Safe Speed Forums

Female driving convictions send insurance higher
By Jennifer Hill

LONDON (Reuters) - Women might historically be safer drivers than men, but when it comes to driving convictions, the gap between the sexes is narrowing.

Some 16.8 percent of men currently have convictions, compared to 9.8 percent of women, according to an analysis of Confused.com's database of 5.5 million registered users.

However, the online price comparison service told Reuters that the number of female drivers with points on their licence had more than doubled from just 4.8 percent three years ago.

That has helped push car insurance premiums higher, adding almost 100 pounds to the cost of the average policy for just one conviction.

"There are more professional women on the road than ever before," said Debra Williams, managing director of Confused.

"Therefore, statistically, the chances of women incurring convictions are greater than in the past and they appear to be steadily on the increase."

Women tend to have fewer, less serious road accidents -- and, therefore, enjoy significantly cheaper car insurance than their male counterparts.

However, women aged 21 to 25 saw the largest increase in premiums in the second quarter of this year -- with prices rising an average 1.4 percent in the three months to end-June -- as their driving record becomes more blemished.

Those with driving convictions could not only face fines of up to 2,500 pounds and incur penalty points -- typically three per conviction -- they also face a huge hike in the cost of motor insurance.

One conviction results in a typical increase of 74.60 pounds, while drivers who have two convictions can expect a hike of 182.92 pounds in annual premiums. Those who are caught three times are in line for an average increase of up to 301.84 pounds, according to figures from Confused.

However, Williams stressed that not all car insurers penalise drivers with penalty points in the same way -- and advised motorists to search the entire market for the best deal.

I'm prepared for a tirade from somewhere but here goes.

In my experience there are two types of female driver

1: Excellent - Confident, Aware, Assertive, and capable of faily rapid progress.

2: Rubbish - Nervous, Lack Awareness, Poor Vehicle Control, Slow, Appear to be unsure of where they're going.

I've never noucntered anyone who falls inbetween. Never really encountered a girl racer or a particularly reckless female driver.

I'm prepared for a tirade from somewhere but here goes.

In my experience there are two types of female driver

1: Excellent - Confident, Aware, Assertive, and capable of faily rapid progress.

2: Rubbish - Nervous, Lack Awareness, Poor Vehicle Control, Slow, Appear to be unsure of where they're going.

I've never noucntered anyone who falls inbetween. Never really encountered a girl racer or a particularly reckless female driver.

...looks at you when she talks to you

I can honestly say I don't think I've ever encoutered a category 3 woman driver!

Oh did I mention ringing up to ask what the red triangle light was on her car. (i thought brakes turned out to be hazards switch!)
rang again panicing about a red light (empty washer bottle)
or driving on the wrong side of the road thinking it was a duel c/way

I think I've said before that I find the 'women only' insurance companies patronising and EXCESSIVELY expensive if you drive something bigger than a 1100cc and do more than about 25 miles a year. They are cheep because they know that lower milage drivers have much lower exposure and therefore STATISTICLY present a lower risk, so therefore the premiums are artificially low. As soon as a conviction is gained, the perceived lower risk diapears.