- Car envy
- Councils’ controlled parking issues
- En-suite parking space
- Leaving a warm car on cold days
- Swapping pompoms for podiums
- When more spaces mean less space
- Speeding motorists becoming rarer
- Unlucky registration plates
- Distracted driving during the summer
- Gone driving
- June 2009
- July 2009
- August 2009
- September 2009
- October 2009
- November 2009
- December 2009
- January 2010
- February 2010
- March 2010
- April 2010
- May 2010
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- September 2010
- October 2010
- November 2010
- December 2010
- January 2011
- February 2011
- March 2011
- April 2011
- May 2011
- June 2011
- July 2011
- August 2011
- September 2011
- October 2011
- November 2011
- December 2011
- January 2012
- February 2012
- March 2012
- April 2012
- May 2012
- June 2012
- July 2012
- August 2012
- September 2012
OTHER INSURANCE SITES
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Monday, August 20, 2012
Unlucky registration plates
Superstitious drivers who are looking to purchase a new car soon are apparently getting a little worried because registration plate numbers are going to change on March the 1st 2013. Registration plates change twice every year – once in March and again in September – so that the age of a car can be narrowed down to a six month period.
This doesn’t usually cause any problems, but this time it’s different. This time, when the plates change in March, the number 13 will feature on registrations.
Yes, unlucky number 13 – the number which some drivers feel might cause them to be involved in a traffic accident, breakdown in the middle of nowhere, or not be able to find cheap car insurance.
Apparently the DVLA, probably aware that car sales may suffer due to this digit, are allowing motorists to continue having the 62-plate which will be available at the beginning of next month.
However, these will be treated like personalised registration plates, and so drivers will have to pay for them.
Still – if you’re superstitious enough – having to pay for a safe number plate might actually reduce your risk of suffering an accident, as driving around thinking that you’re going to crash might actually lead to you being involved in a collision.
Photo © Like_The_Grand_Canyon via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: 13, accident, car, cheap car insurance, collision, driver, driving, DVLA, March, number, plate, registration, September, superstitious, traffic, unlucky
Friday, July 27, 2012
The success of others
It’s wrong to be envious of the successes friends or family experience – but sometimes it’s difficult not to feel a little hard done-by.
My younger brother recently passed his practical driving test, which he is naturally very pleased about.
A good older sibling would just be happy for him…but my happiness is shrouded in jealousy.
Not only has he managed to pass at a much younger age than I did – but he managed it first time!
It took me four goes! Four! Do you know how much money that is? That’s a lot of money!
How come he only needs to pay for his test once? Oh, the unfairness of the world!
Now he’s talking about how the insurance won’t cost that much and how he’ll be buying a car soon. I don’t think so Mister! I’ve been driving a while now and I know that you won’t find cheap car insurance at your age!
Having said that – maybe he’s found a telematics policy… There weren’t any around when I first compared quotes for car insurance; I really wish there had been! Some people have all the luck!
My younger brother recently passed his practical driving test, which he is naturally very pleased about.
A good older sibling would just be happy for him…but my happiness is shrouded in jealousy.
Not only has he managed to pass at a much younger age than I did – but he managed it first time!
It took me four goes! Four! Do you know how much money that is? That’s a lot of money!
How come he only needs to pay for his test once? Oh, the unfairness of the world!
Now he’s talking about how the insurance won’t cost that much and how he’ll be buying a car soon. I don’t think so Mister! I’ve been driving a while now and I know that you won’t find cheap car insurance at your age!
Having said that – maybe he’s found a telematics policy… There weren’t any around when I first compared quotes for car insurance; I really wish there had been! Some people have all the luck!
Photo © Sean MacEntee via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: cheap car insurance, first time, money, pass, policy, practical driving test, quotes, success, telematics, young
Monday, February 6, 2012
Women park better than men
Some male drivers may still believe the myth that they are in some way superior to their female counterparts, but a new study has revealed that women are better at parking their vehicles.
This revelation was made by the Car Park Operator NEP. After a thorough study it concluded that although women take a relatively long time to park, they have comparatively less trouble aligning their vehicles in a space.
Men are apparently more interested in showing their prowess by parking in tight spots when accompanied by female drivers, than in showing consideration for their fellow motorists by leaving space between car doors.
A celebrity driving instructor said, “I was quite surprised by the result, because in my experience men have always been the best learners and usually performed better in lessons.
“However, it's possible that women retain the information better. The report shows the need to give our partners more respect when it comes to parking.”
