By The Mile

jambutty · 05-10-2006, 17:36

Norwich Union has come up with a pay as you drive insurance scheme.

The car will be fitted with a ‘black box’ that measures how many miles the car has travelled and the driver will be charged per mile for doing so. The ‘black box’ will also record the speed that the car travels at and where. A spokesman for Norwich Union declared that the insurance company would not use the speed data in any way whatsoever. Yeh! Right!

A figure of £1 per mile was mentioned for young drivers after 11:00pm.

Now that is a crackpot idea but what’s the betting that other insurance companies are keeping an eye on the situation.

AccyJay · 05-10-2006, 17:42

I heard about this some time ago. Most of the younger drivers taking part in the scheme, all thought that it was a good idea.

Tinkerbelle · 05-10-2006, 17:45

Sounds a good idea to me. Punish the pockets of those who are more likely to have an accident.

AccyJay · 05-10-2006, 17:49

I think most of the drivers at the time, were more impressed by idea of not driving late at night.

katex · 05-10-2006, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkerbelle

Sounds a good idea to me. Punish the pockets of those who are more likely to have an accident.

I'm with you Tinkerbelle, statistics are that young drivers are more likely to have an accident in the dark after 11 a.m. and this will discourage them to use their cars too much at this time.

Average charge is 1p per mile (on a motorway) and could save an average of 30% to most drivers under a limited usage, however, just wondered if you drove 30,000 mile if this would work out better from you. The Norwich Union spokeswoman tonight didn't mention this, but think it is an opt-out scheme anyway.

The one thing that impressed me though is that if you broke down you could, through this system, get in touch with the Insurance company, they would know exactly where you were and inform your breakdown company quicker than yourself.

Jambutty: probably I am too trusting, but feel they are honest in their statement re. the speeding thing, although all systems are open to some sort of corruption.

Could be bad though if anyone were having secret liaisons and bribed the operator to ask where their spouse was at a given time

Confident this angle has all been covered though.

AccyJay · 05-10-2006, 18:00

There's a program on C4 tonight about data theft.

Dispatches, 9pm, C4.

bullseyebarb · 05-10-2006, 18:40

I read somewhere that "black boxes" are going to be installed in all new cars. This is not a pay for use scheme over here. Rather, it is for the benefit of insurance companies in case of accidents. They will be able to determine what was going on before, during and after an accident. This, no doubt, will enable them to deny your claim if you are found to have been driving in a reckless manner.

WillowTheWhisp · 05-10-2006, 18:50

It could help with claims where drivers swear they were only going at 20mph in a 20mph zone when it's patently obvious they were going faster.

katex · 05-10-2006, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

It could help with claims where drivers swear they were only going at 20mph in a 20mph zone when it's patently obvious they were going faster.

Good point Willow, but insurance companies aren't the jury of speeding offences, just whether you are at fault through misjudgment of a situation.

bullseyebarb · 05-10-2006, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Good point Willow, but insurance companies aren't the jury of speeding offences, just whether you are at fault through misjudgment of a situation.

It also helps the cops figure out who did what after an accident has occurred.

silvermain · 05-10-2006, 20:03

Worked it out today how much i drive per year. Average would be approx 3500 miles.

Madhatter · 05-10-2006, 21:15

It sounds good if you can opt for it, or opt out. Also it's got to be sensible, a pound a mile is just daft.
I've never had an accident after 11, and prefere to drive then, as the roads are clear.

Billcat · 06-10-2006, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

A figure of £1 per mile was mentioned for young drivers after 11:00pm.

Interesting, but how would the black box know who is driving the car - especially in families with several drivers?

WillowTheWhisp · 06-10-2006, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

It also helps the cops figure out who did what after an accident has occurred.

That was what I was thinking - I have a vested interest in an accident where I have 'proved' to my own satisfaction that the driver must have been exceeding the speed limit but no actual evidence or witnesses willing to come forward so I can't prove it in court.

Less · 06-10-2006, 17:57

It could perhaps, solve the problem I've ended up with, Pay as you go, as opossed to, you'll pay or you'll go by bus!

Just a quick thought though, are you only insured while moving or would it as I assume cover you for being parked outside your house?