2946 – that’s the number of people killed on UK roads in 2007*. This does not compare favourably when compared to the number of fatalities due to road accidents in Australia where only 1,616 were fatally injured**.

However, when examining the data in the terms of percentage points, drivers in the UK and all the efforts by government, local councils and road safety initiatives appears to be paying off for drivers in the UK.

• Deaths of actual car users in Australia increased by 3.8% whilst in the UK, they reduced by 11%.
• Pedestatrian deaths decreased by 11.5% in Australia compared to a 4% reducution in the UK.
• Motorcyclists deaths remained the same in Australia whilst deaths of Motorcyclists reduced by 2% in the UK.
• Children aged 0-16 yrs old down 11% in Australia whilst the UK displays a 28% decrease for those in age group 0-15 years old.

The UK Government set a target in 2000 for a reduction in the number of casualties, looking to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 2010, compared with the average for 1994-98; a 50 per cent reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured; and a 10 per cent reduction in the slight casualty rate.

Figures for reported casualties in 2007 indicate:

• The number of people killed or seriously injured was 36 per cent below the baseline;
• The number of children killed or seriously injured was 55 per cent below the baseline;
• The provisional estimate of the slight casualty rate was 30 per cent below the baseline.

These reductions should be recognised and acknowledged. That equates to up to 126 more families still enjoying the company of loved ones in 2007 than in 2006.
* Department of Transport Statisitcs Bulletin : Road Casualties in Great Britain, Main Results 2007

** The Road Safety Report, August 2008, Road Deaths Australia : 2007 Statistical Summary published by the Australian Government – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Kit cars are growing in popularity and whether you bought your kit car as a project, a hobby or pre built, and simply enjoy driving it, there are particular aspects that kit car owners need to have from an insurance policy.

When looking to insure a kit car, have a think about these issues before trying to obtain any quotes:

• Agreed valuations –many insurers will only pay out the ‘market value’ of your kit car if you suffer a total loss. With a kit car, market value is often difficult to determine. Make sure you get it valued by a specialist to avoid having it undervalued and getting a nasty surprise if you need to make a claim.

• Goods In Transit cover –to cover you collecting you kit car, parts and tools from the manufacturers.

• Multi-vehicle cover – if the kit car is not your main means of transport, think about arranging a multi vehicle policy.

• Build Up Cover – do you need or want to insure your car as it is being assembled just in case of any mishaps.

• Limited Mileage discounts – the fewer miles you drive, the more you can save so think about the annual mileage you think you will drive in the car. Cover usually starts from around 1,500 miles.

• Track Day / Rally cover – this is a little more specialised and usually quoted on application.

• Owner’s Club Discounts – join a recognised owners club or enthusiasts’ forum and you could receive a discount of up to 15%, depending on the policy taken from some insurers.

Due to the type of vehicles, make sure you select experienced, specialist insurance providers when obtaining quotes.

Ever wondered who is the force and power behind the various insurance companies that operate across the UK and manage your car insurance?

Many insurers now offer motor insurance under a number of smaller companies operating as separate entities. Some may call this branding but in essence, it is simply a business operating under an additional trading name and whilst, insurance companies do not attempt to hide the details of the true owner, it’s only in the small print that this sort of information is normally disclosed.

Admiraloperates under Admiral, Elephant.co.uk, Confused.com,
Compare the Market is owned by Budget
HBOSowns Halifax Insurance, esure, Sheilas Wheels and First Alternative.
Royal & Sun Alliance owns More Than
AXAowns Swiftcover and also offers quotes as Lloyds TSB Insurance and insurance.co.uk
Swinton is owned by MMAas is its4me & bullseye
Zurichowns Endsleigh
Fortis owns RIAS
Kwik-Fit Insurance Services owns Express Insurance
IAG owns Hastings Direct, People’s Choice, Diamond, Advantage, Open & Direct and Equity

This list is by no means exhaustive. Have a look at these:-

RBSGroup owns Direct Line, Churchill, Privilege, NIG as well as branded sales products such as Tesco Insurance, Natwest, Virgin Money, MBNA, BMW Insurance, MINI Insurance, Mint, Egg, Nationwide, Age Concern and Vauxhall Insurance.

Given Direct Line’s marketing specifically states they cannot be found on comparison websites, it appears a little hypocritical that their parent company have an interest in Tesco branded insurance products and Tesco currently advertise a comparison website.

Confused.com, Comparethemarket.com, Moneysupermarket.com, Tescocompare.com, Gocompare.com, Zurich Connect, Direct Line, Norwich Union, Swinton Insurance, TheAA.com.

