Young drivers co-buy wheels to save money and the environment

9 March 2007
(source: Direct LIne)

Young drivers co-buy wheels to save money and the environment

Environment worries and the high cost of car-ownership mean many young drivers are co-buying their first set of wheels, according to new research by Direct Line Car Insurance.

With the cost of running a car totalling £2,000 per year for first-time car owners, more than one in 10 (12 per cent) young drivers have teamed up with a friend or family member to buy a car.

Buying a vehicle with friends or family to split the cost of driving has enabled two million motorists* (six per cent of all drivers) to get on the road when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.

It would seem that this co-buying trend is set to continue with more than one in five (23 per cent) 18-29 year olds currently considering sharing their car and subsequent costs.

Cost cutting is not the only reason young drivers are co-buying cars. Going ‘green’ is also an increasing concern with four out of five (82 per cent) of all motorists saying vehicle emissions are a growing worry.

Out of the young drivers who already share a vehicle close to a quarter (23 per cent) are sharing because it is better for the environment and 14 per cent do it to help reduce congestion.

Emma Holyer, Direct Line’s Motor spokesperson said:

“Sharing a car is a great way to save money on costs and to help reduce vehicle emissions as well. It’s particularly helpful for younger drivers who tend to pay higher insurance premiums.

“To help car-sharers, Direct Line offers named drivers the chance to build up their own no claims discount. And for those drivers living together for whom it is not practical to share a vehicle, Direct Line offers a multi-car discount for vehicles registered to the same address.”

8 March 2007
(source: the AA)

Road Pricing - the view of the AA

At the start of 2007 the AA asked a representative sample of British motorists what their main motoring concerns are. More than 82 per cent highlighted ‘the cost of motoring’. This is not surprising given that transport, and in particular motoring, is by far the largest item of household expenditure, at over £240 per month. People are therefore rightly concerned about any new additional financial burden being imposed on their motoring, especially when the details are so unclear.

Drivers already pay vehicle excise duty, fuel duty plus VAT for every mile they travel, and in recent years they have been faced with the highest ever fuel prices. Many say that they already pay more than enough, particularly when they sit in traffic jams and travel on poor quality roads. Others say something must be done about congestion and the lack of investment, and rationing road use by price may be the only solution.

The AA says motorists are understandably very confused about road pricing and what it would mean to them and their families. Some already pay more on top of their motoring tax without much complaint, for example on the M6 toll (for an easier journey) or in London (where everyone knows congestion is serious and good public transport exists). However, the motoring public remains to be convinced that going any further with charging will be good for Britain – so the AA also needs to be convinced.

If congestion can be eased and investment improved by a fair and totally transparent realignment of how we pay for our motoring, it is worth serious discussion. The AA will contribute to that debate and work to ensure that clarity and honesty overcomes myth and speculation.

Paul Watters
Head of Public Affairs
The Automobile Association

Women drivers risking their lives by avoiding a trip to the garage

More than four million female drivers admit to putting their lives at risk by continuing to drive faulty, and potentially un-roadworthy, cars because they dislike the experience of visiting a garage, according to a new report.

The ‘Girls & Garages’ survey from Sheilas’ Wheels - a car insurer designed for the female driver - shows that a staggering 30% of women have continued to drive their car around for more than a month before taking it to a garage knowing there’s a fault that needs investigating.

Almost half (47%) of female motorists say visiting a garage is an ordeal they’d rather avoid. In fact, a fifth (19%) of women say they would rather go to the doctors – an experience that few look forward to - than take their car into a garage for a service or repair.

Despite the fact that three fifths (61%) of woman currently take their car into a garage on their own, 39% of them say they would prefer to take someone along with them if they were able to – such as a partner, friend or relative. While, one in ten female drivers (12%) currently arrange for someone else to take their car in on their behalf, to avoid the garage experience altogether.

The report reveals that the main reasons why women are put-off garages is because the experience is too ‘blokey’ (39%); the staff come across as patronising and rude (27%); and the atmosphere makes them feel intimidated (23%).

