Texting motorists 'risk increasing car insurance costs'

Posted :25-01-2008

Motorists run the risk of higher car insurance costs if they text at the wheel, an expert has warned.

Debra Williams, managing director of Confused.com, commented on research by the firm last year which found that more than one in two drivers surveyed has seen other motorists texting and a third admitted to having doing so themselves when on the road.

In addition to endangering both their own and other driver's lives when texting at the wheel, motorists who are caught will face a steep rise in their car insurance premiums, said Ms Williams.

Drivers with three points on their license will see their insurance bill rise by ten per cent, those on six points by 25 per cent and a 50 per cent hike will be experienced by those on nine points.

"The findings of this research are alarming as, despite harsher penalties and stronger police enforcement, some motorists are clearly continuing to use mobile phones while driving," Ms Williams said.

"Nothing is worth posing a threat to yourself and fellow drivers. In addition, you won't risk driving your insurance premiums up unnecessarily," she added.

New "continuous insurance enforcement" operations by the British Insurance Brokers' Association mean that drivers whose vehicle is uninsured will receive a penalty notice even if it is not currently on the road.

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