10/09/2012
£3.1 billion for nothing
It really pays to compare car insurance – according to a recent survey by one specialist, drivers could save a collective £3.1 billion a year simply by going online, comparing quotes and looking for the best deal.
This is hardly likely to be news to the discerning quote seeker. However, it will be to the 20 percent of motorists who, astonishingly, just decide to renew with their existing provider without bothering to shop around.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about this is that it actually only takes a few minutes to make a quick survey of the quotes available on the market.
And it seems that when it comes to comparing car insurance, it is not always the oldest who are the wisest – the same survey revealed that younger drivers were the group most likely to make comparisons of the motor insurance market, while drivers over 55 were the least likely, perhaps because they’re less internet savvy.
But don’t let age be an excuse! Here at duck2water we’re proud to say that we’ve recently got our grandparents using iPads (other tablets are available). In fact the money you save by comparing the market could be enough to buy a whole new iPad, outright.
Image © DaveBleasdale via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
This is hardly likely to be news to the discerning quote seeker. However, it will be to the 20 percent of motorists who, astonishingly, just decide to renew with their existing provider without bothering to shop around.Perhaps the most amazing thing about this is that it actually only takes a few minutes to make a quick survey of the quotes available on the market.
And it seems that when it comes to comparing car insurance, it is not always the oldest who are the wisest – the same survey revealed that younger drivers were the group most likely to make comparisons of the motor insurance market, while drivers over 55 were the least likely, perhaps because they’re less internet savvy.
But don’t let age be an excuse! Here at duck2water we’re proud to say that we’ve recently got our grandparents using iPads (other tablets are available). In fact the money you save by comparing the market could be enough to buy a whole new iPad, outright.
Image © DaveBleasdale via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, compare, drivers, quote, young driver
07/09/2012
Beating the breathaliser
We at duck2water are not a fan of Alcopal, the new pill which “allows” drivers to drink as many as five pints of full strength beer and still remain under the drink driving limit.
“The product is for blokes like me who do go down to the pub and have more than just one pint,” said the product’s seller.
"You could lose your licence, your job and your home all for the sake of being 1% over the limit.”
It’s a real worry. This pill sends out all the wrong messages. Although it might reduce the body’s ability to absorb alcohol and therefore help drinkers “beat the breathalyser”, the fact remains that it will not improve the performance or ability of drink drivers.
Furthermore, using this pill to get behind the wheel while drunk will not be looked on kindly by anyone’s car insurance company. Also, it’s illegal.
As a spokesperson from West Midlands Police says, “If you’re driving while over the limit, we will catch you.”
I don’t think we’re alone in hoping that this pill is soon taken off the UK market.
Image © West Midlands Police via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
“The product is for blokes like me who do go down to the pub and have more than just one pint,” said the product’s seller."You could lose your licence, your job and your home all for the sake of being 1% over the limit.”
It’s a real worry. This pill sends out all the wrong messages. Although it might reduce the body’s ability to absorb alcohol and therefore help drinkers “beat the breathalyser”, the fact remains that it will not improve the performance or ability of drink drivers.
Furthermore, using this pill to get behind the wheel while drunk will not be looked on kindly by anyone’s car insurance company. Also, it’s illegal.
As a spokesperson from West Midlands Police says, “If you’re driving while over the limit, we will catch you.”
I don’t think we’re alone in hoping that this pill is soon taken off the UK market.
Image © West Midlands Police via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: alcopal, car insurance, UK
20/08/2012
Ignoring sun-soaked pedestrians
In the summer it’s only to be expected that people will stop wearing their scarfs, trousers and long-sleeved tops, and start enjoying the sunshine.
However, for some drivers this is causing a bit of a problem, because they get distracted by pedestrians when they should be paying attention to the road ahead.
Apparently, according to some research undertaken by a provider of car insurance, 60% of men and 12% of women have been distracted while behind the wheel due to an attractive pedestrian.
Furthermore, an astonishing 21% are even distracted by billboards which have good-looking models on them.
Distracted driving can lead to traffic accidents, so it’s important that drivers avoid staring at pedestrians and re-direct their attentions to the highway.
One moment of inattention could result in a motorist running a red light, colliding with a vehicle, or even clipping a cyclist.
So – everyone just take a cold shower and remain focused on driving safely!
However, for some drivers this is causing a bit of a problem, because they get distracted by pedestrians when they should be paying attention to the road ahead.
Apparently, according to some research undertaken by a provider of car insurance, 60% of men and 12% of women have been distracted while behind the wheel due to an attractive pedestrian.
Furthermore, an astonishing 21% are even distracted by billboards which have good-looking models on them.
Distracted driving can lead to traffic accidents, so it’s important that drivers avoid staring at pedestrians and re-direct their attentions to the highway.
