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New young driver policy designed to reduce casualties

Car insurer MORE TH>N has launched a new young driver policy designed to change the way young drivers use Britain's roads.

Promising savings of 40% off standard MORE TH> N car insurance rates, DriveTime will use telematic technology to track what time of the day or night the vehicle is being driven. It has been designed specifically for drivers aged between 18 and 25.

Drivers will pay a reduced standard insurance fee and - to encourage them to leave their cars at home during the most dangerous hours on the road - an additional fee of £25 if the car is driven between 11.00pm and 06.00am.

DfT statistics show that accident rates involving young drivers peak at night. Young male drivers in particular are much more likely than other groups to have an accident at night, especially at weekends. MORE TH>N's own research shows that almost one million young drivers (912,000) have been involved in, or know someone who has been involved in, an accident at night in the last three years.

By offering a policy that encourages young drivers to leave their vehicle at home between 11.00pm and 06.00am, MORE TH>N estimates accident rates among 18 - 25 year olds could be reduced by up to 25%.

Drivers who sign up for DriveTime receive a GPS device that will be delivered and installed in their vehicle free of charge. Once installed, whenever the car starts, a message is sent to MORE TH> N advising the time and place that the journey commenced. A further message is sent when the engine is switched off to confirm that the journey has ended.

Bryan Turner, head of DriveTime, said: "Young drivers have often found it difficult to get affordable insurance as many companies categorise them all as being high risk. We recognised that not all young drivers are the same and wanted to come up with a way to reward safer young motorists with cheaper premiums."

Simon Ettinghausen, LARSOA chair, said: "LARSOA welcomes this initiative to encourage young drivers to be more responsible. But we also believe that insurance companies could do more.

"For example, research shows that new drivers are more likely to pass the driving test first time if they have had several hours driving practise under supervision over and above their professional driving lessons. 

"But parents and carers are often unable to afford the extra premiums to add their children to their own insurance policies. 

"LARSOA believes there are relatively few collisions involving learner drivers carrying out supervised practise.  We urge insurance companies to encourage supervised practise and reduce the cost of the extra premiums."

MORE TH>N's DriveTime scheme is running as a pilot, initially involving 2,000 vehicles. For further information ring 0800 294 8911, or drivetime@morethan.com.

For the full story go to: http://www.easier.com

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