Just a few of the websites and companies offering car insurance and there are literally thousands of other insurance providers out there in the high street, on the telephone and on the internet.

Which offers the best price? What offers are they giving (such as 12 months for the price of 10 months)? Which offers the best support services? Which offers the best accident claims service? Which is the most financially stable and therefore likely to be in business for the coming year?

Just a few of the questions you will be asking when it comes to renewing your car insurance.

Well, whichever you choose, you need to satisfy yourself that the product you are buying meets your needs.

Write down those aspects that are most important to you in your policy and don’t be afraid to ask the difficult questions. Ask them to explain the policy exclusions and don’t let them put you off by trying to change the subject.

Most certainly, don’t let yourself be sold a policy that you are not 100% satisfied with.

You’re the only one who will lose out!

Living in the UK, most will have heard of Lloyds. Not the bank, the insurance market but few will understand how it works.

Lloyd’s is actually the world’s leading specialist insurance market, with 46 managing agents and 75 syndicates, offering specialist underwriting expertise and talent without equal anywhere in the world.

Lloyd’s is not actually an insurance company but comprises of many members who form a syndicate to underwrite insurance. These syndicates can comprise of either corporate organisations, or individuals, and employ professional underwriters to assess and accept a risk.

The funding is provided by investment institutions, specialist investors, international insurance companies and individuals.

Lloyd’s members conduct their insurance business in syndicates, each of which is run by a managing agent.

The syndicates operating within the market cover many speciality areas including:

• Marine
• Aviation
• Catastrophe
• Professional indemnity
• Motor

It is important to note that just like in the high street, these syndicates compete for business with what is known as “mutual” associations and “proprietary, composite” insurers (proprietary in the sense that it is a publicly owned joint stock company and composite in the sense that it carries on both life and non-life* insurance) thus offering choice, flexibility and continuing innovation.

Syndicates may elect to cover all or just a part of the risk.

At its most basic, insurance is designed to help reduce the financial impact on an individual or business of a risk occurring.

While insurance can never remove the risk, it will provide the policyholder with some security should an event happen that would cause the financial stress.

A business that offers cover against certain risks (the insurer) agrees to take on the risk on behalf of the business or individual concerned (the insured).

It does this by providing the insured with an insurance contract, usually known as a ‘policy’.

The contract will lay down what risks the insurer has agreed to insure against and how much it will pay if the risk happens offering the insured assurance that they will be put back into the same position as if the risk had not happened.

The policy usually also includes a list of things that are not insured against (the exclusions).

So, for example, if one buys insurance which includes cover against their car being stolen, the insurance may have exclusion against payout if the insured was careless and left the keys in the car.

In return for offering the policy, the insured pays a fee (the premium).

The insurer pools funds from many insured people and invests it to make the pot of money grow. In the event of an insured claim, the insurer pays out from the pool of funds.

Like any business, the insurer is trying to make a profit so they hope the premiums received in any one year exceed the monies it has to pay out.

Insurers in the United Kingdom and in most countries are very closely supervised to make sure that they do keep enough money to pay all their claims.

The insurer will consider the product or person wanting to be insured before offering a decision and indeed, fee, and this whole process is called ‘underwriting’.

Underwriters are specialists employed to carry this out and they will consider how likely the insured event could happen, what steps the insured has taken to reduce the risk and what are the actual financial consequences if it happens.

Rightly or wrongly, the no-win, no-fee system has proven a success - at least for personal injury solicitors and the companies created to support the ever increasing compensation culture developing within the UK.

There are most definitely benefits for the customer as compensation claims are now escalating to frightening financial levels costing insurers and policyholders more than £1.5 billion per year.

Companies set up purely to offer Accident Management and compensation recovery from guilty parties is big business and many solicitors, having recognised the lucrative earnings on offer, spend a great deal of money setting up such companies and advertising across all media’s.

However, no matter how good an idea, it is important to ensure you read the small print of any contract you sign up to.

Whilst acknowledging that these accident management companies and solicitors will work through a table to establish the likelihood of recovery before pursuing a case, the “no win, no fee” offer may not always ring true.

What they mean is that if they don’t win, you will not have to pay them anything. However, this doesn’t mean to say that you will not be responsible for the other person’s legal fees if you lose and everyone knows, this can be quite substantial.

The recommendation therefore is explore the possibility of insuring against liability for any third party legal costs just in case you lose your case otherwise you could end up even worse off. Most solicitors or accident management companies should be able to offer such insurance or point you in the right direction.

Accidents are frequent on the road and your insurance is designed to protect you from their financial costs.

