Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Save Money On Young Driver Car Insurance

A study recently released has revealed that the average driver in Britain will be involved in a car accident every six and a half years.

When balanced out, that equates to every individual being the victim of nine accidents during their life. It seems a truly staggering statistic, and one that most people are unlikely to walk away from without suffering an injury at some point.

Even if you manage to avoid damaging yourself in all nine accidents, the likelihood is that your car will come off slightly less healthily. And that’s why there’s such a need for proper car insurance cover.

The Government have announced that they want to cut the number of car accidents by 40% by 2010, a big target but one that they feel is achievable. With driving tests becoming stricter, it is the young drivers of Britain who are being tasked with realising the objective; after all, they are the ones who are involved in the most amount of accidents.

But it is not just to satisfy Government targets that young drivers should improve their driving habits, it is for the sake of their own wallets too.

A result of the terrible reputation that they have means that young driver car insurance is horrendously expensive when compared to a motorist of more mature years. Some of the balance can be re-addressed by buying a motor insurance policy from a firm that deals specifically with young driver car insurance, and so is able to offer a significant discount, but the fact remains that young drivers will have to pay a large amount in order to insure their car.

If the Government’s 40% reduction in accidents is achieved, then in the future young driver car insurance will be more in line with that of older drivers. But until that time, there are several ways that young motorists can reduce their premium, and Hoot Car Insurance Services, specialists in providing young driver car insurance, have revealed a few tips that are guaranteed to save a couple of quid.

One of the best ways to get a cheap car insurance premium is to enrol on an advanced driving course such as PassPluss. The idea might seem like a massive hassle after all the driving lessons that you’ve already done, but it really will be worth it to save the money. And on top of that, the courses do teach some important skills that standard driving lessons just don’t offer.

Instead of having your own motor insurance, it might be tempting to become a named driver on a parent’s policy. Bad idea. It might save a little bit of cash now, but in the long-term you’re only going to lose out- and lose out big style. A no claims discount is one of the most important things that a driver can have to get cheap car insurance, and by becoming a named driver you won’t get one. As a result, a few years down the line when you do finally get your own motor insurance, instead of having a nice cheap premium because of your years of no-claims, you’ll have to start from scratch and pay out for an expensive policy. It’s just not worth it.

Ensuring the security of your vehicle is something that car insurance companies like to hear, and so will give you a discount if you can show that your car is not a thief’s paradise. Keep it in a garage, but if that’s not possible then a driveway will do- anything to keep it off the street. Invest in a steering lock, an immobiliser and an alarm, and if you really want to get a cheap car insurance policy, get hold of a tracker too.

On top of these few industry secrets, the one thing that you can do to keep your young driver car insurance premium at a low is simple. Drive sensibly.

Speeding points in your first few years of driving really rack up the price of motor insurance, as does any accident that you’re unlucky enough to be involved in. Drive carefully, follow the few tips above and be sure to buy your policy from a firm that specialises in young driver car insurance, and you’re guaranteed to save a lot of money. Money that can be better spent on far more interesting things than boring old car insurance.

About the Author:
Katy Lassetter, Hoot Car Insurance Services
Hoot Car Insurance Services are specialists in providing fantastically cheap young driver car insurance. For a free quote in matter seconds just call 0808 144 9954 or go to http://www.hootcarinsurance.co.uk
This article was posted on February 23, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Monday, July 02, 2007

Safe Driving Tips - Hold Life in Your Grips

Present generation cars and vehicles are so well teamed up with advanced safety gadgets that accidents should not even be remote possibilities. Yet, we hear of road-accidents every now and then. In fact, fatalities of accidents far outnumber deaths due to other causes and in most cases, you will come to know that the accident could have been avoided had the one behind the wheel abided by safe driving tips. Remember, safe driving tips translate into safety and well being for you as well as others sharing the tarmac with you.

Speed, in all probability, is the most vital of all the safe driving tips. Reckless driving and exceeding speed limit will amount to committing suicide. Maintaining the legal speed limit promises you all the advantages and gives you a superior control while you drive a vehicle.

Wearing safety belts while driving is mandatory in many countries. These days, even passengers are required to use safety belts. Maintaining a safe distance between two vehicles is crucial to avoiding accidents.

Apart from these generic "drive safely" rules, there are some specific safe driving tips, which you need to adhere to in order to steer your vehicle in the right course. Accordingly, a safety tip for bad weather conditions will be to slow down. Driving becomes a big challenge when it rains and snows. The tires lose traction and your vehicle tends to skid. Going slow gives you the opportunity to take defensive action.

