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Car Insurance -
Mobile drivers increase premiums - 26/02/2008
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Mobile phone use while driving has been blamed for an increase in insurance premiums amongst drivers.
Despite 27th February being the 1st anniversary of tougher laws to supplement the mobile safety bill of 2003, almost half of drivers still use their phones while driving.
A survey by Go compare show that of the 49 per cent that use their mobiles while driving, 21 per cent use them to browse texts, 10 percent actually write texts, while 74 percent answer calls. In addition 40 per cent of people were unaware that using a phone while driving was illegal.
According to the Department for Transport drivers are breaking the law if they are using a hand-held device that "is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function".
It was established by the British Medical Journal in 2005 that drivers using mobiles were four times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who kept them switched off. In addition, those that use hands-free devices are still shown to be three times more likely to have an accident.
ROSPA guidelines advise that drivers should "switch to voice-mail and store your phone safely before setting off.
Asking a passenger to take a call is far more sensible option than speaking while at the wheel."
The problem with premiums arises because police are now regularly checking mobile phone records to determine the reasons for crashes and because driving at the wheel is a criminal offence, insurers are concerned at increaed claims.
It is a problem that is on the increase, with the most recent ministry of justice figures from 2006 showing that on-the-spot fines had increased by 71 per cent on previous figures. The Ministry of Justice also issued 126,800 fixed penalty notices on the previous year.
Earlier today it was disclosed that the average insurance premium had increased by seven per cent in the last year. The increase in accidents was highlighted as the primary reason for the increases, and mobile use amongst drivers still remains high despite the new legal legislation.
With figures such as these it is not surprising that insurers are fed-up paying out for criminal motorists. So in the future, switching off your mobile might not just help you save your and others lives, but money too.
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