One in seven drivers admit to getting behind the wheel with no insurance

Up to 15 per cent of motorists admit to driving a car without being covered by insurance, according to new research.

The findings from moneysupermarket.com show that nine per cent broke the law while behind the wheel of someone else’s vehicle and a further six per cent said they had driven their own cars without having any cover in place.

Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said that anyone who drives without insurance, no matter the length of the distance and whether it is their car or not, is breaking the law.

“Not only that, but it costs the insurance industry over £500 million each year in claims, which drives up the cost of insurance for responsible motorists,” he continued.

Men are more than twice as likely as women to drive while uninsured, with 21 per cent admitting doing so according to the results of the study.

Meanwhile, a study conducted by confused.com revealed that men are officially worse drivers than women.

Tags: cover, finance, Business Finance, Confused.com, research

Take steps to minimise flood damage, insurer urges

Flooding is becoming a greater and greater risk in many parts of the country.

This summer, parts of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire were swamped by flood waters for days, causing millions of pounds worth of damage and even claiming lives.

The cost to the insurance industry was around £3 billion, and while many insurers have voiced their reluctance to continue to insure some properties while government spending on flood defences is at its current levels, industry body the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is reviewing the principles of practice in the area.

In the meantime, Cornhill Direct has suggested a number of measures homeowners can take to minimise the damage flooding causes if and when it strikes again.

Homeowners should prepare a “flood pack”, including a torch, first aid kit, blankets, warm clothes and fresh water, and move property from lower floors upstairs where possible.

Cornhill also recommends keeping your insurance documents and radio dry, so that you can listen to public announcements.

Spokesperson Mark Bishop said: “The continued widespread availability of flood insurance depends on sustained government investment to bring flood defences up to an adequate standard.

“Householders should follow our advice which will help to minimise the damage of a flood and help those affected to recover as soon as possible.”

Tags: Lincolnshire, insurance industry, Householders, Government spending, current levels, minimise, standard, move

Brits ignorant of cancer risk

A survey by Cancer Research UK has highlighted that many British people are burying their heads in the sand when it comes to cancer.

The findings have led to a number of insurance industry figures calling for greater emphasis to be put on educating people about the disease and what they can do to prevent it.

The chances of developing cancer were put down to fate by a huge 27 per cent of people in Britain, with these respondents believing that lifestyle had little or no effect.

Aside from the obvious physical effects of cancer, those who are diagnosed are often left financially vulnerable during treatment if they do not have insurance as they may be prevented from working.

With this in mind, Virgin Cancer Cover was launched, and Scott Mowbray from Virgin Money says ignorance of the disease’s contributing factors can be very dangerous.

“The results of this survey are very alarming,” he said. “When we launched Virgin Cancer Cover last year we were criticised for drawing attention to the fact that one in six of us will get some form of cancer before the age of 70.

“However, it’s clear there’s still a frightening number of people burying their heads in the sand not only about their chances of getting cancer in their lifetime but also the steps they can personally take to reduce their risk of getting the disease and protect themselves against the financial burden of getting cancer.”

Cancer Research UK has launched the Reduce the Risk campaign, which is aimed at encouraging people to learn about the changes they can make to lead healthier lives and reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Tags: risk, insurance industry, American Cancer Society, attention, cancer cancer, cancer risk, Occupational safety and health, treatment