A man who exaggerated his injuries and attempted to claim £2.3m in compensation has been jailed for four months by the Royal Courts of Justice after his deception was uncovered and he was found in contempt of court.

We would be very interested to hear your views, opinions and maybe your past experiences on this subject so feel free to respond to this Blog.

The GPS companies could then download the data from the boxes and pass it on to insurance companies to assess driver behavior and rate insurance premiums accordingly. Whilst some drivers will recognise obvious benefits to this type of system, particularly younger drivers where premiums are horrendously expensive, others may feel that this is over-intrusive monitoring by insurers.

As well as overall driving speed, the type of information that insurers may be able to monitor include rate of acceleration, braking intensity and cornering characteristics. Location and time would also be relevant risk factors.

We would be most interested in any comments or views you may have on this subject.

The research also showed that the current UK number plate test is a poor way to measure whether someone’s vision meets the legal minimum standard, as it only tests one aspect of vision and other factors, such as visual field, are ignored.

In order to make our roads safer, RSA is calling for:

• the number plate test to be scrapped;
• all learner drivers to have their vision tested by an optician prior to applying for a provisional driving licence; and
• eye tests to be mandatory every ten years, linked to driving licence renewal.

Research shows that most drivers already support RSA’s calls. Almost all of those surveyed (92%) believed people with poor eyesight are a threat to themselves and other road users, with 77% supporting legislation to increase provisions for eyesight testing when people take a driving test and 75% agreeing that eye tests should be mandatory when renewing a licence.

But the benefits of frequent eye tests aren’t just limited to the road: they would also have much broader health benefits, including the early detection of diabetes, high blood pressure and even brain tumours.

GP and medical journalist medical expert, Dr Mark Porter, said: “The message couldn't be clearer, have your eyes checked regularly. And if you do need to wear glasses or contact lenses to pass the number plate test then please wear them when you are driving. Failing to do so should, in my opinion, be an offence that is treated with the same gravity as drinking and driving. It is just as stupid, and probably as dangerous.”

The number of uninsured drivers on UK roads has dropped by 25% over the last five years, reports the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

This is thanks to co-operation between the insurance industry, the police and MIB. Since 2005, more than 750,000 uninsured vehicles have been seized at the roadside and levels of uninsured driving are expected to be reduced even further with the introduction of continuous insurance enforcement (CIE) earlier this year. Under CIE, the police and DVLA are able to systematically identify vehicles without insurance using the Motor Insurance Database (MID), and take action.

However, the rate of progress to reduce uninsured driving is being held back by illegal motorists in the West Midlands and West Yorkshire, says MIB.

The number of drivers with no insurance in these regions are overrepresented by as much as eight times the national average, putting them in the spotlight for vehicle seizure, wheel clamping, fines and prosecution. Of the 20 worst postcodes, 17 are in the West Midlands and West Yorkshire, with Bordesley in Birmingham topping the list.

“There are areas of the United Kingdom that continue to present a challenge for enforcement authorities says Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Road Policing Lead Chief Constable Phil Gormley.”

“The advantage that the MID information provides is that we know where these vehicles are and can focus our attention on areas where we have the greatest impact.”

An interactive map of the UK’s top 20 uninsured driving hotspots is available to download at
http://stayinsured.askmid.com/hotspot.html

Ashton West, chief executive, MIB talks about continuous insurance enforcement
http://www.youtube.com/user/AXAConnect#p/u/22/y2TE-FUGTgE

Source – Axa Insurance

Read more: http://www.insuranceage.co.uk/insurance-age/news/2116548/arrests-crash-cash-scam-huddersfield#ixzz1aeYkktYp
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