Posts filed under 'insurance'
Reckless drivers who misuse their fog lights caused over 300,000 car accidents in 2011, according recent research by car insurance provider swiftcover.com.
With 1 in 10 motorists admitting to using high intensity lights when visibility is normal, and two million ‘near misses’ caused in the same period, there is clearly a problem with the misuse of fog lights and it seems to be taking its toll on the safety of Britain’s roads.
In a surprising discovery 14% percent of drivers said they over use their fog lights simply “because they look good”. This reasoning seems to come from predominantly younger drivers with 22% of 18-34 year olds who admit to misusing fog lights saying coolness was the motivation.
London drivers seem to be the main culprits as Swiftcover reported more accidents caused by use the of fog lights in the capital than any other region. 50% of these reported they had been dazzled by another drivers fog lights and gone on to make a claim.
“Young drivers trying to look ‘cool’ by using their fog lights at all times are recklessly and thoughtlessly endangering other motorists”, commented Robin Reames, chief claims officer at swiftcover.com. “Fog lights are designed for a very specific purpose – helping drivers to see and be seen when visibility is severely reduced. Misusing these lights has the effect of dazzling and distracting other motorists and causes a staggering number of crashes, as evidenced by our research. If you can see further than 100m (roughly the length of a football pitch) then your fog lights should remain off, and if they are not then you are breaking the law and could face a £30 fixed penalty notice.”
January 27th, 2012
According to a recent survey by online home insurance provider swiftcover.com, Britain is gluing and screwing its broken household items together more than ever.
Brits have spent £700m replacing broken domestic items in past 12 months and around 15 percent have attempted to repair them.
Despite this huge sum being spent replacing household items, 1.2 million British households (three million people) are eating and drinking using plastic cups and plates, presumably because of difficult economic circumstances.
James Barclay, home insurance expert at swiftcover.com, commented “Although millions continue to replace broken items around the house, many are making do, repairing damaged items or in extreme situations, using plastic plates and cups. There’s clearly a growing acceptance that money is tight so getting the glue out or making do, is now most definitely back.”
The survey also revealed brits have been particularly careless in the kitchen. 65% of domestic items broken are broken in the kitchen, with 2/3 thirds of people recently breaking a cup and over 50% breaking plates, bowls or other kinds of crockery.
November 11th, 2011
As of the 31st August Swiftcover goes mobile and it is now possible to get a car insurance quote on your mobile through the Swiftcover mobile app.
The key feature of this app is that there is no need to download it to your device. If you log onto swiftcover.com it will redirect you to a mobile site which has been optimised for some of the leading devices including iphone, black berry and android.
This comes on the back of more than 50,000 visitors to swiftcover.com accessing it via mobile every month.
The website now adapts to a specific mobiles specifications and screen display, which means a much smoother and satisfying user experience as well as no need to scroll left and right to view the site properly as you would on a standard desktop site.
Customers will be able to both get a quote as well as buy insurance through the mobile site on meaning saving time and hopefully money when renewal time comes around.
September 13th, 2011
Recent research by car insurer swiftcover.com has revealed that one in three drivers heading to foreign roads this summer may drive on the wrong side of the road at least once clocking up thousands of miles driving on the wrong side of the road.
One in ten UK drivers identified Italy as being the most difficult country to drive in, followed by France and then Germany.
The insurer provider compiled a mini-guide for driving in France and the EU with some useful tips to know before heading out on your next road trip:
• The speed limit in France is 130kph on motorways. This is reduced to 110kph in wet weather, which is legally enforceable
• In France and most of the EU, the maximum permitted level of alcohol is 0.5 mg/ml. This is substantially lower than the UK (0.8 mg/ml), so catch a taxi home after sampling the forbidden fruits of France. Cabs in France will cost you a lot less than a ride in London so take the safer approach.
• In the EU, traffic already on the roundabout has priority, unless signposts indicate otherwise. In this case, traffic approaching the roundabout has priority.
• While driving in France, you are legally required to carry a high visibility jacket and a warning triangle, and it is recommended that you carry a first aid kit.
And before you head out onto the open road, be sure to check that your car insurance covers you adequately for driving aboard.
August 22nd, 2011
According to recent research by swiftcover.com; over five years Britain has resigned £500 million pounds worth of electrical gadgets to the bin.
Overall since 2006, the British public have spent £1.5 billion pounds on over 300 million gadgets. This works out to an average of six per person, demonstrating the explosion in mobile and handheld technology over the last decade.
With devices being continually upgraded in increasingly short periods; the rate at which phones, mp3 players, televisions and other gadgets get disregarded has dramatically increased. 35 per cent of all gadgets bought in the past five years are no longer being used by the original owner.
The final resting place for 60 percent of gadgets is completely unknown but figures suggest they don’t all end up in the bottom of drawers or in shoeboxes under the bed. 19 percent of brits say they recycle their gadgets while 21 percent say they give their gadgets to friends and family.
There is also a noticeably different approach to unwanted gadgets between men and women. 40 percent of woman hand down or recycle their gadgets while 31 percent of men preferred to sell or discard their gadgets.
All this points to gadgets becoming entrenched in day to day life, but they are increasingly expensive.
