New customers of AA’s telematic or black box ‘pay how you drive’ insurance are to be offered free Drive Smart tuition, thanks to a new initiative by the AA’s Charitable Trust.
Users of the AA’s new Drivesafe insurance, which was launched in March 2012, are already demonstrating that they are safer drivers than average, as the first of them are receiving refunds for the high driving standard they are recording.
However, the system shows that many drivers take a while to get used to the concept of thinking about their driving style in relation to road conditions ahead, while a few show little or no improvement in their driving standard at all.
Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, says that the AA Charitable Trust is committed to improving road safety.
“Offering Drive Smart tuition will help new drivers using AA Drivesafe to start driving in a way that will improve their safety, and the safety of other road users, from the word go. The tuition is provided by the AA Driving School and funded by the Trust.
“If they can immediately demonstrate an improving standard of driving they are significantly reducing the risk of having a crash. They also stand to be rewarded with a decent refund, bringing down the premiums that they pay.
“The best new drivers could see their first year’s premium halved, taking into account both their no-claim and good driving bonus.”
The initiative comes at a time when premiums for young drivers have been rising steeply because of the frequency and cost of claims suffered particularly by young men. Car accidents are, by far, the biggest single cause of death and serious injury to teenagers.
“It’s vital that we do all we can to bring down this toll,” Mr Douglas points out.
“Good driving education is a fundamental part of that and I believe that the combination of Drive Smart tuition with the continuous monitoring of driving standards, that can be followed by users of AA Drivesafe on their home computer or smartphone, will quickly help them to become responsible, proficient and considerate drivers.”
Mr Douglas points out that good driving isn’t gender-specific.
“All young drivers can improve the way they drive. Telematic insurance systems are gender-neutral and that will be important after 21st December this year. After that, insurers will no longer be able to calculate premiums based on the gender of their customers, thanks to a European Court of Justice ruling.”