Sheilas’ Wheels exclusively uses ‘female-friendly’ repairers who receive additional guidelines and advice to be more receptive to women’s needs. They follow a code of practice to better meet the individual requirements of female motorists, such as helping with child car seats, arranging visits to fit around school runs, offering flexible drop-off and pick-up times during daylight hours, and so on.

Jacky Brown, spokesperson for Sheilas’ Wheels says: “It’s astounding that so many women motorists are potentially putting their lives on the line by driving around in cars that they know have a fault, just to avoid visiting a garage.

“With over 14 million* female drivers behind the wheel on UK roads, it makes sense that their specific needs are met. Sheilas’ Wheels is urging the motor industry to take action and encourage female drivers to steer towards, rather than steer clear, of garages if their vehicles are in need of maintenance, servicing or repair. After all, it’s in their interest from a business point of view. ”

Christine Maskill, owner of Newbury Crash Repairs, echoes this view : “The problem isn’t that women are nervous drivers or don’t understand the basics, it’s that the service they receive from many in our industry is pretty poor and can be quite off-putting.

“We make sure our staff are trained properly and that particular emphasis is given to cater for female drivers’ needs – such as keeping a mum mobile whilst she’s juggling work, school-age children and a car that needs repair. Tailoring our service to female clients is a crucial part of our business and in what still is very much a man’s world, we need to bring ourselves in line with the rest of the service industry and treat women as our valued customers.”

The ‘Girls & Garages’ report also reveals the top five things garages can do to make dealing with them a better experience:

Four in ten motorists worried about road safety as EU set to introduce Euro driving licences

One in twenty motorists has been involved in an accident or near accident with a foreign-registered car or non-UK licence holder.

Plans to introduce euro-wide driving licences could cause chaos on UK roads. A study by insurer swiftcover.com reveals that many motorists predict more prangs and crashes when standard European licenses become the norm.

Four in ten (41%) drivers who are aware of the new legislation to replace the British national drivers’ licence with a single EU-wide licence from 2013 are worried about driving standards. swiftcover.com targeted drivers who knew euro licences are on the way – 27 per cent said they believe roads will become more dangerous.

The swiftcover.com ‘Safety on Britain’s Roads’ study* suggests these motorists might have cause for concern. One in twenty (5%) drivers – the equivalent of 1.65 million motorists** - has been involved in a road accident or near-miss with a non-UK registered car or a non-UK driving licence holder. One in fifty people - the equivalent of 880,000 UK adults – have even been involved in an accident or near-accident with a foreign-registered HGV.

Of motorists that had been involved in an accident or near-accident with a foreign-registered car or non-UK licence holder, 87% said that the other driver was at fault. One in five (20%) believed it was due to the other driver changing lanes to the right. Whether due to inexperience of driving on a different side of the road or lack of suitable mirrors or visual aids, this is by far the greatest cause of these incidents.

Andrew Blowers, Chief Executive Officer at swiftcover.com comments: “Whilst many might advocate EU-wide driving licences as we are dragged closer towards a united European Union, both the European Parliament and British Government will have to increase the public’s awareness of their plans to harmonise driving qualifications and standards before the majority of UK motorists feel comfortable that the new measures won’t increase dangerous driving on our roads.

“In the meantime, as more countries join the EU and transport links improve, there are an increasing number of foreign-registered cars and drivers with non-UK licences on our roads with each passing year.”

Just over three quarters (77%) of people believe that motorists in the UK with EU licences should take a UK version of the driving test if they drive regularly in the UK for work or for a longer period of time than a holiday. Indeed, nearly two in three (60%) drivers with EU licences themselves also think it would have been beneficial if they had taken a UK version of the driving test before driving in Britain.

The West Midlands, with its high number of motorways and infamous ‘spaghetti junction’, is the nation’s hotspot for crashes and near-accidents with non-UK registered cars and licence holders. Three per cent of drivers in the West Midlands have been involved in traffic accidents or near-misses with foreign-registered HGVs, 1% with a foreign-registered bus or coach, 2% with a foreign-registered car and a further 3% with non-UK licence holders.

Andrew Blowers said: “Safer driving is in everyone’s interests and our research clearly shows that motorists – both those with UK or EU licences are in favour of harmonised driving standards. Safer driving practices will mean safer roads.”

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