One moment of inattention could result in a motorist running a red light, colliding with a vehicle, or even clipping a cyclist.
So – everyone just take a cold shower and remain focused on driving safely!
Photo © GrrLash via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: billboards, car insurance, colliding, distracted, driver, highway, pedestrians, red light, road, safety, summer, traffic accident, wheel
13/08/2012
Driving as a hobby
According to a survey undertaken by a car insurance company and Populus, out of more than 20,000 respondents, 55% of motorists have been on an aimless drive.
It might sound like an odd thing to do, but, just like any other hobby, such as fishing or painting, it’s all about having some time to enjoy an activity without other distractions.
Similarly to how fishing as a career or painting as a trade are perhaps not as enjoyable as having these activities as past-times, driving to get somewhere is sometimes not as fun as just driving to drive.
However, there should be a limit as to how often someone gets behind the wheel on a road to nowhere. Ten per cent of people reportedly go on a purposeless drive every week!
Think of how much fuel and money they’re wasting! I know I certainly can’t afford to be driving from point A to point A once a week.
Still, it would be nice to get away from my usual routes every now and then and just explore. There are a lot of streets I never have to go down to get to the shops or to work, and I’ve often wondered where they lead…
It might sound like an odd thing to do, but, just like any other hobby, such as fishing or painting, it’s all about having some time to enjoy an activity without other distractions.Similarly to how fishing as a career or painting as a trade are perhaps not as enjoyable as having these activities as past-times, driving to get somewhere is sometimes not as fun as just driving to drive.
However, there should be a limit as to how often someone gets behind the wheel on a road to nowhere. Ten per cent of people reportedly go on a purposeless drive every week!
Think of how much fuel and money they’re wasting! I know I certainly can’t afford to be driving from point A to point A once a week.
Still, it would be nice to get away from my usual routes every now and then and just explore. There are a lot of streets I never have to go down to get to the shops or to work, and I’ve often wondered where they lead…
Photo © Dominic’s pics via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: activity, car insurance, drive, driving, fuel, hobby, motorist, road, route, streets, wheel
03/08/2012
Amazing bravery under pressure
Duck2Water’s Bravery Award this week goes to the 12-year-old girl who managed to steer a car to safety when, as passenger in her grandfather’s vehicle, he died suddenly while driving along the motorway.
Although he had let his granddaughter know that he was feeling below par, it still came as a total surprise to the girl when her granddad’s head hit the driver window and he lost consciousness, all with his foot still placed firmly on the accelerator.
Tragically, the 63-year-old had died of a heart attack. "He said he was scared, closed his eyes, and put his head on the glass. That’s when I knew he was dead," said the brave girl.
"I didn’t know what to do. I took off my seat belt and slid over to put my foot on the brake. I was looking around and thought, should I go into the corn field, should I keep going?'" she added.
Amazingly, she managed to make the car come to a standstill after driving it into a field and into some trees – all without suffering injury.
Just like her mother said, this young woman driver is a real hero. She lost her grandfather and saved her own life and, potentially, those of other road users all within the space of a few minutes. Amazing! We at Duck2Water car insurance salute her!
Although he had let his granddaughter know that he was feeling below par, it still came as a total surprise to the girl when her granddad’s head hit the driver window and he lost consciousness, all with his foot still placed firmly on the accelerator.Tragically, the 63-year-old had died of a heart attack. "He said he was scared, closed his eyes, and put his head on the glass. That’s when I knew he was dead," said the brave girl.
"I didn’t know what to do. I took off my seat belt and slid over to put my foot on the brake. I was looking around and thought, should I go into the corn field, should I keep going?'" she added.
Amazingly, she managed to make the car come to a standstill after driving it into a field and into some trees – all without suffering injury.
Just like her mother said, this young woman driver is a real hero. She lost her grandfather and saved her own life and, potentially, those of other road users all within the space of a few minutes. Amazing! We at Duck2Water car insurance salute her!
Photo © Horia Varlan via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, grandfather’s car, passenger
27/07/2012
A near miss
We at Duck2Water are never going to leave our kids unattended in the car again, not even for a moment – well, that’s if the keys are in the ignition anyway.
This resolution follows the recent ordeal of a 28-year-old German mother who left the kids in her Peugeot as she loaded the shopping into the boot.
She said, "I put the key in the ignition to use the electronic button to open the boot and load up the shopping, and I left it there as the engine was not running.”
Well, so far, so good, but it is what happened next which caused alarm. As the mother moved round to the backseat to buckle up her toddler, her older son (not pictured) got behind the wheel and turned on the ignition.
Before she knew it the car was heading towards the sea – yes, the sea! – because the car was parked on Dusseldorf harbour.
