6% of British drivers would swap penalty points
Posted on January 20th, 2012
New research from LV= car insurance has found that 6% of British drivers would take penalty points for someone else.
Many UK licence holders (3,823,544) already have points, with 82% of points being handed out for speeding.
Speeding warrants between three and 12 points, and should 12 be accumulated by a driver then they are usually banned from driving altogether.
Two-thirds of those willing to take points for another said that they would take points to prevent a friend from being disqualified.
Lying to police and taking penalty points for someone else are both illegal, and will prove more difficult as a new police speeding camera records both a vehicles speed and the drivers face.
John ORoarke, MD of LV= car insurance, warned that it was easy for the police to match photos (using DVLA information) and ascertain whether the person taking points is the vehicles driver.
Tags: British Drivers Would, Drivers Would, Penalty Points, Points
No Comments »
Compare Auto Insurance After a DUI
Posted on January 10th, 2012
If you or someone you know has gotten a DUI, Fox Business article DUI and car insurance: What happens next?
Tags: Auto Insurance, Dui
No Comments »
Proposal for national ban on texting and talking on cell phones while driving
Posted on December 28th, 2011
As Michigan auto accident attorneys, the recent national news from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is extremely important. I’ve lectured and written extensively about the dangers of talking and texting while driving, and this year Michigan Auto Law had a successful texting while driving awareness campaign. Now the NTSB has recommended no use of cell phones – period – for people driving in cars and trucks.
The statistics showing how driving while using a cell phone now show that its just too dangerous and causes far too many preventable car accidents.
As the NTSB put it, they are calling for the first-ever nationwide ban on driver use of personal electronic devices (PEDS) while operating a motor vehicle. The sa
Tags: National, National Ban
No Comments »
ABI provides winter tyre reassurance
Posted on December 8th, 2011
Motorists who fit winter tyres to their cars should not be subject to an extra charge on their insurance, according to the ABI.
ABI member insurers make up 90% of the motor insurance market, and will not charge an additional premium if winter tyres are fitted, assuming the tyres are roadworthy, and are fitted in accordance with (having met) the vehicle manufacturers’ specifications.
Director of General Insurance Nick Starling explained that insurers do not want to penalise motorists who take steps to enhance their safety during winter.
Starling added that winter weather came early last year and there was some confusion that has now been clarified.
Insurers will typically not charge extra for fitting winter tyres but it may be necessary to advise an insurer that such an act has taken place, and the commitment does not cover fitting new wheels.
Having suffered two prolonged and severe bouts of winter weather in the past two years Britons and insurers are more aware of the risks involved, and home insurers have also issued early advice to homeowners to lag their pipes and (if necessary) keep their heating on to prevent burst pipes and substantial inconvenience/cost.
Tags: Tyre, Winter Tyre
No Comments »
Help for truck drivers
Posted on November 14th, 2011
As a truck accident lawyer, I am frequently asked for help from good truck drivers. Many of these truckers are pushed or pressured by their companies or the safety directors to break mandatory safety laws.
Sometimes this causes egregious violations of the FMCSRs, such as pushing these drivers to drive way past the hours of service requirements, or pressuring these drivers to skip pre-trip inspections so they can complete deliveries faster.
In the past, I’ve even included some of these requests for help with the truck driver’s permission. The most frequent request I get is simply for help when these truckers are being pressured by their company to do something illegal. These truck drivers want to report company violations that endanger both themselves and threaten the public, but they fear retaliation (by the way, this is one of the biggest reasons why I’m a fan of union truckers who have more safety provisions in place to prevent this type of illegal pressure and abuse of drivers). Drivers ask me what they should do, especially when they work for trucking companies where safety and maintenance violations are rampant and widespread.
The answer lies in Section 405 of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, which prohibits retaliation/discrimination for truck driver whistle blowers.
Be forewarned that in some cases a claim will become a long process. OSHA oversees these whistle blower claims and depending on the claim, an OSHA investigation will take time. However, the statute does provide protection for truckers. There are some truck accident lawyers who now specialize in these type of whistle blower cases against bad trucking companies that pressure drivers. Also, the statute allows collection of attorneys fees, so even if you live in a state that does not have a truck accident lawyer that handles Section 405 whistle blower type cases, I am happy to give you the name of a truck attorney who does.
Stopping this type of abuse translates to saving lives. Most truck drivers I’ve met (almost all of them in fact), are genuinely good people and really hate being pushed by companies to break safety rules that threaten them and the public. Section 405 claims serve the public interest, protect good drivers and promote safety.
Tags: Drivers, Truck Drivers
No Comments »
Garages gridlocked with “stuff”
Posted on October 31st, 2011
Multi-car households keep around £3,429 worth of items in their garage while £13,487 worth of vehicles are left on the road or driveway. <
Auto Insurance Company Rewarding Teens
Posted on October 17th, 2011
Auto insurance companies are always competing to win business, but MetLife had more in mind when they started their new Teens on the Road to Safety Program. This program is specifically designed to encourage young drivers to make safe driving a priority. The press release on Business Wire details how the program is expected to work.
MetLife Auto Insurance knew something needed to be done to reign in the number of accidents being caused by teenagers on the road. One in three teenage deaths occur in car crashes and MetLife believes that can be prevented through education and awareness. The program encourages young drivers to stay safe on the road by offering drivers who go a full year without accidents, claims or moving violations a $50 gift card from American Express. If
Tags: Auto Insurance, Teens
No Comments »