The Insurance News

Boredom is provoking up to one-third of UK drivers to take unnecessary risks at the wheel, a new study claims.

According to researchers at Newcastle University, drivers who don’t find Britain’s roads taxing enough are more prone to speed or overtake, suggesting that making road systems more complicated by building in bends and other obstacles, could make them safer.

The study of 1,563 drivers published in Transportation Planning and Technology magazine, audaciously argues that planners’ efforts in road safety may actually increase accidents, as motorist try to liven up their journeys.

AA President and Visiting Professor of Transport at Newcastle University, Edmund King, comments: “As cars come fitted with more gadgets to make driving easier and planners remove more of the distractions it comes as no surprise to me that people are finding the pleasure of driving has become rather a chore.”

Lead researcher, Dr Joan Harvey, adds: “Contrary to what you might expect when driving, hazards can actually increase our attention to the road so this may well be the way forward for planners.”

Seven more auto insurance companies have joined Allstate in filing civil suits against Toyota Motor Corp. The suits are based on payouts the insurers made related to unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus models.

While some of the hype about this story has died down, Toyota still faces a rash of legal actions from many different parties, including families injured or killed in accidents. It’s estimated that Toyota may face potential liability claims in the neighborhood of 10 billion dollars.

There’s nothing better than being able to get out on the open road in your new motorhome, and it could be even more enjoyable if you get to try it out in America. The vast nature of the place lets you enjoy your motorhome at its best, driving through miles and miles of stunning landscapes, and when you want to stop simply park up and get some sleep. Having motorhomes USA can be incredibly rewarding, but what about the insurance implications?

It probably depends on whether you intend to go to America as a tourist or if you want to pack up and move there. You’ll be able to find temporary insurance when you’re in the USA, usually worked out in terms of a daily rate, with many companies specialising in such cover. You c

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Saga Motor Insurance has reported that insurance claims by over 50s drivers are actually down 17% this December, compared with the same time last year.

The firm has concluded that older motorists are heeding warnings to stay off the roads as Britain freezes, given that AA statistics show that motorists in general are making twice as many claims as normal, due to the bad weather.

Saga’s director general, Ros Altmann, comments: “It is really encouraging that older motorists are using their experience and planning around the bad weather to ensure they are not out on the roads in the ice and snow.”

According to the AA, motor insurance claims doubled recently, with 71% of customers saying that the slippery conditions contributed to their accident.

In recent months, many auto insurance companies have been diversifying the types of coverage they offer, extending pay-as-you-drive programs and other unorthodox payment systems, which allow them to offer more inexpensive policies to drivers.

As a result, drivers may be left wondering if their current insurance will be able to cover damages that may be incurred in an accident during the winter.

Making matters more confusing is the fact that most states differ on their mandatory auto insurance policies, Online Auto Insurance reports. For example, drivers in Florida are required to hold $20,000 in protection. By contrast, car owners in Maine must hold a policy of up to $127,000. Read more…