Similarly, slow down at intersections and watch-out for the light-signals. The other safety tip you need to abide by at intersections is to make a slow start even when the red light turns green. Always check both the sides - right and left - before driving through an intersection.

Overtaking a vehicle safely necessitates taking certain cautionary measures. You should carefully look into all the mirrors to watch-out for any approaching vehicle and then signal your move into the passing zone. Once in the passing zone, you need to accelerate to go past the other vehicle.

Routine checking of vehicle is essentially a maintenance tip, however, it plays an equally important role in safe driving.

The "last but not the least" tip will be in the same cautious tone - "Never attempt driving unless you are hundred percent attentive and fresh". Even the whole lot of safe driving tips will pledge you no safety if you go about tugging you car even when you are fatigued, tired to the hilt or drive in an intoxicated state. Alcohol and many non-prescription, over-the-counter drugs are known to affect the brain and the central nervous system. This numbs your sensations - blurring your vision, impairing your decision making capability and allowing you lesser time to react - thereby, affecting your driving acumen and proficiency.

About the Author:
David Maillie holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight repair, cleaner and restorer. For more information on automotive safety please visit: MDwholesale.com
Submitted: 2006-05-02
Article Source: GoArticles

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Kids and Cars - Driving Is More Hazardous When School Is In Session

The new school year has started. That means a lot more traffic on the roads, and a lot more kids crossing streets, parking lots and driveways. Parents drop off their children at school in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon.

And little does anyone realize the dangers.
With today's prevalence of SUV's, Minivans, and sedans with high back ends, visibility behind these vehicles is seriously compromised. When mom or dad puts the car into reverse, they are taking it on faith that whatever is behind the car will get out of the way.
Automobile manufacturers are dealing with this safety problem by offering (on select high-end models) a device designed to help a driver when in reverse. These little electronic marvels, often called Reversing Aids or Backup Sensors, can literally be lifesavers.

Ask Dr. Greg Gulbransen.
On October 19, 2002 Dr. Gulbransen was backing his SUV into his driveway when he ran over his 2 year old son Cameron.
If Dr. Gulbransen would have been aware that something was behind him -- whether it was something as precious as his son, or as trivial as a mailbox -- he could have stopped the car before a tragedy occurred.
If you've never seen or used a reversing aid, you might be surprised at how technically advanced they actually can be.
Reversing aids use a variety of technologies to sense an object behind the car. Some units use Doppler radar, and others use infrared sensors, but by far the most accurate method of detection is the one the U.S. Navy uses on its submarines: sonar.
Sonar can operate in any weather, including direct sunlight or rain. And it doesn't require that the car be moving in order to sense an obstruction.

And that's when the device has to warn the driver.
Some of the least expensive models use a tone which beeps more rapidly as you get closer to an obstacle. Although you have no real indication of how far you are from an object, you can at least hear the relative distance just by listening to the beeps. Compare that to other devices which actually have LED displays on your dashboard. These are cumbersome -- almost useless -- because when you drive in reverse, you naturally look behind you, and you'll never see the little red lights.

That's why an audible sensor is best. But even better than a beeping indicator is one that tells you in a spoken voice exactly how far away you are. Not only do you not have to look forward at your dashboard, you'll know without guessing how much further you can safely back up.


When buying a new car, ask your dealer if a backup sensor is available for your model. If a new car is not in your plans, then search Google or your favorite search engine for Backup Sensors or Reversing Aids that you can add to your car.

Another valuable resource is the Technology page at http://www.KidsAndCars.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to children's safety in and around automobiles. Janette Fennel, who runs the organization, has compiled a list of different reversing aids.
She's a big fan of these devices.

Ms. Fennell is also a champion of children's safety, and is responsible for proposing much new legislation in this area, including the recently proposed legislation H.R. 2230, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids And Cars Safety Act of 2005, which has also been supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The bill would require that the Department of Transportation establish regulations and deadlines by which light vehicles "would be equipped with a variety of safety measures, including a rear-ward visibility standard and driver notification systems", says Ms. Fennell.

This type of legislation is a necessary stepping stone in order to strengthen car safety codes throughout the country.
Whether or not you have children, think carefully before backing up. When you buy a new car, ask the dealer if a reversing aid is available for your model. If not, consider adding one to your current car.
Even if you don't have kids, or if school is not in session, it's worth the peace of mind.
Just ask Dr. Gulbransen.

About the author:
Jerry Appleby is Manager of Public Safety and Information at American Dealer Services, exclusive distributor of Bak-Talk, reversing aid with voice indicator and sonar technology.
Visit http://www.Bak-Talk.com for more information on the safety benefits and other applications for backup sensors.
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