Research from Confused.com found that huge discrepancies between motor insurance quotes for seemingly similar jobs could, in some cases, save the consumer large amounts of money. For example the difference between a singer and an entertainer‘s premium could be as much as £223².

Will Thomas, head of motor insurance, says, “It is certainly true that using different ways to describe a person’s occupation could dramatically reduce their premiums, although it is important not to confuse being savvy with being dishonest. The increase is mainly due to risk association, a dancer could be performing behind Robbie Williams or Kylie Minogue on stage, socialising with them, then driving them home at night. If the car crashes while they’re in the car, the driver could be liable for their loss of earnings, which in the case of Robbie or Kylie is going to be considerably more than the average person. So it really is who you know, not what you know!”

“Therefore, it’s recommended everyone shops around for their car insurance as much as possible and using a price comparison website is the best way to do this. Confused.com aims to find customers the best policies at the right prices.”

Confused.com reckons that John Sergeant will be cha-cha-chuffed with his latest move.

The research, conducted by women’s car insurance specialist Diamond, shows just how easy a target handbags are to thieves who are getting away with a small fortune with each bag they take. Diamond was so surprised by how many were stolen that it decided to find out how much it was costing women.

Its research revealed the average cost of a woman’s handbag and its contents is £431.68, and that doesn’t include the cost of replacing car and house keys. It then compared this to the number of handbag thefts reported by its policyholders in the last year and to the number of women drivers in the UK to find just how big an issue this is.

Diamond managing director, Sian Lewis, commented, “It’s shocking to see just how many handbags are stolen each year from cars, and that shows exactly why you should never leave your bag on display in your car.

“In the run up to the festive season thieves will be on the look out for easy targets so however stressed out and rushed you are to find that perfect present, you should never leave anything on show in your unattended car that could attract a potential thief. Can you imagine losing your bank cards and mobile phone in the run up to Christmas when you need them the most?”

Here are some top tips to help prevent handbag theft from a vehicle:

1. Don’t leave anything visible in an unattended car, even if it is worthless, a thief doesn’t know that. When breaking in to look at these they may find something of value if you haven’t taken the necessary precautions.
2. Never leave your handbag under a seat as a thief is likely to look there.
3. Lock all windows and doors, not forgetting the sunroof, when leaving the car unattended.
4. Lock your car when paying for petrol or popping into a shop, and never leave the keys in the ignition.
5. If for whatever reason you can’t take your handbag with you when leaving your car, place it in the boot so that it’s out of site. However, make sure that you do this in a discreet manner in case anyone is watching.

Editor’s Notes

* 2.7% of Diamond claims over the last 12 months were for handbag thefts from cars, so measuring this against the 15,300,000 female licence holders in the UK (Mintel Motor Insurance - UK - May 2008) totals 413,000 thefts a year.

**From questioning 3,300 women Diamond found that the average cost of a woman’s handbag and its contents was £431.68 (excluding replacing car and house keys and locks). Measuring this figure against the 413,000 thefts a year gives a total of £178,283,840.

Diamond launched in 1997, when it was clear that there was a place for a woman only car insurance specialist, and has led the way for similar companies to follow. Diamond has been able to offer women cheaper car insurance for 11 years because on the whole women’s car insurance claims, cost less than men’s. We understand what women motorists want from their insurance, and meet their needs by offering great service and a great price. We do not refuse to give insurance quotes to men and are more than happy to provide a quote if requested.

Diamond spearheaded the campaign against gender equalisation. The EU wanted to remove the use of gender when calculating car insurance costs, and Diamond campaigned solidly for months, providing a House of Lords enquiry evidence to support our claims that, women were safer drivers and should pay less.

Diamond offers its customers £300 of Handbag Cover and £300 of ABC (Accessories, Buggies and Child Seats) Cover free as part of their comprehensive policy.

The observational study compared the behaviour of motorists driving in their ‘normal’ style to their behaviour if they followed the Highway Code. At the same time it monitored the response of other motorists to the differing driving styles and behaviours.

The results found that 93 per cent of the motorists under observation were tailgated by other road users when driving in accordance to the Highway Code, while just 47 per cent were tailgated when driving in their usual style. The study also revealed that 40 per cent of drivers following the Highway Code were either over or undertaken by other motorists.

Worryingly it is motorists who drive safely by sticking to the speed limits, such as novice drivers and parents with small children, who are likely to be most vulnerable to bullying behaviour. The study showed an increased use of the rear-view mirror and raised heart rates by these drivers when tailgated, suggesting that many drivers become stressed and emotionally upset as a result, which in turn can lead to an increased risk of accidents.

