It has been reported today that Nottinghamshire has been involved in a trial for the government whereby specialised traffic courts have been instigated in an effort to fast track the court system dealing with motoring offences such as speeding and no insurance.

Since May 2012, in Nottinghamshire, most routine motoring offences have been scheduled to be heard at the Mansfield Magistrates Court, freeing up valuable court time for more serious matters at the Nottingham and Worksop Magistrates’ Courts. Initially on Mondays, but now also on Tuesdays, Mansfield has operated courts devoted to dealing with road traffic law – the case load of 160 or so cases now being split to around 80 cases a day! Ironically, this scheme came about hot on the heels of the closure of the Newark and Retford Magistrates’ Courts in Notts on ‘cost saving’ grounds. Click here to read more »

What do dancing teachers, haulage contractors, funeral directors and, ahem, solicitors, all have in common?

According to an insurance comparison site, they are all in the Top 30 “least law abiding drivers”.

Yes, another study about driving behaviour has been published. But this one appears to be comparatively comprehensive in its collation of 270,000 recent insurance quotes from 313 occupations, analysing average mileage and the number of motorists with convictions. Click here to read more »

Insurers say they have good news for honest motorists after striking a deal with the DVLA.

They will be given access to a database built by the licensing agency, which provides details of everyone’s driving offences, convictions, points and disqualifications.  The Association of British Insurers (ABI) claims this will reduce fraud and save people money on their motor insurance. Click here to read more »

Whiplash claims are, as the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is keen to point out, a pain in the neck.

As someone who was once on the other end of a spurious claim for neck injuries, it’s easy to see why.

Whiplash is tough to disprove, very tough. In fact, it’s so difficult that according to the ABI it is all thanks to this complaint that the cost of all our insurance policies have risen by 20%.

Claims have increased by a third in the last three years, despite a fall in the number of collisions. Click here to read more »

Knowledge is power, as well as cash in the bank. Research shows that 71% of the population do not know the legal speed limits and are paying for their ignorance.

A Freedom of Information request by insurance firm LV=  found that there was a 6% increase in the number of motorists caught breaking the speed limit last year.

On average drivers break the limit by 8.5mph but there is a small minority (4%) that flout it by up to 20mph. Click here to read more »

So, is everyone clear about whether or not we have motor insurance cover in the event that we have an accident after drinking but remaining within legal limits?

Or, if the cover remains in place following an accident when you are taking certain prescription drugs?

BBC Radio 4′s Money Box has highlighted how the ham-fisted wording in some insurers’ policies is about as clear as the taxable status of Greggs’ pasties.
Zurich led the field, with a new exclusion written into its policy that anyone under the influence of alcohol, or any other substance that would adversely affect a person’s ability to drive, would not be covered in the event of an accident. Click here to read more »