Technology is not always right is the message being sent out by car insurance companies such as Direct Line, suggesting drivers should not take the advice of the system blindly.
There have been many occasions when drivers have followed the route given to them by a sat-nav system only to find themselves heading down narrow farm tracks and through deep water. They carry on regardless though feeling that the satellite navigation system cannot be wrong. A big mistake say Direct Line since they have seen an increase in claims because of situations just like these.
If the situation continues then car insurance premiums are sure to rise, a scenario no one wants to see. Direct Line and other car insurance providers have to increase the premiums because of the extra costs they face so it is down to the drivers to make sure they use sat nav as an aid, trusting their own driving knowledge first and foremost.
A word to the wise comes from Direct Line with a reminder that any modifications made to a vehicle change the risk profile and therefore the insurance premium.
Lots of car owners are making changes to their vehicles now, personalising them with new wheels, sound systems and much more. Drivers are advised by Direct Line to get in touch with their car insurance provider to let them know about these modifications and enable them to recalculate the premium. If this is not done then the vehicle insurance could well be invalid should a claim be made.
A Direct Line spokesperson did say that modifications that improve the safety or security of a vehicle would not usually see premiums increased, though most mods are usually about enhancing the looks or performance of a vehicle and so would incur costs.
More Than Insurance has confirmed what most parents already knew, that they show less patience than their children on car journeys over the summer.
Data gathered from the survey found about 10 percent of parents feeling the first signs of impatience and irritation in the first 10 minutes of a journey. More Than Insurance also found the average time parents can manage before they want the journey to end is just 24 minutes. Children on the other hand managed a full 90 minutes before feeling they needed to get out. Children do have the benefit of MP3 players, books and games in the car that greatly helps on the journey.
From a car insurance perspective it is important for parents to remain calm so as to retain full control of the vehicle and maintain their levels of alertness toward other road users. More Than Insurance hope this recent survey will highlight this need for parents, leading to safer and more relaxed journeys.
