Drivers caught on phone could be in for insurance shock
The cost of keeping a vehicle on the road is already becoming unmanageable for many drivers, given the high cost of petrol and the soaring cost of insurance cover. However, those caught using their mobile phones whilst driving their vehicle could be in for an even bigger financial shock, as this offence could now end up costing them an additional £200 on their annual premium.
Many insurance company have said that this is unsafe practice, and those caught engaging in using the phone whilst driving could be forced to pay up to 30% more for their annual insurance cover, which could amount to hundreds of pounds. A number of insurance providers have said that the cost of cover will be seriously affected, and that offences such as these will be taken into account when working out the cost of cover.
An official from one leading insurance firm stated recently: ‘We decided to raise our premiums for drivers convicted of the offence to 30% in April. We hope that other insurers will follow our lead. We need to enforce the message that this is a dangerous and needless act.’
An official from the AA said: ‘This is a responsible approach by insurers. In our experience, drivers who have been convicted of using their phones tend to pick up more claims and are therefore deemed to be more dangerous. Drivers who use their phones are a big risk in terms of their lack of awareness, concentration on surroundings and failure to control the car properly. This is why a mobile phone offence often goes hand in hand with a careless driving offence.’
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