In a sight which was reminiscent of the Italian Job, the car came to a standstill precariously perched between land and sea.
"If it had gone over the edge it could have been a disaster, instead my son had a very valuable lesson and the car was not damaged. But either way I will be more careful with the ignition keys in future,” said the mother.
Yes, and so will we all, including everyone at Duck2Water car insurance HQ.
This resolution follows the recent ordeal of a 28-year-old German mother who left the kids in her Peugeot as she loaded the shopping into the boot.She said, "I put the key in the ignition to use the electronic button to open the boot and load up the shopping, and I left it there as the engine was not running.”
Well, so far, so good, but it is what happened next which caused alarm. As the mother moved round to the backseat to buckle up her toddler, her older son (not pictured) got behind the wheel and turned on the ignition.
Before she knew it the car was heading towards the sea – yes, the sea! – because the car was parked on Dusseldorf harbour.
In a sight which was reminiscent of the Italian Job, the car came to a standstill precariously perched between land and sea.
"If it had gone over the edge it could have been a disaster, instead my son had a very valuable lesson and the car was not damaged. But either way I will be more careful with the ignition keys in future,” said the mother.
Yes, and so will we all, including everyone at Duck2Water car insurance HQ.
Image © Leonid Mamchenkov via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: backseat, car insurance, engine, ignition, key, Peugeot, wheel
09/07/2012
Giant toys for giant boys
Any of you out there have Hot Wheels toys when you were kids? I did. I used to love sending the cars round the tracks, racing them for hours on end every weekend. That is if I could keep my destructive little brother at bay.
I’d hate to think what our little imaginary drivers had to pay for their car insurance. They certainly had to endure some hairy moments, not least when they were being propelled down concrete stairs or made to travel a collapsing loop-the-loop. Thankfully, nothing like that ever happens in real life...
But what’s this, I hear? What, a real 60ft high loop-the-loop track, complete with two death-defying drivers?
Yes, at the X Games in Los Angeles this month, two drivers broke the loop-the-loop world record when they successful negotiated the live-sized toy in a stunt that smashed the previous world record.
"I tell you what, I'm at a loss for words. That was absolutely the coolest thing I've ever done,” said one of the stuntmen.
Having been traumatized by having a baby brother who used to smash my sets up I’m half expecting there to be a 1000ft tall toddler somewhere nearby waiting to pick the cars up and hurl them before destroying the loops by landing on them with the nappy-crash wrestling move.
I’d hate to think what our little imaginary drivers had to pay for their car insurance. They certainly had to endure some hairy moments, not least when they were being propelled down concrete stairs or made to travel a collapsing loop-the-loop. Thankfully, nothing like that ever happens in real life...But what’s this, I hear? What, a real 60ft high loop-the-loop track, complete with two death-defying drivers?
Yes, at the X Games in Los Angeles this month, two drivers broke the loop-the-loop world record when they successful negotiated the live-sized toy in a stunt that smashed the previous world record.
"I tell you what, I'm at a loss for words. That was absolutely the coolest thing I've ever done,” said one of the stuntmen.
Having been traumatized by having a baby brother who used to smash my sets up I’m half expecting there to be a 1000ft tall toddler somewhere nearby waiting to pick the cars up and hurl them before destroying the loops by landing on them with the nappy-crash wrestling move.
Photo © JacobEnos via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, Hot Wheels
02/07/2012
Watch out for Rupert the chartered surveyor!
A recent study by a car insurance provider found that depending on what your name is, you are apparently more or less likely to break the speed limit.
Furthermore, which profession you’re in also has an impact on your need for speed.
Reportedly, if you are called Juliet, Susannah, Justine, Deirdre or Alexis, or Rupert, Julian, Piers, Giles or Justin, you’re much less likely to decide to stick to the speed limit, preferring rather to leave other motorists in a cloud of your dust.
On the other hand, anyone called Molly, Shannon, Bethany, Lily, Courtney or Caitlin, or Terrence, Jake, Jordan, Joshua, Jacob or Declan, tends to stay safe by obeying speed signs.
Apparently men employed as chartered surveyors, sales managers, surgeons, TV producers, company chairmen or barristers are the worst offenders when it comes to driving too fast, and for women the speediest professions are commissioned officers in the Armed Forces, chartered surveyors, GPs, business consultants, heads of personnel and vets.
Looks like chartered surveyors are the very worst on both sides then!
Is there any science behind these findings? Erm, I’m not sure. But it’s certainly interesting, I can’t deny!
Furthermore, which profession you’re in also has an impact on your need for speed.
Reportedly, if you are called Juliet, Susannah, Justine, Deirdre or Alexis, or Rupert, Julian, Piers, Giles or Justin, you’re much less likely to decide to stick to the speed limit, preferring rather to leave other motorists in a cloud of your dust.
