[illmonkey]

The scheme is aimed at cutting accidents involving young people

An insurance company is allowing young motorists to pay less for insurance if they avoid driving at night.
More Than is offering drivers between 18 and 25 40% off if they do not drive between 2300 and 0600. But it will charge £25 for breaking the "curfew".
Car use is monitored by a device put into the vehicle by the company.
Up to 40% of accidents between 2300 and 0600 involving young drivers result in death or serious injury, compared with 20% at other times, figures show.
'Major issue'
Once installed, the device sends a message to the company whenever the car starts, giving the time and place that the journey started.
A further message is sent when the engine is switched off to confirm the journey has ended.
We need to find more innovative ways of preventing tragic deaths involving young drivers


Mary Williams
Brake


More Than says the policy could save the average young motorist about £300 a year.
However, BBC News personal finance reporter Richard Scott says drivers who repeatedly break the rules and are charged each time could see their savings wiped out.
More Than also says that by reducing the number of young drivers on the road at night, its initiative could help cut accident rates among young drivers by up to 25%.
Spokesman Bryan Turner said: "High accident rates for young drivers on the roads at night are a major issue and we have been working for some time to come up with a solution to reduce these." Mary Williams, chief executive of road safety charity Brake, has welcomed the initiative. She said: "We need to find more innovative ways of preventing tragic deaths involving young drivers and their passengers on our roads."

[jon419]

Wow....for ages 18 - 25?

Count me out, I had my first third shift job by the time I was 18....

Well, that, and I live in the U.S.

[sfalcon]

Well, it's voluntary so I have no problem with it.

[tiddlie]

The only issue I can see with it, is when the driver hits 25, and is no longer a 'young driver', they have no expereicne driving on the road at night. Due to this, aren't we only postponing the figures, and not finding a way to make drivers more aware?

[illmonkey]

tiddlie, on Aug 4 2006, 11:18, said:

The only issue I can see with it, is when the driver hits 25, and is no longer a 'young driver', they have no expereicne driving on the road at night. Due to this, aren't we only postponing the figures, and not finding a way to make drivers more aware?

You make a valid point, but someone whos 25 would of been (hopfully) driving for a good few years, so by then should have a good feel for driving in general.

As opposed to a new driver who doesnt know much about the roads going stright out at night and driving.

[+acnpt]

11 is a bit harsh for me, perhaps if it was 12 or 1 then certainly i'd get it.

[illmonkey]

acnpt, on Aug 4 2006, 11:24, said:

11 is a bit harsh for me, perhaps if it was 12 or 1 then certainly i'd get it.

But it will charge £25 for breaking the "curfew".

If you are still insured or not is a different matter! i could see lots of complications comming from someone going out in the curfew and bening in a accident.

The tracking device also seems a bit iffy. What if you have a accident going a bit too fast around a unfamiliar corner? can they track that and not payout?

Its the first step to us all being monitored drivers, next Mr Blair will want to get on the idea and charge us for how many miles we use....

[tiddlie]

And what happens if the car is shared? Does the device hold your parents captive during the night also?

[bdsams]

the idea behind this is worthy but i think that we need more info on it before anyone signs up...per say what if there is an emergency so now your friend is dying and your out the 25 big ones

[SoCalledChaos]

well, its not like they would be keeping a watch on you, so im sure you could drive after 11 if you wanted too

[lunamonkey]

SoCalledChaos, on Aug 4 2006, 13:27, said:

well, its not like they would be keeping a watch on you, so im sure you could drive after 11 if you wanted too

You didn't even read it, did you?

[BrentNewbury]

I would never accept this type of policy. I absolutely love driving at night. It's just a shame that I get penalised for all the other drivers in my age group. And for the record, I consider myself a safe, sensible driver.

[bdsams]

BrentNewbury, on Aug 4 2006, 08:50, said:

I would never accept this type of policy. I absolutely love driving at night. It's just a shame that I get penalised for all the other drivers in my age group. And for the record, I consider myself a safe, sensible driver.

thats life though, statistics show that your more likely to get into an accident....heck all insurance is this way: basically if your neighbors house burns down, it hurts your insurance

[999]

11 is too early, and 6 is too late. I sometimes have to leave home before 6, and many times I come home after 11.

but it's reasonable due to the discount.

[goheels681]

If you all think 11 is bad, in North Carolina for 16 year old drivers, you can't drive between 9PM and 5AM for the first six months that you have your license. Granted you can drive after curfew if it's going to/from work or school.