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

Clowns Overcharged For Motor Insurance

Motorists' choice of profession will dictate the motor insurance quotes they are offered, it has been revealed. Comedians and choirmasters can pay up to £200 a year more for their motor insurance cover than clergymen, even if they drive the same car and live in the same area, says the motor insurance research. ...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

Direct Debit Can Put A Third More On Your Premium

Direct debits have blossomed in popularity in recent years, especially among those who have difficulty staying on top of their finances. The convenience of the out of sight, out of mind payments are such that 35 million people in the UK now have at least one direct debit set up. They are popular with companies as wel...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

Five Million UK Drivers Can't Change A Tyre

Over five million motorists in the UK say that they would be left stranded if they caught a flat tyre, says motor insurance research, because they never learned to change a wheel. Around four million have put the wrong fuel in their cars, and almost a fifth does not know how to check coolant levels. As well as being ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Key Carelessness Driving Crime

Drivers not caring where they leave their keys is contributing to a car being stolen every sixty seconds in the UK, says a motor insurance survey. In the cold weather, 20 per cent of drivers say that they leave the keys in the ignition while they wait for the car to defrost in the morning. A further ten per cent told...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

New Drivers Getting Older

Fewer and fewer young drivers are getting their licences at 17, new motor insurance research has revealed. The average age for drivers to gain their licence has now increased to 21, with teenagers daunted by the motor theory test and busy with education, the motor insurance research suggests. Also the increasing costs...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Smallest Fords, Vauxhalls Hold Value Better

Potential buyers of new and used Fords and Vauxhalls are being warned of an unusual quirk in their resale values. Auto market analyst EurotaxGlass's says that it has found the latest models of the Focus and Astra are deprecating at a far slower rate than their bigger brothers, the Mondeo and Vectra. When considering ...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

Are Those Added Extras Offering Value For Money

Cars are coming with an ever greater number of bells and whistles as part of their standard spec, and for a little more you can add some extras that a few years ago would only have been seen on the Jetsons. But some of the bonuses could prove to be turkeys when you come to trade your old motor in, warns a leading auct...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

Walking Home Instead Of Driving Could Still Be Dangerous After A Few Drinks

Almost half of all pedestrians killed in road crashes between 10pm and 4am on the weekend are more than two times over the drink driving limit, say government figures. Statistics show that of the pedestrians killed with alcohol in their blood streams, 38 per cent were over the drink drive limit, and 25 per cent were m...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010