Tailgating is directly responsible for approximately seven per cent of UK road traffic accidents*.

Maggie Game, Head of Car Insurance at Direct Line, comments: “Drivers need to understand that the increased stress caused as a result of tailgating can lead to volatile situations on the road and that tailgating is responsible for approximately seven per cent of road traffic accidents in the UK.

“By driving less erratically, with fewer gear changes, rapid accelerations and decelerations, the average journey time is eight per cent faster overall. So, improving driving habits could actually save time and money as well as lives.”

Road rage

However it is not just tailgating that is the outlet for motorists’ frustrations on the roads. During the 15 hours of monitored drives whilst following the Highway Code, the study recorded six instances of direct conflict with other road users. TRL suggests that the number of instances in an unmonitored scenario is likely to be much higher.

When asked about how they respond to annoying behaviour by other drivers, motorists’ responses range from either direct aggression, such as car vandalism and confronting the other driver, to indirect aggressive acts such as cutting in, ‘brake testing’, and indirect aggressive gestures. One driver even admitted to carrying a baseball bat in his car in case another driver infuriated him.

Dr Nick Reed, Senior Human Factors Researcher, TRL, commented on the findings: “From our research it appears that although drivers state that tailgating is one of the most annoying driving habits, it is a very common feature of driving today as 90 per cent of motorists were witnessed tailgating our test drivers whilst they were driving to strict Highway Code guidelines. However, it is possible that it is so commonplace that it has become ingrained in driver behaviour, as many of our test drivers also tailgated once they were free to drive ‘normally’.

“Causes for tailgating may be ascribed to a number of factors, from drivers being unaware of their own unsafe driving behaviour, to frustration with the lead vehicle for driving at the national speed limit and is therefore an attempt to speed them up. It’s also possible the current two-second rule could be encouraging it, as many drivers may find other cars pulling in between them and the car in front when leaving a two second gap. This in turn, may cause frustration and discourages drivers to keep their distance. As a result, tailgating may become the norm.”

Drivers’ attitudes to distraction and other motorists’ behaviour: A focus group and observational study’ was produced by TRL Limited for RBS Insurance.

* The DfT Road Casualties Great Britain: 2006 - Annual Report

Methodology for the TRL Study

The study involved two methods: a focus group discussion amongst 20 members of public was recruited to take part in the study from a range of ages and backgrounds, eighteen of whom (nine male; nine female) attended.

The results of the focus group were subsequently used to steer an observational study in which thirty drivers were asked to complete a 30-40 minute route on public roads in the TRL area (Crowthorne, Berkshire). Each participant was asked to complete the route driving as they would normally. To evaluate motorists’ responses to drivers complying with the Highway Code, participants were asked to complete the route complying with the Highway Code, participants were asked to drive obeying the Highway Code as closely as possible.

To record driver behaviours, distractions, and responses by other road users, a Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Approved Driving Instructor and an experimenter accompanied each participating driver. In addition, video recordings were made and participants’ heart rate was monitored as an index of stress. Between the two drives, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire.

TRL is an internationally recognised centre of excellence providing world class research, advice and solutions for all issues relating to transport. Celebrating 75 years of innovation in the transport sector, TRL’s science and understanding continues to underpin the development of the solutions we deliver to clients’ world-wide. For more information on TRL, please visit www.trl.co.uk

The UK’s leading price comparison site analysed data from ten million insurance quotes made by consumers over the past ten months. It showed over four per cent1 of motorists in the East Sussex village of Winchelsea have made a claim on their motor insurance for theft in the past five years. Saltburn-by-the-sea in Cleveland, and the village of Godstone in Surrey come in second and third place, both with just over three per cent making a claim in the past five years (see table in notes to editors).

Unsurprisingly, the research reveals urban city centres Manchester, Hackney in London, and Liverpool also make the top 20 for motorists claiming on their insurance for car theft.

Andy Leadbetter, head of insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: “It is quite a shock to see smaller rural villages snatching the top spots in the UK for car theft, whether its theft from the vehicle or of the vehicle itself. I’d expect to see bustling urban hot spots to be topping the list but it seems English villages are not the idyllic locales we may think - at least not when it comes to car theft.”

Andy Leadbetter continued: “Whether it’s a mobile phone left on display, a Sat Nav, or pricey alloy wheels, having items stolen from a securely locked vehicle is an awful experience. The stress and anxiety involved in having your car stolen is also something vigilant motorists won’t want to experience. My advice to motorists is to always be alert when it comes to the security of your vehicle; parking safely for example, in a garage if possible. Improving the security of your vehicle may also be an option - fitting an alarm and using a steering wheel lock are efficient means to safeguard your car. As a final tip it goes without saying not to leave valuables on display to tempt opportunistic thieves.”