On the other hand, anyone called Molly, Shannon, Bethany, Lily, Courtney or Caitlin, or Terrence, Jake, Jordan, Joshua, Jacob or Declan, tends to stay safe by obeying speed signs.
Apparently men employed as chartered surveyors, sales managers, surgeons, TV producers, company chairmen or barristers are the worst offenders when it comes to driving too fast, and for women the speediest professions are commissioned officers in the Armed Forces, chartered surveyors, GPs, business consultants, heads of personnel and vets.
Looks like chartered surveyors are the very worst on both sides then!
Is there any science behind these findings? Erm, I’m not sure. But it’s certainly interesting, I can’t deny!
Photo © oddsock via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, driving, motorists, name, profession, safe, speed limit, speed sign
25/06/2012
Even the cars are watching us
Back in the 1990s, before the advent and eventual ubiquity of the internet, many of us thought that by buying an electric shredder we would be able to embrace the 21st century confident in the knowledge that we were protecting our identities and keeping our personal details and documents private.
Few were able to predict just how profoundly online and wireless technologies would alter the way we store, send and protect personal information.
These days, without the right knowledge and firewalls just about every piece of information, from our bank details to our love letters and our passwords are available to the unscrupulous hacker.
Take Google’s Street View cars. It’s recently been revealed that Google knew that the vehicle’s had the power and potential to capture and store the online data of millions of people, including emails, text messages and images.
It’s a pretty frightening prospect. There can be no doubt that Google is a great company that has been a real pioneer in making society more open and competitive, from enabling political reform in totalitarian states to comparing the car insurance market for the cheapest deals at home in Britain – for these things and just about everything in between, it’s been a real game-changer. But it’s also true that we need to remain wise to the dangers of letting gremlins in the system.
Few were able to predict just how profoundly online and wireless technologies would alter the way we store, send and protect personal information.These days, without the right knowledge and firewalls just about every piece of information, from our bank details to our love letters and our passwords are available to the unscrupulous hacker.
Take Google’s Street View cars. It’s recently been revealed that Google knew that the vehicle’s had the power and potential to capture and store the online data of millions of people, including emails, text messages and images.
It’s a pretty frightening prospect. There can be no doubt that Google is a great company that has been a real pioneer in making society more open and competitive, from enabling political reform in totalitarian states to comparing the car insurance market for the cheapest deals at home in Britain – for these things and just about everything in between, it’s been a real game-changer. But it’s also true that we need to remain wise to the dangers of letting gremlins in the system.
Photo © DoNotLick, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, cheapest deals, comparing, google
08/06/2012
Chinese motor insurance market a new and novel monster
“Where should you aim when you need to spit?” is not the kind of question you expect to be part of your driving test. However, for those taking a test in China it is the reality and forms just one detail in what is, for Western drivers, a new and novel motoring landscape.
According to news agency Reuters, this has heralded a boom in the Chinese car insurance market. Good news, you would think, for motor insurance companies, but the truth is that once you factor in all the eccentricities, vagaries and leviathan looms of red tape, the outlook is rather less attractive.
Take the following quote as an example: “People like us who buy Ferraris don't care too much about insurance because we buy cars for speeding. If we crash, we just throw them away."
The motorist speaking is just one of the thousands of new super-wealthy drivers in China who care very little for finer points of motoring etiquette or indeed for the globally accepted rules of the car insurance market.
China has now overtaken the US as the world's biggest market for new cars, so the situation is only going to develop. It will be fascinating to see how motor insurers respond to the many challenges they will inevitably face.
According to news agency Reuters, this has heralded a boom in the Chinese car insurance market. Good news, you would think, for motor insurance companies, but the truth is that once you factor in all the eccentricities, vagaries and leviathan looms of red tape, the outlook is rather less attractive.
Take the following quote as an example: “People like us who buy Ferraris don't care too much about insurance because we buy cars for speeding. If we crash, we just throw them away."
The motorist speaking is just one of the thousands of new super-wealthy drivers in China who care very little for finer points of motoring etiquette or indeed for the globally accepted rules of the car insurance market.
China has now overtaken the US as the world's biggest market for new cars, so the situation is only going to develop. It will be fascinating to see how motor insurers respond to the many challenges they will inevitably face.
Photo © decade_null via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, drivers, motoring
28/05/2012
Britain producing cars again, but they don’t come cheap
Against the background of the Eurozone economic crisis, surging unemployment and rising car insurance costs, it is good to hear some positive economic news, however short-lived it might prove to be.