Within the UK, the Road Traffic Act 1988 Part V1, Section 143 defines the compulsory insurance requirements for motor users. Fail to comply and you could face stiff fines, points on your licence and possibly even a custodial sentence. In short, fail to comply and like any other illegal activity, and you should expect to be prosecuted.

Every person driving a motorised vehicle on a UK road, irrespective of whether they are the car owner, registered keeper or just using the car for the day, must ensure both they, and the vehicle, are insured against liability for injuries to others (including passengers) and for damage to property resulting from use of a vehicle on a road or other public place.

Whilst you could be prosecuted for driving without insurance even if you were the innocent victim in the car accident, if you are deemed to be at fault, the consequences are much more severe.

You will find yourself not only liable for the cost of any damage to the other car or property but you could find yourself legally responsible for the cost of providing care and compensation to anyone injured and with the cost of compensation for injuries now costing £’000’s on average.

If your policy has run out and/or you simply don’t have the funds to purchase insurance at them moment, lay the car up (off road) and do not let your peers pressure you into driving it around uninsured.

It is, quite simply too big a risk and ill advised.

With the credit crunch squeezing everyone, and everything even further, new car sales continues to slow down as it appears more and more people are settling for second hand cars rather than buying the very latest brand new models.

Many people may also be considering buying more economical vehicles and with this in mind, the intention here is to provide a list of some of those vehicles with the lowest car group rating and therefore likely to be cheaper to insure.

There are numerous websites offering their opinions on the cheapest cars to insure but none will cover the whole spectrum of insurers and none will be able to guarantee offering the cheapest rate for all cars, for all age groups.

There are of course many other factors affecting insurance premiums such as a person’s accident, conviction and medical history so in this article you will find details of the more popular low car group vehicles.

If the vehicle you are considering buying is not listed, you can establish its group rating by visiting the Parker’s Car Insurance Groups website and select the make, model or Search by Group categories.

Group 1 vehicles:

Citroen C1 1.0L (05 on), Citroen C2 1.1L (03 on), Fiat Panda up to 1.0L (83-95 & 04 on), Ford Ka 1.2L (09 on), Ford Fiesta 1.25L (08 on), Toyota Yaris H/B 1.0L (06 on), Vauxhall Corsa 1.0L (most 1.0L versions)

Group 2 vehicles:

Austin Mini 850-1000cc (85-92), Daewoo Matiz (95-08) Fiat Panda 1.2L (83-95), Ford Ka 1.3L (96-08), Ford Fiesta most 950-1.4L (77-89 and 02-08), Nissan Micra most models (03 on), Peugeot 206  1.1L (98 on), Renault Clio 1.2L (98-01), Seat Ibiza most 1.2L (93-on),  Vauxhall Corsa (most 1.2L versions), Volkswagon Polo (Most 1.2L versions).

Any experienced car owner will know that insurance providers place quite a risk rating on professional sportspersons applying what is known in the trade as a “loading” to insurance premiums.

Christiano Ronaldo may have been lucky enough to escape injury to himself or anyone else for that matter as a result of him losing control of his nice, 2 day old Ferrari 599 GTB worth some £200,000 in a tunnel near Manchester airport but it is predicted he will not be anything like as lucky when it comes to arranging his next lot of car insurance.

The AA have stated that following a quick phone around, they have been unable to find any insurer they work with that would insure Ronaldo following his accident saying:

“We cannot find anybody who would touch him with a bargepole”.

“The minimum age to get insured for that car would be 25 and then the best price we could find would be £44,000 but if the person had had an accident that would go up to around £100,000.”

Yes, in all likelihood, there will be an insurer out there prepared to take on the risk and it will more than likely be at a seriously hefty annual premium, and that’s for anyone, let alone a professional footballer.

When thinking about such high profile occupations and the asociated risks, insurers will consider the likelihood of the car owner having passengers occasionally, equally as high profile, and indeed, valuable (in monetary terms) in the car.

Any accident whilst these people are in the car as well and suffer injury could have seriously damaging personal injuries that say result in them being unable to continue  playing football at the highest level or even altogether and insurers would be paying out for loss of earnings, sponsors for the player being unable failure to fulfil their contracts etc. The costs will just escalate to astronimcal proportions.

However, even at £100,000 per annum insurance premium, it still equates less than 1 week’s salary he receives from Manchester United for Ronaldo. Add all his sponsorhip incomes and it shouldn’t hurt him financially too much, so he won’t need too much sympathy.

Don’t get too upset Christiano, the bottom line is that a car is only a piece of metal/whatever compound it was made with and can always be replaced, albeit at a price.

Life is far more precious.