The report, ‘Tackling whiplash: prevention, care, compensation’, says that 430,000 people claimed for whiplash injury in 2007, costing the insurance industry £1.9bn in compensation.

According to Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance:

“The cost of whiplash claims equates to about £66 for every UK car insurance policy, or about 14 per cent of the average Shoparound car insurance premium1. This is more than twice the cost of claims for accidents with uninsured drivers2.

“Over the past year, the average quoted Shoparound premium for a comprehensive car insurance policy increased by 8.7 per cent1 and whiplash injury will become an increasingly important factor in future premium increases.”

However, Edmund King, president of the AA, points out that most whiplash injuries are avoidable:

“Drivers and passengers can help prevent themselves becoming victims of whiplash by adjusting head restraints before they drive off. The top of the head restraint should be level with the top of the driver’s head, or at least no lower then eye level. Drivers can avoid inflicting whiplash on themselves and others by keeping a safe distance - at least two seconds - from the vehicle ahead.”

1: According to the benchmark AA British Insurance Premium Index, over the 12 months to October 2008 the average ‘Shoparound’ premium quoted for an annual comprehensive car insurance policy increased by 8.7 per cent to £486.45

2: For every car insurance policy issued, insurers contribute approximately £30 to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) in order to compensate the victims of accidents with uninsured drivers (source: AA/ABI)

The drink driving penalty, DR10, has a huge affect on your insurance premium and drivers will find there is a heavy price to pay. Insurers such as Kwik Fit and Budget will provide cover for drivers with a previous drink driving conviction, but premiums will see a huge increase; rising by a whopping 82 per cent on average - from £290 to £528 a year. In some cases premiums could increase by over 100 per cent1.

The UK’s leading price comparison site also reveals many big name insurers such as esure, Halifax, and specialist female-only insurer Sheilas’ Wheels, will not even return a quote and insure a motorist with a previous drink driving conviction. Other insurers2, More Th>n and LV= for example, will not insure a driver if you have had a 12 month driving ban in the last five years.

Andy Leadbetter, head of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: “With the Christmas party season just around the corner many would think nothing of enjoying one or two drinks to get in to the festive spirit. However, it is vital that to make sure you make adequate arrangements to get home as drink driving can have serious consequences, not only for yourself but also for other road users and pedestrians. It is crucial to be aware of the effects of alcohol on driving; reaction times, co-ordination, and judgement will all be skewed.

“Even if you are over the limit by just a small amount, finding yourself uninsurable will be a huge blow, especially alongside the £1,000 fine, 12 month ban and possible prison sentence! Surely getting behind the wheel after drinking just isn’t worth it.”

In a recent ROSPA survey almost half of drivers (44 per cent) admitted to driving after drinking alcohol, with one in eight saying they did so even though they thought they were over the legal limit3.

Andy Leadbetter said: “With so many motorists taking a risk behind the wheel, it’s not a surprise the insurance industry takes drink driving very seriously. Even drinking under the legal limit and getting behind the wheel can be an accident waiting to happen. The safest option is to only drink soft drinks when intending to drive at anytime and not only over the Christmas period.”

¹ Drink driving convictions affecting motor insurance premiums:

Sourced by www.moneysupermarket.com 05.11.2008

Scenario:

• 40 year old male
• 2006 Ford Focus
• 5 years NCD
• Car parked on driveway
• 12,000 miles per year
• Living in Maidstone ME15
• DR10 Penalty - drink driving conviction (driving or attempting to drive with alcohollevel above limit - 6 points / 40 MC found in blood / £1,000 fine / 12 Month ban)

² These providers will not provide cover if you have had a 12 month driving ban in the last 5 years

Sourced by www.moneysupermarket.com 06.11.2008

³ ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents): Drinking and Driving Policy Paper Updated May 2007 (www.rospa.com)

MORE TH>N BUSINESS records show that vehicle accident claims surge by five per cent on average each year during the two weeks either side of the daylight saving changeover as motorists suddenly find themselves driving to and from work in the dark.

Head of MORE TH>N BUSINESS Mike Bowman said: “This is always the worst month of the year for motorists and our claims officers are already reporting a rising volume of vehicle accident claims.”

As the number of daylight hours dwindle each week and fog and darkness sets in, Mr Bowman said drivers must change their driving habits.