It was recently revealed that Britain was at last a net exporter in cars and car parts for the first time since 1976. Although Britain’s once mighty automotive industry might nowadays be in the hands of foreign owners, at least we’re busy producing vehicles and parts and sending them off to Russia, America and the emerging economies of China and India.
What do Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar, Range Rover, Lotus, McLaren, MG, Mini, Rolls Royce, Vauxhall, as well as the less British seeming names of Honda and Toyota have in common? They’re all building cars in Britain, bringing jobs as well as pride and status back to the British manufacturing sector.
Another thing that strikes me about the list is that, generally, these are not cheap cars. Compared to the average family vehicle, these are high-end models that come at a real premium both in the showroom and when it comes to buying car insurance, which, in the main, is a positive I guess.
When manufacturers look for a really first-class product, it seems they know they can rely on Britain to produce them. The only question that remains is, will our economy bounce back in such a way as to give the average Briton a good shot at buying one?
It was recently revealed that Britain was at last a net exporter in cars and car parts for the first time since 1976. Although Britain’s once mighty automotive industry might nowadays be in the hands of foreign owners, at least we’re busy producing vehicles and parts and sending them off to Russia, America and the emerging economies of China and India.What do Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar, Range Rover, Lotus, McLaren, MG, Mini, Rolls Royce, Vauxhall, as well as the less British seeming names of Honda and Toyota have in common? They’re all building cars in Britain, bringing jobs as well as pride and status back to the British manufacturing sector.
Another thing that strikes me about the list is that, generally, these are not cheap cars. Compared to the average family vehicle, these are high-end models that come at a real premium both in the showroom and when it comes to buying car insurance, which, in the main, is a positive I guess.
When manufacturers look for a really first-class product, it seems they know they can rely on Britain to produce them. The only question that remains is, will our economy bounce back in such a way as to give the average Briton a good shot at buying one?
Photo © sports-cars.fr via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Aston Martin, car insurance, cheap, compared, Honda, Jaguar, mini, Range Rover, Toyota, Vauxhall, vehicle
24/05/2012
Baked beans or car insurance, the choice for young drivers
Us older drivers who have years of experience and, sometimes, the cherry-on-top of a long-standing no claims bonus, can’t help but feel sorry for younger drivers these days.
Not only are they having to pay for the economic extravagance of their forefathers by coming to terms with years of likely austerity, they are also, compared to us, having to pay through the roof for their car insurance.
According to one comparison site, which teamed up with professional services giant Towers Watson, drivers between the ages of 17 and 20 are having to pay an average of £2,500 for their car insurance.
This is a huge figure, but actually pales into comparison besides the average figure for a male driver – £3,635.
Perhaps most shockingly of all, this £3,500 plus figure is actually more than a quarter of the average annual salary for a young man.
Fine enough if you don’t need to drive, but many, such as my nephew, live miles away from bus services and have no choice but to commute to and from work.
All of which makes it more important than ever that customers are shrewd about finding the cheapest car insurance on the market.
Not only are they having to pay for the economic extravagance of their forefathers by coming to terms with years of likely austerity, they are also, compared to us, having to pay through the roof for their car insurance.According to one comparison site, which teamed up with professional services giant Towers Watson, drivers between the ages of 17 and 20 are having to pay an average of £2,500 for their car insurance.
This is a huge figure, but actually pales into comparison besides the average figure for a male driver – £3,635.
Perhaps most shockingly of all, this £3,500 plus figure is actually more than a quarter of the average annual salary for a young man.
Fine enough if you don’t need to drive, but many, such as my nephew, live miles away from bus services and have no choice but to commute to and from work.
All of which makes it more important than ever that customers are shrewd about finding the cheapest car insurance on the market.
Photo © Matski_98, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, cheapest, compared
21/05/2012
Sea Lion, the amphibious car
A man who set about building a racy amphibious car in 2006, has finally finished it and is putting it up for sale.
The futuristic-looking vehicle, which has been built on top of a 174hp Mazda rotary engine, can do 125mph on tarmac and 60mph in water (that’s on top of it like a boat, not under it like a sub).
The Sea Lion, as it has been lovingly named by its creator, is being sold for $259,500 – about £163,355 – and I don’t know how much it will cost to insure.
I can imagine a car insurance company would look at this vehicle and just see ‘very high risk car’ written all over it. Not only is there a risk that it will crash on the roads, but there’s the added risk of it crashing into a boat or sinking.
Would they still sort out maintenance and pick-up if you were stranded on open water? I’d like to see a road-side repairs company try their hand at some boating.
Nevertheless, I have no doubt that the car has been well built – after all it took six years to make it.
The creator states, “Building Sea Lion has been an enjoyable exploration. I have provided the basic architecture for the car and resolved every conflicting interaction between car and boat.”
