admit making an mistake.

I don’t care how much anyone has driven or what vehicles they’ve driven, there is no age, sex, colour or any other barrier to crap driving. Everyone is capable of it.

also worth a thaught is how many women have accidents as a “named ” driver on hubbies policy !!!

these may be counted as against the main policy holder rather than the named driver

the bmw in the filling station still makes me weep !!!

http://youtu.be/4wT7zM8XgXQ

I don’t see why females should pay the same as young males. Young males have twice the accidents that anyone else has. Often in single car crashes.

.

you’d be the first on the protest line if you wasn’t being paid the same as a male doing the same job as you though !!!

funny how you don’t want equality if it comes from your pocket !!

maybe they have twice the amount of accidents because there are twice as many out on the road 3 times longer !!