“Twilight presents the most difficult driving conditions because your eyes are required to constantly change to adapt to the growing darkness,” Mr Bowman said, “so it really pays to take extra care, put your headlights on and drive to the conditions.

“Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, keep your distance between you and the vehicle in front and switch your headlights on as darkness creeps in.”

This year daylight saving officially ends on Sunday, 26 October.

MORE TH>N BUSINESS is urging drivers to take extra care during these hazardous weeks, and reminds drivers that should the worst happen, your insurer can help you to get back on the road as quickly as possible, minimising the impact on your business.

To help, MORE TH>N BUSINESS offers drivers the following tips on safe motoring:

Top 10 tips for driving in darkness

1. Prepare your car for night driving. Clean headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows.

2. Angle your headlights properly. Misdirected headlights can blind other drivers and impair your ability to see the road.

3. Don’t drink and drive. Just one drink can induce fatigue.

4. Avoid smoking when you drive as smoke’s nicotine and carbon monoxide can greatly reduce night vision.

5. Lower your speed and increase your following distances. It is more difficult to judge another vehicle’s speed and distance in the dark.

6. Don’t overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you’re not, you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.

7. When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you.

8. If an oncoming vehicle doesn’t dip beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.

9. If you’re feeling tired, stop and have a rest.

10. If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far away from moving traffic as possible. Warn approaching traffic at once by turning on your hazard lights.

By law, drivers must ensure that all children under 12 and shorter than 135cm (4′5′) use a child or booster seat. Without this, the risk of fatality or injury in the event of an accident rises by 71 per cent and 69 per cent respectively.

It’s not only the potential injury to the child that is a problem. There is also increased risk of serious injury to the driver or front seat passenger if the car is in a “shunt” and a backseat passenger is thrown forward.

The new laws were introduced two years ago this month and the LV= research has found many drivers are ignorant of their legal duty of care. One in five (21 per cent) of those who fail to comply with the law say they are unaware the guidelines even exist.

Worryingly, one in ten of those who are aware of the guidelines say they just disregard them and don’t bother to fit safety seats, despite the fact that the laws were brought in to ensure that all children are protected on the roads, to reduce fatalities and injuries.

Not only is the failure to use a proper child seat dangerous for both the passenger and the driver, it also carries a potential penalty fine of £500.

The LV= study shows that children are most at risk when travelling with friends of the family, with over a quarter (26 per cent) of those admitting to not using car child seats.

The research also found that even in cases when an appropriate car seat is used, almost a quarter of drivers (24 per cent) say they do not check the safety seat is installed properly, potentially putting their young passengers in danger.

In 2007 there were over 3,000 child casualties as a result of road accidents, including 121 fatalities. With such high stakes, LV= is today calling on all drivers to ensure they take every precaution and install appropriate safety equipment, to protect themselves and their passengers from harm.

John O’Roarke, Managing Director of LV= Car Insurance, said “Huge strides have been made to improve child safety on the road in recent years, not least with the introduction of compulsory child seats in 2006. However, it’s clear that many drivers are still confused about the law and for one reason or another, are not following the legislation. So we’d urge all drivers to make sure they’re aware of the guidelines - child seats can take just five minutes to install and greatly reduce the chances of injury to everyone in the car.”

LV= will automatically replace child safety seats for any of its policyholders whose car has been in an accident, even if the seat looks undamaged.

In a comprehensive study1 with microbiologists at Aston University, insurance.co.uk found the inside of a typical car has 283 different types of bacteria present, in every squared centimetre (cm2). On average, the dirtiest part of the car was the gear stick, with 356 germs identified every cm2. However, in one instance a car boot had over 850 bacteria present per cm2.

Drivers with children and pets were found to be most at risk. In their vehicles, the number and diversity of bacteria greatly increased. In one instance, bacterial traces of excrement were found in the boot of the car, in the same spot as weekly food shopping was regularly placed.

Harmful bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), were identified in some vehicles. This organism is commonly associated with faecal contamination and is capable of causing human disease. It also indicates the potential presence of other dangerous bacteria, including Salmonella and Campylobacter. Worryingly, these strains are capable of surviving on surfaces inside cars, such as a steering wheel or dashboard, for up to a month.

The study also revealed that there was a strong correlation between the mileage of the car and the bacterial and fungal air quality. When air and heater blowers are switched on, the number of airborne bacteria and fungi significantly increases, especially in older cars, which are less likely to have air filters.

More common types of bacteria were found in all cars. These included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus (organisms carried around on human skin). Whilst most would not generally cause anything of concern to healthy individuals, Staphylococcus aureus is known to cause infection in susceptible individuals. Other bacteria found included Bacillus, Serratia marcesens and Enterobacter aerogenes. These are typically found in soil and dust and are most likely to be carried into the vehicle on the shoes of car occupants and the paws of dogs and other animals.

