Monday 19 April 2010

Londoners rated as the worst learner drivers

Londoners rated as the worst learner drivers



Learners located in London and South East England need more attempts at the driving test to pass compared to every other part of Britain, based on a new survey by the AA.

An overall total of 20,109 people responded to the survey, which revealed that Londoners sat the test on average 2.09 times, while those in the south east needed 2.11 tests, which is five percent worse compared to UK average.

Simon Douglas, the AA Driving School director, said: "Busy, complex roads in London and the South-east appear to contribute to learners there finding it slightly more challenging."

Drivers in the east of England returned the best result, taking just 1.9 attempts to pass. They were closely followed by the North East, Yorkshire & Humberside and the East Midlands.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is quoted as saying that those who have passed their test have had 45 hours of professional training and 22 hours of private practice - on average.

Douglas sums up the findings: "Many factors shape local pass rates. But, wherever you reside, professional tuition using a fully-qualified driving instructor will give you the best possible head start towards passing your L-test and beyond."

The full league table is below:

East of England 1.87

Yorkshire & Humberside 1.91

North-east of England 1.91

East Midlands 1.92

Scotland 1.97

South-west of England 1.97

West Midlands 1.98

Wales 2.02

North-west of England 2.03

Northern Ireland 2.03

London 2.09

South-east of England 2.11

Thursday 15 April 2010

New driver insurance guide.

If you’ve recently passed your test and tried searching looking for insurance, you’ve probably already discovered how expensive insurance for inexperienced drivers can be.

Motor insurance for first time or young drivers can be expensive enough, but with reason. Moneysupermarket.com says: “There are several reasons why younger drivers pay more for their car insurance.

These include:

Drivers are statistically more likely to have an accident in the first two years after passing their test than at any other time. One in five drivers will have a crash in within their first year on the road.

A third of fatalities on UK roads are caused by young drivers aged 17 to 25.

Young drivers also experience more theft, fire and vandalism to their vehicles, which contributes to more claims on their car insurance.

Young drivers are more inclined to be ferrying around a vehicle} full of friends and for that reason face a much greater risk of being involved in an accident than somebody that just uses their car to nip out to the shops mid-afternoon.”

It may seem like the odds are stacked against you somewhat, but by following a few of the tips below, you can save a packet on your young drivers insurance.

Buy a Low Powered Car.

Unfortunately, engine size is one is probably one of the biggest factors with regards to the price of your premium whatever your age, a car with a smaller engine will always be cheaper to insure than a big one. Search for cars in as low an insurance group as you possibly can in order to acquire the least expensive policy.

Take a Pass plus Course

This course is designed to teach recently passed drivers a few advanced driving techniques that could make them better and safer drivers. Many companies offer cheaper car insurance for first time drivers who have completed a pass plus course, up to 35% in some instances. There isn’t a test at the conclusion of the course and it takes only six hours to complete, so for those sorts of savings it’s a bargain!

Great news if you live in Somerset,in addition to any savings on insurance you can attend a 2 hour attitude and behaviour workshop completely FREE of charge.They are held every month in Bridgwater,Taunton and Yeovil and Somerset road safety partnership will provide you with a £60.00 grant towards the cost of your pass plus course.See main web site for dates and venues.

Try a Multi-Car Policy

If you still live with your parents, it could be worth contacting their insurance providers – some companies offer heavy discounts on multiple cars within the same household, providing a budget car insurance many new drivers would like.

Policies with Restrictions

Some policies offer cheaper premiums at the expense of adding certain restrictions to them – not driving within certain hours of the night, for instance, or paying on a ‘per mile’ basis. Obviously, these might not be of use to everyone, but if you don't use your vehicle during the night time or only travel short distances, policies such as these can help you save significant amounts of money.

Consider Your Excess

The larger your excess, the cheaper your insurance is going to be – this is true of all policies, whether or not you are a new driver or not. However, you need to consider whether you are able to pay this should you have a crash– could you afford to pay a £600 excess after a nasty accident?

Keep it Stock

It’s another sad truth, but induction kits, spoilers, flared arches and the rest all add to your insurance premium – anything that adds value, performance or desirability to the vehicle will probably make that cheap car insurance quote more expensive, although different insurers treat modifications differently.

Add a Named Driver

Adding a mature and more experienced driver to your policy can decrease your premium quite substantially – this really is often one of the better options for cheap car insurance for new drivers. Don't let yourself be tempted to put yourself as a named driver on another person’s policy if you are the main user though; this is called ‘fronting’ and could result in the younger driver being convicted of fraud.

Obviously, it’s is best to check around – Moneysupermarket.com compare a massive amount of insurance firms, and can assist you to find the most effective possible deal for you quickly and easily.