Worryingly 29 percent of people who have bought a gadget in the last five years assume their gadgets are covered by contents insurance; which can be the case but not always. This leaves gadget enthusiasts exposed to huge financial costs should they lose or damage their gadgets.
August 5th, 2011
Tough economic times mean that almost two thirds of UK motorists are trying to cut costs on motoring in 2011.
Recent studies have shown that around 750,000 car insurance customers are planning on skipping their annual car service in a bid to save money; putting themselves, their passengers and other road users in potential danger.
The research on motorists risking their lives to save money also found that around a third of those looking to save some cash on motoring will just try to drive a bit less. The biggest segment of those choosing to drive less are between the ages of 35 and 44; which means a tougher time for working parents as this age group tends to rely on their cars for the school run and work commitments.
Pensioners are also trying to reduce their living costs by cutting back on car use. One in five pensioners are leaving their vehicles at home in favor of using public transport which supplied free for all over 65’s.
Motorists who are looking for reassurance before spending their precious pennies may find the Good Garage Scheme especially useful. Every garage listed works to a strict Code of Conduct and can be trusted to do a good job on your next service, MOT or car repair.
June 16th, 2011
Where do you keep your car keys at night - in your hand bag, near the front door, in your pocket … or in your bed?
According to swiftcover.com more than 1.5 million motorists take their car keys to bed with them. This has resulted from the increase in home burglaries where car keys are targeted.
Despite this growing trend there are still 4.5 million motorists who leave their car keys next to their front door, and a quarter of Brits leave them in a bag or coat pocket.
Robin Reames, claims director at swiftcover.com, said:
Millions of motorists are so worried about car key burglaries that they’re resorting to taking their car keys to bed, but millions more are ignoring the dangers. Modern cars are extremely difficult to steal without a key, thanks to sophisticated security systems but the downside is that car key burglaries is now an increasing threat to UK motorists. Motorists who keep their keys on a surface near their front or back door are the easiest targets for burglars and may even be victims of car key fishing where thieves literally fish for the keys through the letterbox.
Where ever you decide to keep them, make sure they are in a safe place and out of view of prying thieves.
May 18th, 2011
You may think that a multi- car insurance policy will save you money. But that’s not always true according to recent research from swiftcover.com.
Swiftcover found that buying a multi-car policy could cost as much as 29 per cent more than if separate policies were bought.
Sarah Vaughan, motor director at swiftcover.com said:
It’s easy to assume that multi-car discounts must offer the best value, but it’s clearly not the case for everyone. It may be slightly easier but is it really worth paying hundreds of pounds over the odds?
In some cases a multi-car policy may be the cheapest option but it’s always worth shopping around to make sure you get the best deal.
April 21st, 2011
According to The Telegraph, burst pipes and other leaks cost the industry £644 million last year, and it’s expected that this winter could be worse. The importance of protecting your home has been highlighted even more during the past few weeks of freezing weather. So make sure you don’t have to make an insurance claim this winter by following these handy tips.
1. Heavy snow can cause branches to break and cause damage to your home, so it’s a good idea to prune the trees around your house.
2. Keep your gutters clear to avoid flooding and damage to your home.
3. To avoid frozen pipes and flooding always keep your heating on at a low temperature. And remember to keep it on if you go away over the festive season.
4. Make sure your pipes and water tanks are well insulated.
5. Know how to turn the water off, so you’re prepared in case your pipes do start leaking.
6. If you are planning to use your chimney this winter then check it’s in good working condition. The cost of a chimney sweep is fairly small and could prevent a chimney fire.
7. Make sure you have home insurance home insurance cover for extra peace of mind.
January 4th, 2011
Fuel prices are soaring with the average family now paying 18% more on petrol than last year. Swiftcover.com has a few tips that may help you reduce your bills and get more out of the fuel you are spending your hard earned cash on.
1. Make sure you remove any unused clutter such as roof racks, old damaged tyres and anything else that may add extra weight to your car.
2. To be fuel efficient you need to keep your speed between 55-65mph. Anything over that speed will increase how much fuel you consume.
3. Driving erratically by accelerating and braking will also increase your fuel consumption. By driving smoothly and intelligently you can save up to 30% on your motoring costs.
4. Making sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure is not only necessary to make sure your vehicle is safe in wet, wintery weather but can also save you up to 10% in fuel costs.
5. Try to avoid driving short distances. Cold engines use much more fuel and by walking or taking the bus for short distances you will not only save money but you will also help save on unnecessary emissions.
6. Turn your engine off if you get stuck in a traffic jam and you won’t waste fuel on going nowhere.
7. Save fuel by changing up a gear only when you reach 2500rpm for a petrol car and 2000rpm for a diesel car.
8. Plan your journey and the times you travel so you can avoid rush hour. Not only will this stop you from becoming stressed but will cut your fuel bills too.
9. Keep you cars service record up-to-date so that your car is running at its optimum level. Doing this will also ensure your engine is clean and not clogged up.
10. Using your air con will eat fuel so if you don’t need it, don’t use it.
By changing a few little things when driving your car, you will be able to save money by lowering your fuel costs.
November 19th, 2010
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