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.

In just the last three months, 340,000 drivers have suffered a breakdown due to running out of fuel - up 10 per cent from this time last year.

With the average UK motorist paying £50 to completely fill their tank, up by £11.50 from 2007, half (47 per cent) of all drivers admit to running their car with the bare minimum of fuel. In fact, one in five (20 per cent) drivers say due to high fuel prices they can no longer afford to fill their tank up, with single parents (37 per cent) and young professionals (26 per cent) hit the worst.

As a result, an increasing number of motorists are gambling to see how far they can travel on limited fuel. In the past three months six in 10 (59 per cent) drivers have allowed their fuel level to fall so low that they’ve triggered their warning light.

A quarter (26 per cent) of motorists interviewed said they drive their car on hardly any fuel at least once a month and nearly one in ten (8 per cent) admitted to driving on empty ‘all the time’.

Recent dramatic rises in fuel have resulted in motorists having little idea of how much fuel it actually takes to run their car. Less than one in twenty (4 per cent) correctly estimated that the average car could drive 100 - 110 miles on £10 worth of fuel.

So desperate are drivers becoming to save petrol that one in five (21 per cent) said they no longer use their vehicle’s air conditioning and close to four in 10 (38 per cent) said they drive slower in an attempt to save fuel.

To add to this fuel misery, the recent four day strike from Shell caused huge queues at service stations affecting a sixth (15 per cent) of all motorists. An estimated 150 filling stations ran out of fuel with a quarter (23 per cent) of drivers saying their local garage had run dry.

Despite government warnings not to panic buy during the strike, over 3.7 million motorists disregarded these pleas and filled their tank up to avoid running dry. Just 11 per cent of motorists adhering to Government advice to only buy fuel when necessary.

Emma Holyer, Spokesperson for Britannia Rescue, said: “Increases in fuel prices are hitting drivers hard, especially against a background of rising food and housing costs. But whilst it is now more costly to fill up at the pumps running a car on empty can damage a car’s fuel pump - requiring repairs that will make a full tank of £50 petrol seem like a bargain.

“Drivers who run their car on empty are also at high risk of breaking down. Not only is this extremely costly if you don’t have breakdown cover and also very inconvenient, running out of fuel on the roads that don’t have a hard shoulder can create major safety hazards for other drivers.”

Joanne Mallon, Sainsbury’s Car Insurance Manager said: “By highlighting the dangers of the school run, we’re hoping more people will strap their young passengers in securely. The school run can be very stressful for drivers. Busy roads, children being noisy in the back seat, and the worry of being late for school or work can all lead to stress that can affect people’s driving. What is most concerning about our findings is that a significant number of people are currently not ensuring their children are properly secured in the car.”

Men are more likely to have an accident on the school run, with 9% of male school run drivers having done so in the last five years against 7% of women. Worryingly, men are also much more likely to drive a child who is not appropriately secured, with 18% of male school run drivers admitting to this compared to 12% of females. The most common type of accident admitted to, involved another car, with 5% of all school run drivers having been involved in this type of collision.

In terms of location, Londoners on the school run are more likely to have an accident than anyone else, with 15.2% of school run drivers having had an accident going to or from school in the last five years. Those from the North East / Yorkshire & Humberside are almost as likely to crash, with 12.5% of school run drivers having had an accident, but those in the Midlands being the least accident-prone, with only 5%.

The research indicates that a fear of lateness is the biggest cause of erratic driving on the school run. Thirteen per cent of all school run drivers blame fear of being late for work, school, or an appointment as having made them drive with less care than normal. This is followed by traffic congestion (7%), and being distracted by children in the car (6%). Only 4% of all school run drivers say they have driven more erratically because of tiredness at the end of the day.

More accidents happen on the morning school run than the afternoon one, with 41% of those who have had an accident claiming it was in the morning compared to 34% in the afternoon. Five per cent said they have had an accident on both the morning and afternoon school runs, and 20% couldn’t remember. Women are particularly likely to have an accident in the morning rather than the afternoon, with 50% of the female school run crashers having done so in the morning against 37% in the afternoon.

Sainsbury’s Car Insurance offers motorists an extensive range of cover and benefits. This includes a courtesy car when using one of its recommended repairers (comprehensive cover only) and a no claim discount of 70% if you take out a policy and have not made a claim in the past five years, rising to 75% after a further five years’ claim free driving with Sainsbury’s Car Insurance. It is also one of only a few providers to offer new for old replacement child car seats after an accident as a standard feature of its comprehensive policy, even when there is no visible damage, as well as support and compensation if you’re a victim of car jacking or road rage⁽²⁾.

• ⁽¹⁾ 2016 GB adults aged 16-64 were interviewed online by TNS between 1^st - 7^th April 2008. The sample has been weighted to represent the adult population of Great Britain aged 16-64.
• ⁽²⁾ Terms and conditions apply.

moneysupermarket.com is warning drivers to double check their motor cover before hitting the roads in Europe. Research by the price comparison site found well over a third of drivers (39 per cent) are unaware their motor insurance may be automatically downgraded from comprehensive to third party when driving on the Continent.

Five of the UK’s ten leading insurers automatically reduce cover when policyholders travel to Europe. Drivers with motor insurance from Barclays, Direct Line, esure and Swiftcover are most at risk; these policies reduce your existing cover to third party only in Europe.

Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: “If you normally have comprehensive car insurance, it will come as a shock if you are with one of those insurers who will downgrade your cover for driving in Europe. While it may be in the small print of your policy, our research shows many motorists are unaware of this.

“Every insurer must provide the minimum level of third party cover in all EU countries. So, if there is any damage to your own car, you will be left to foot the bill. Anyone with a holiday home in Europe or who regularly drives in the continent will do well to look for an insurer that automatically provides the same level of cover throughout the EU.

“Drivers really need to be alert to this trick of the trade. Some motorists may be happy only having third party cover while abroad, however those who aren’t should look to pay to upgrade their cover. A crash is a horrible experience, but being abroad, not speaking the local dialect, and finding yourself uninsured, could turn your idyllic break into a holiday from hell.”

Cover in Europe among the UK’s leading insurers

Quote will differ due to circumstances. Cost is based on 2 weeks in France, driving a Ford Focus LX.

* Research conducted by Opinium Research in an online survey of 2,001 UK adults between 12 and 15 February 2008. All information weighted to nationally representative criteria