Women's insurance may rise as motoring convictions soar

Posted :20-03-2006

Female driving-related offences have risen over the last five years, according to new figures from the Welsh Assembly.

The data collected in Wales has revealed that convictions among women rose by 52 per cent between 2001 and 2004. This is despite the fact that women are considered statistically safer drivers and benefit from the resulting cheaper car insurance.

Drink and drug driving incidents rose by 16 per cent over the period, whilst driving licence offences increased by 34 per cent. Careless driving incidents soared by 76 per cent and speeding convictions rose by a massive 148 per cent.

Nevertheless, men still commit around six times as many motoring offences as women.

This fact is clearly reflected in car insurance rates, as women are consistently offered cheaper rates.

But the RAC Foundation admitted that women may soon be forced to pay more, if the sharp rise in driving related offences continues.

And feminine charm will no longer get women off the hook when it comes to a speeding ticket.

Edmund King, director of the RAC Foundation, told the Western Mail: "Speed cameras don't discriminate whether the car is driven by a male or female. In the past perhaps it may have been easier in some circumstances for a female to get off an offence rather than a male."


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