I’d love to have a car-boat, but this model’s a bit too speedy-looking for me. When an amphibious mini or VW camper comes along, I’ll be buying it no matter the cost.
The futuristic-looking vehicle, which has been built on top of a 174hp Mazda rotary engine, can do 125mph on tarmac and 60mph in water (that’s on top of it like a boat, not under it like a sub).
The Sea Lion, as it has been lovingly named by its creator, is being sold for $259,500 – about £163,355 – and I don’t know how much it will cost to insure.I can imagine a car insurance company would look at this vehicle and just see ‘very high risk car’ written all over it. Not only is there a risk that it will crash on the roads, but there’s the added risk of it crashing into a boat or sinking.
Would they still sort out maintenance and pick-up if you were stranded on open water? I’d like to see a road-side repairs company try their hand at some boating.
Nevertheless, I have no doubt that the car has been well built – after all it took six years to make it.
The creator states, “Building Sea Lion has been an enjoyable exploration. I have provided the basic architecture for the car and resolved every conflicting interaction between car and boat.”
I’d love to have a car-boat, but this model’s a bit too speedy-looking for me. When an amphibious mini or VW camper comes along, I’ll be buying it no matter the cost.
Photo © sly06 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: amphibious car, boat, car insurance, crash, insure, Mazda, mini, road-side repair, rotary engine, Sea Lion, tarmac, vehicle, VW camper, water
11/05/2012
Welcome to the future
Welcome to the 21st century. Yes, we’ve been here for 12 years already,
but there is still something about saying it that makes it feel like we’ve
suddenly arrived in the future.
I guess it’s because for so long it was the future,
and now we’re here.
However, so far it’s turned out to be rather more mundane than we
anticipated. None of us has humanoid robots running about the house performing
chores, man still hasn’t landed on Mars and we still don’t have driverless
cars.... Sorry, what’s that? Oh, yes. I’ll let them know.
Hello, and welcome to the 21st century. In news just in, it has been
confirmed that for the first time in automotive history, driverless vehicles,
adapted Toyota Prius models, have been given the go-ahead for use on public
roads.
Although the only place so far to sanction their use is the US state of
Nevada, where they can be used "along freeways, state highways and neighborhoods both
in Carson City and the busy Las Vegas Strip", California is expected to
follow suit shortly.
"The
vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error," comments a
Californian senator.
"Through
the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is
capable of analyzing the driving environment more quickly and operating the
vehicle more safely."
How
long, I wonder, before we see the like on UK roads? And, how long, I wonder,
before duck2water is selling car insurance for driverless cars?
Photo
© DoNotLick via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, driverless vehicle, Toyota Prius
04/05/2012
A Ferrari for £23 thousand
What if you could buy a Ferrari for £23k?
Yes, it’s a lot of money, but considering that they usually cost closer to £150k, it’s an amazing deal, isn’t it?
Well, yes and no, because this £23k Ferrari, is actually just a Ferrari camera.
Apparently though, the H4D-40 is actually a very good camera, and it looks great too in Ferrari red with the famous logo on the side.
Sounds like you should look into insuring this piece of kit if you buy it, just like you’d have to get car insurance for a Ferrari vehicle (and in fact any car you purchase at all).
If I had a thousands of pounds spare, I might be tempted to buy this camera, but I imagine I’d never take it anywhere with me because I’d be frightened of it getting lost, stolen or dropping it by accident.
Similarly, if I had a Ferrari car, I’d keep it in a garage all the time, safe from harm. I think I’m better off with the little second-hand car I have now. It may not be flash, but at least I’m not scared to use it.
Yes, it’s a lot of money, but considering that they usually cost closer to £150k, it’s an amazing deal, isn’t it?
Well, yes and no, because this £23k Ferrari, is actually just a Ferrari camera.
Apparently though, the H4D-40 is actually a very good camera, and it looks great too in Ferrari red with the famous logo on the side.
Sounds like you should look into insuring this piece of kit if you buy it, just like you’d have to get car insurance for a Ferrari vehicle (and in fact any car you purchase at all).
If I had a thousands of pounds spare, I might be tempted to buy this camera, but I imagine I’d never take it anywhere with me because I’d be frightened of it getting lost, stolen or dropping it by accident.
Similarly, if I had a Ferrari car, I’d keep it in a garage all the time, safe from harm. I think I’m better off with the little second-hand car I have now. It may not be flash, but at least I’m not scared to use it.
Photo © roland via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: accident, camera, car insurance, Ferrari, H4D-40, logo, money, vehicle
12/03/2012
Your car as your doctor? What a quacky idea?
The cars of the future… Autonomous? Perhaps. Wheel-less? Perhaps. Carbon neutral? Perhaps? A replacement for your doctor? Surely you’ve finally cracked, perhaps you need to see your doctor?