The insurance.co.uk study2 found that British motorists spend more than three years of their lives behind the wheel and over a quarter eat en route every week. One in four drivers say their car is littered with food wrappers (27 per cent) and empty drink bottles (26 per cent), while one in six (16 per cent) admit they regularly leave uneaten food in their vehicle. Half of those surveyed admitted their standards of cleanliness left much to be desired and that they would never let their home get into the same condition as their vehicle.

Dr Anthony Hilton, Aston University Director of Biology & Biomedical Science, said: “Whilst most of the bacteria we’ve found are unlikely to cause serious health problems, some cars, particularly those which regularly carry children and animals, play host to potentially harmful germs.

“People would be horrified at the thought of eating off their toilet seat, but few realise eating off their car dashboard is just as likely to make them sick.”

Steve Grainger, head of insurance.co.uk, said: “Given the time we spend in our cars and the amount of money we fork out on them over the years, it’s startling to see the lax attitude British drivers have to car cleanliness. Worryingly, this appears to be reflective of an increasingly poor attitude towards vital car maintenance - we’ve found that one in three drivers would only take their car to a professional if it needed major maintenance work.”

When quizzed about the most peculiar items drivers had found in their car, a whole host of unusual and downright unpleasant objects were revealed, including:

Top 5 - insects, animals and excrement

Mice (dead and alive)
Dog poo
The neighbour’s cat
Body parts from a dead seagull which a dog had smuggled in
Maggots for fishing that were forgotten about and didn’t die, but reproduced and grew

Top 5 - food

A joint of beef in the boot, which had fallen out of shopping bags weeks ago
A 3 year old, green sandwich
A baby’s bottle under a seat, which had been there for at least 6 months
A very old chicken nugget, found lodged under a childs car seat
A Cadburys Wispa, which had been left long before the re-launch

Top 5 - miscellaneous

A pair of knickers belonging to a husbands ex girlfriend
A used condom in a just-bought second-hand car
Childs vomit in a door pocket, which had gone unnoticed for days
The results of a toddler picking his nose
Mushrooms growing in the floor

The study and research findings are released as insurance.co.uk launches a new offer to encourage motorists to keep on top of car maintenance. Those comparing car insurance policies on insurance.co.uk until November will receive free membership the National Service Network3 (NSN), helping to ensure they get a fair deal and great service from a garage or workshop in their area.

1 insurance.co.uk commissioned a study with Aston University to understand the microbiological status of British cars. Twenty five car users were randomly recruited and individuals completed a brief questionnaire to establish the age, mileage, usage pattern and frequency of cleaning of the vehicle (internal and external) prior to investigation of the car. Swabs were taken from standard locations including the steering wheel, gear shift, hand-brake, external door handle and internal locations within the vehicle body and the boot. The air quality was also determined within the vehicle pre- and post-activation of the heating system. Samples were returned to the laboratory and analysed using standard microbiological culture techniques to determine the number and diversity of bacterial and fungal species. Where possible, isolates were identified to genus and species level using colony morphology, microscopy and biochemical profiling.

2 tickbox.net surveyed 1376 car owners in August 2008

3 National Service Network (NSN) www.nsn.co.uk

A shocking 1 in 4 (23%) of 17-24 year olds, claim that they have picked up bad driving habits from films, such as Casino Royale and the Italian Job - an admission which is supported by the fact that 3 in 4 young drivers claim to drive with one hand on the wheel, and more than 1 in 2 (55%) frequently drive over the speed limit.

Londoners are the worst in the country for trying to emulate their TV and film heroes, with nearly 1 in 5 (18%) claiming that watching films has a direct impact on their driving styles. This becomes even more significant when taking into consideration the fact that only 2% of drivers from other regions in the UK claim to be influenced by film and TV characters.

Will Thomas, head of car insurance at Confused.com, says: “It is very concerning that so many drivers admit to being influenced by film and television stars. While some motorists dream about emulating the driving styles of James Bond and Knightrider, the reality is that driving erratically and dangerously is far from astute - especially for people who live in regions which are as built-up as London.

“Driving dangerously not only has serious safety implications, but it can also have a huge impact on drivers’ premiums. Young drivers and Londoners can already suffer from initially higher premiums than their driving counterparts which makes their self-confessed recklessness even more inexplicable.”

* Research carried out by Tickbox, on behalf of Confused.com, in September 2008. 1200 motorists took part in the survey.