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BIAS AGAINST YOUTH

26th February 2004
Page 9
Page 9, 26th February 2004 — BIAS AGAINST YOUTH
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Barry Proctor wonders how the insurance industry cat be so negative about new drivers...

I bought an executive coach last autumn, as a bit of a sideline to the haulage business, but it has cost a whopping £6,200 to insure. All, apparently, because I only passed my PSV last year and don't have the requisite two years' experience ever though I've held a Class One licence since it was introduced.

You might think shelling out that amount for something which we use only twice a week is bad, but it gets worse. I called another broker for an alternative quote for the coach, but it couldn't cover me because I had less than two years' experience. I then found out the broker was using the same company I'm already with. Apparently it only covers the coach as a "favour' because it has all the truck business.

This has thrown up the stupid "two-year rule", where insurance companies are less than willing to cover anyone who has less than two years' experience. I have just taken on young driver, and my broker advised me that I "could have th one, but don't take on any more".

But if insurance companies are refusing to insure younger drivers because they are "more of a risk", I'd like to see the statistics to prove it. A local driver training firm says young drivers are statistically less likely to cause accidents, and that backs up my experience most bumps seem to be caused by experienced drivers.

Drivers who have qualified through the Young Drivers Scheme have far more reason to be careful -three points and they lose their HGV licence. Anyone else is allowed to accumulate 12 points before they lose their licence.

We're short of 60,000 UK drivers. How can we possibly get more people into the industry if we cant insure them? We need to see the statistics insurance companies are working with when they quote for drivers with less than two years' experience and we need government to have an input into this too. It's a serious issue and it needs tackling.

If younger drivers are of a risk I'd like to see statistics to prove it.. th statistically safer

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