Coronavirus: Lockdown speeders face hefty insurance premium increase

JJFranco    on 6 May 2020

Much as I deplore dangerous driving and risky manoeuvring on public roads I am inclined to think that driving on a motorway which is empty is hardly as dangerous as driving at excessive speed in a populated area. At least on the Mway there should not be side-turnings from which unsuspecting drivers might emerge and all vehicles should be travelling in the one direction. I seem to remember the 70mph limit was introduced as a result of an AC Cobra travelling from London to Birmingham on the then new M1 in about 30 minutes; and not as the result of that vehicle crashing but of alarming politicians by travelling "too fast" for their comfort. The greatest risk, apart from poor maintenance, I can see is that very few drivers other than specialists in the police or formula racing drivers will have the experience of controlling their vehicles and assessing braking distances at such high speeds.

You're absolutely right of course.

Think of the 'Cohan's Moral Panic'/'Plastic Morality' brigade's differing reactions to these two sentences;

"I was doing 130 MPH on the M6 at 8pm. It was good weather and the road was empty."

"I was doing 130 MPH on the autobahn. It was good weather and the road was empty."

The 70 MPH law was designed for cars with 1950s suspension, four drum brakes, cross-ply tyres, and drivers who weren't used to speeds much higher than 40. So-called "stopping distances", set decades ago, bear no relation to the distance that it actually takes a 'modern' car to stop. And IN REALITY, politicians rarely create laws to 'protect' the populus, not for a very long time, unless the legislation is, (coincidentally), good for a Daily Mail headline, the REAL 'concern'.

Not sure about Class1/2, (myths aside), as there's only so much 'very high speed' work that can be done in a real environment, (maybe after years of real-world situations...) and F1 cars are so far removed from road vehicles that the experience would be irrelevant. I have I.A.M. and a Motorsport Competition License amongst other things. I do however, agree that 'experience' is entirely relevant, but I always consider experience to be the most worthwhile if it is gained from exactly the same situation, or as near as is possible. For instance, a German who drives each day on an unrestricted autobahn at three figures would be much better placed IMO.

Makes little difference to me personally as I'm rarely in a hurry.

As for the (lovely) insurance companies, there are those brave souls fighting to help us all, and one or two helping themselves.

Paul Jenkinz    on 5 May 2020

you should never accept an auto renewal on your car insurance.. insurance companies do not ever reward you for loyalty... shop around when your insurance is due try gocompare or confused,com if you are a safe driver consider raising your excess a little this can bring your premium down just be aware though that if you do have to make a claim you have to pay that excess if you do not use your car to go to and from work make sure you tick the social domestic and pleasure box only as the commuting bit puts quite a lot on your premium but only if you dont use it to go to work also i have found that in most cases comprehensive insurance seems to work out cheaper than tpft so check both levels of cover if you drive an expensive car then fully comp is a must anyway as 3rd party only covers the other drivers car not your own

GTD 184    on 5 May 2020

The same here!......it appears insurance companies are a law unto themselves where increases in premiums are concerned!

Ageing Geek    on 5 May 2020

Well - - it's easy to avoid the 30% hike...

Obey the speed limits!