But no, we’re not going completely potty. The truth is that the cars of the future are likely to benefit our health in numerous ways.
Take Ford, for example, which is developing an in-car breath analysis system for people with diabetes, which will be able warn drivers of when their blood sugar is low and they need an insulin top-up.
Or what about the other Ford technology currently in development – a system that will warn allergy sufferers when there are high numbers of pollens or allergens in the air.
Further down the line, such technologies could have a huge impact on the UK car insurance market. Perhaps it is not unrealistic to imagine a scenario where people currently thought of as too high risk to qualify for cover – those with epilepsy, narcoclepsy or heart problems, for example – might be able to drive again because of warning systems built into vehicle systems.
But no, we’re not going completely potty. The truth is that the cars of the future are likely to benefit our health in numerous ways.Take Ford, for example, which is developing an in-car breath analysis system for people with diabetes, which will be able warn drivers of when their blood sugar is low and they need an insulin top-up.
Or what about the other Ford technology currently in development – a system that will warn allergy sufferers when there are high numbers of pollens or allergens in the air.
Further down the line, such technologies could have a huge impact on the UK car insurance market. Perhaps it is not unrealistic to imagine a scenario where people currently thought of as too high risk to qualify for cover – those with epilepsy, narcoclepsy or heart problems, for example – might be able to drive again because of warning systems built into vehicle systems.
Image © elias_daniel via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, cover
09/03/2012
Hard times bring expensive tastes
In my opinion, there’s something about times of economic hardship that makes us all long for quality.
Take the Second World War for example, during that time my grandparents had less than they’d ever had at any time before then, yet, even now, I’m wearing a good pair of well looked after brogues that once belonged to my grandfather, while my sister’s most beloved garment is the beautiful coat that my grandmother wore when she was in the Wrens.
I guess not having a lot of financial means makes us truly value things that last – things that are enduring.
This fact would perhaps explain why, despite endless talk of credit crunches, tough times, recessions and depressions, sales of prestige cars such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi are on the rise.
Whether or not these vehicles are of better and more enduring quality than Vauxhalls, Fords, Toyotas and their like is beside the point – maybe its just that we want security, which would explain why more and more car insurance companies are being asked to provide cheap quotes for luxury and prestige models.
Take the Second World War for example, during that time my grandparents had less than they’d ever had at any time before then, yet, even now, I’m wearing a good pair of well looked after brogues that once belonged to my grandfather, while my sister’s most beloved garment is the beautiful coat that my grandmother wore when she was in the Wrens.I guess not having a lot of financial means makes us truly value things that last – things that are enduring.
This fact would perhaps explain why, despite endless talk of credit crunches, tough times, recessions and depressions, sales of prestige cars such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi are on the rise.
Whether or not these vehicles are of better and more enduring quality than Vauxhalls, Fords, Toyotas and their like is beside the point – maybe its just that we want security, which would explain why more and more car insurance companies are being asked to provide cheap quotes for luxury and prestige models.
Image © swanksalot via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Audi, BMW, car insurance, Ford, Mercedes, Toyota, Vauxhall
06/02/2012
Theory test troubles
If at first you don’t succeed then try, try, and try again.
A motorist from Leicester has clearly taken these words to heart after failing 92 attempts at the DSA driving theory test.
It is unknown when the driver began taking and failing the tests. However, reports have revealed that the unsuccessful attempts have cost £2,852 thus far.
This story has raised such a great amount of interest that it was recently featured on the popular motoring show, Top Gear. The presenters couldn't resist the temptation to have a laugh at the expense of the unfortunate East Midlands motorist.
James Hammond said, “I don't want to be rude, but the man must be an idiot.”
An experienced driving instructor echoed this sentiment by saying, “It's an incredible number of times to fail a test. I've never heard of anything like it.”
Sympathy may be felt by the Wigston motorist who recently failed their theory test for the 21st consecutive time, or the Norfolk lady who acquired her full driving license after 27 years of failed attempts.
The one consoling factor for all of these unlucky drivers is that they may be able to obtain cheaper car insurance than would have been possible if they'd passed first time as a young driver.
A motorist from Leicester has clearly taken these words to heart after failing 92 attempts at the DSA driving theory test.It is unknown when the driver began taking and failing the tests. However, reports have revealed that the unsuccessful attempts have cost £2,852 thus far.
This story has raised such a great amount of interest that it was recently featured on the popular motoring show, Top Gear. The presenters couldn't resist the temptation to have a laugh at the expense of the unfortunate East Midlands motorist.
James Hammond said, “I don't want to be rude, but the man must be an idiot.”