These findings add weight to the claim that women are more thoughtful and therefore more deserving of cheap car insurance than the opposite sex.
Unfortunately this is unlikely to have an impact on the upcoming insurance updates, set to bring the amount that men and women pay for cover into balance.
This revelation was made by the Car Park Operator NEP. After a thorough study it concluded that although women take a relatively long time to park, they have comparatively less trouble aligning their vehicles in a space.Men are apparently more interested in showing their prowess by parking in tight spots when accompanied by female drivers, than in showing consideration for their fellow motorists by leaving space between car doors.
A celebrity driving instructor said, “I was quite surprised by the result, because in my experience men have always been the best learners and usually performed better in lessons.
“However, it's possible that women retain the information better. The report shows the need to give our partners more respect when it comes to parking.”
These findings add weight to the claim that women are more thoughtful and therefore more deserving of cheap car insurance than the opposite sex.
Unfortunately this is unlikely to have an impact on the upcoming insurance updates, set to bring the amount that men and women pay for cover into balance.
Photo © thienzieyung via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car door, Car Park Operator NEP, cheap car insurance, cover, drivers, driving instructor, female, learner, lessons, male, motorists, parking, vehicle
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Confidence, caution and competence in drivers
I might be gender stereotyping but I can’t help but feel that with some male drivers there’s an assumption that once they’ve passed their test they’ve somehow “arrived” as complete, expert drivers.
Yes, passing your test is a truly important landmark, and rite of passage, and is proof of basic proficiency, but it takes years and years of mile upon mile to truly “arrive” as a driver, and even then it would be a mistake to think that you can’t improve and have therefore stopped learning.
Continuing to work at things is what makes the difference between being “good” and “great”. For example, you’re unlikely to get a cheap car insurance deal if you just plump for the first one that comes you’re way - you’ve got to do your homework.
All great things take work, whether they are relationships and friendships, careers, works of art, feats of engineering or healthy, happy families.
Of course, not all women drivers are immune from the mistake of believing that by simply passing their driving test they have become super drivers, but I’d be willing to bet that in general women are more likely to express a willingness to learn than men - perhaps it’s just because we don’t have the pressure of having to appear macho and omnipotent.
A spokesperson from the Institute of Advanced Motorists says that drivers should think in terms of "professional development and not assume that once they have passed the driving test that is all they need to do for the rest of their lives”.
I completely agree, but that said, it is important to remember the role of confidence. It’s always going to be about finding a balance between confidence, competence and caution, as a nervous driver is unlikely to be a good one.
Image by tejvanphotos via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Yes, passing your test is a truly important landmark, and rite of passage, and is proof of basic proficiency, but it takes years and years of mile upon mile to truly “arrive” as a driver, and even then it would be a mistake to think that you can’t improve and have therefore stopped learning.
Continuing to work at things is what makes the difference between being “good” and “great”. For example, you’re unlikely to get a cheap car insurance deal if you just plump for the first one that comes you’re way - you’ve got to do your homework.
All great things take work, whether they are relationships and friendships, careers, works of art, feats of engineering or healthy, happy families.
Of course, not all women drivers are immune from the mistake of believing that by simply passing their driving test they have become super drivers, but I’d be willing to bet that in general women are more likely to express a willingness to learn than men - perhaps it’s just because we don’t have the pressure of having to appear macho and omnipotent.
A spokesperson from the Institute of Advanced Motorists says that drivers should think in terms of "professional development and not assume that once they have passed the driving test that is all they need to do for the rest of their lives”.
I completely agree, but that said, it is important to remember the role of confidence. It’s always going to be about finding a balance between confidence, competence and caution, as a nervous driver is unlikely to be a good one.
Image by tejvanphotos via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: cheap car insurance
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tis the season to be pragmatic
This year I’ve had both my boyfriend and my father on the telephone practically pleading that I only buy them something “useful”.
I don’t think dad has any idea just how crushing it is to be told that he doesn’t actually like marmalade when it’s garnished his main present for the past three years.
And would you believe that my boyfriend actually implored me not to buy him anything “decorative or superfluous”? Just get me something I really need, he said.
Well, if you want to make Christmas all about what is useful or necessary, I replied, why don’t I just renew your car insurance cover for you? Would that be helpful?
Oh yes, he said, that was just his line of thinking.
Well, darling, I have news for you, if you were a woman driver, this might be possible, but since you’re a man, you don’t qualify for cheap car insurance like I do, so how about a new throw for your sofa, I’m sure you’d like that instead.
Image © sillie.smile via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: cheap car insurance, woman driver