An experienced driving instructor echoed this sentiment by saying, “It's an incredible number of times to fail a test. I've never heard of anything like it.”
Sympathy may be felt by the Wigston motorist who recently failed their theory test for the 21st consecutive time, or the Norfolk lady who acquired her full driving license after 27 years of failed attempts.
The one consoling factor for all of these unlucky drivers is that they may be able to obtain cheaper car insurance than would have been possible if they'd passed first time as a young driver.
Photo © Nima Badiey via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, driving instructor, driving theory test, DSA, fail, James Hammond, Leicester, licence, motorist, Norfolk, passed, Top Gear, Wigston, young driver
09/01/2012
Old photos
Ah, those were the days – you were young and carefree, with grazed knees, shamelessly wearing clothes your mum bought you, and losing teeth right left and centre (and top and bottom).
It’s nice looking back on old photos and remembering times long gone, but if you can look at your driving licence photo and reminisce you might be in for a £1000 fine.
Apparently, more than 1.6 million UK motorists don’t realise that the photo on their licence has to be renewed every ten years.
Getting a new photo on your licence only costs £20, which is considerably less than the fine, so make sure you check the expiry date and get yours changed if needed.
If you’re too young to be concerned by this, maybe you could make sure that family members are aware of the potential fine and have a look at their drivers’ licences.
As the head of Sainsbury’s car insurance states, “Drivers should also remember that their photo card licence serves as more than just a driving licence. Should they intend to use it as a form of identification for other things such as hiring a car or an internal flight, for example, having an out of date photograph could cause problems or delays.”
It’s nice looking back on old photos and remembering times long gone, but if you can look at your driving licence photo and reminisce you might be in for a £1000 fine. Apparently, more than 1.6 million UK motorists don’t realise that the photo on their licence has to be renewed every ten years.
Getting a new photo on your licence only costs £20, which is considerably less than the fine, so make sure you check the expiry date and get yours changed if needed.
If you’re too young to be concerned by this, maybe you could make sure that family members are aware of the potential fine and have a look at their drivers’ licences.
As the head of Sainsbury’s car insurance states, “Drivers should also remember that their photo card licence serves as more than just a driving licence. Should they intend to use it as a form of identification for other things such as hiring a car or an internal flight, for example, having an out of date photograph could cause problems or delays.”
Photo © jinterwas via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, drivers licence, expiry, fine, licence, motorist, photo, renew
16/12/2011
Apples from heaven
Whether you’re young, old, a woman or a man, there are some car insurance hazards you just can’t plan for.
Yes, what do you do if you’re innocently driving through rush-hour traffic when, suddenly, the heavens open and bombard your vehicle with hundreds of apples.
It may be good news if you like apples, but a cascade of falling apples is undoubtedly dangerous, as it has the potential to obscure vision, cause distraction and alarm drivers.
So spare a thought for drivers in Coventry who recently experienced this bizarre scenario.
"The apples fell out of the sky as if out of nowhere. They were small and green and hit the bonnet hard. There were other cars on the road at the time too and everyone had to stop their cars suddenly,” commented one driver.
"It wouldn't surprise me if some cars were damaged. I know the area well and there are no apple trees around,” he added.
Was it high-flying pranksters or childish, petulant gods playing-up in their heavenly orchard – not according to the Met Office, which says it has a meteorological explanation.
"It's hypothetically possible that a tornado could have picked them up and that they were transported in turbulent air until they fell,” said a spokesperson.
"Essentially these events are caused when a vortex of air, kind of like a mini tornado, lifts things off the ground rising up into the atmosphere until the air around it causes them to fall to earth again.”
Yes, what do you do if you’re innocently driving through rush-hour traffic when, suddenly, the heavens open and bombard your vehicle with hundreds of apples.
It may be good news if you like apples, but a cascade of falling apples is undoubtedly dangerous, as it has the potential to obscure vision, cause distraction and alarm drivers.
So spare a thought for drivers in Coventry who recently experienced this bizarre scenario.
"The apples fell out of the sky as if out of nowhere. They were small and green and hit the bonnet hard. There were other cars on the road at the time too and everyone had to stop their cars suddenly,” commented one driver.
"It wouldn't surprise me if some cars were damaged. I know the area well and there are no apple trees around,” he added.
Was it high-flying pranksters or childish, petulant gods playing-up in their heavenly orchard – not according to the Met Office, which says it has a meteorological explanation.
"It's hypothetically possible that a tornado could have picked them up and that they were transported in turbulent air until they fell,” said a spokesperson.
"Essentially these events are caused when a vortex of air, kind of like a mini tornado, lifts things off the ground rising up into the atmosphere until the air around it causes them to fall to earth again.”
Photo © mollyali via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, Coventry, man, old, woman, young
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