Driving offence data is useful for insurance brands in that it helps them understand risk taking behaviour. You could say the same about someone who also does DIY regularly, enjoys scuba diving or meeting strangers in the woods for sex, whilst wearing a cat costume. But making that judgment would be a hate crime, probably. What is true is that overlaying driving offences data with motor claims history IS a more useful yardstick regarding risk.
For example, some offences to do with not paying attention could indicate a potential for being involved in an accident in urban traffic. Not always, just sometimes. Other factors like age, medical history, routes used to commute etc might also play a part. Some might say studying such behaviours is more useful for motor insurers than noting the postcode of the policyholder. Or their job.
IE will get around to our annual audit of ridiculous job titles in quote engines later in July. Meanwhile, here’s some driving offence info from Quotezone;
The most common driving offences in the UK have been analysed by region as new government data shows driving convictions have increased by 14% in the last year. Car insurance comparison platform Quotezone.co.uk has crunched data from over 6,000 convicted drivers to uncover which driving offences are most common across different parts of the UK. The analysis of these penalties revealed that certain offences were more common in some parts of the country than in others.
Drivers in Scotland have the most combination dangerous driving charges compared to the rest of the UK – a DD40 conviction pertaining to a combination of dangerous, speed, or reckless driving. A dangerous driving charge sees a penalty of three to 11 penalty points, lasting on driving records for four years, as well as a hefty fine and increased insurance premiums.
Motorists in the North West have the highest number of drink driving convictions – over four times more convictions than the neighbouring North East. Driving with alcohol levels above the legal limit (DR10) stays on the driving record for over a decade, and is responsible for 15% of road deaths a year. The latest Department for Transport data shows the percentage of road casualties occurring in drink-driving collisions stood at 5.6% in the North West.
Yorkshire and the Humber sees the most motorists who are repeat offenders – under the penalty code TT99, disqualified under totting up procedure. This occurs when drivers have accumulated the maximum of 12 points on their licence, which could be from one singular offence or from several convictions over a period of time. Motorists may be disqualified from driving for six months if they have a total of 12 penalty points or more within three years, and will be displayed on their licence for four years after conviction.
The data shows that the East Midlands has the highest number of motorists who run red lights, where the penalty TS10 is for failing to comply with traffic light signals. With an increase in traffic light cameras being installed up and down the UK, more and more motorists are being caught illegally driving through a red light. This adds three points onto the driving licence, as well as a £100 fine if caught on red-light cameras or by on-site police.
THIS IS A VAGUE ONE
A CD20 penalty code for driving without reasonable consideration for other road users, has the highest number of reports in the East of England. So-called incompetent drivers could be hit with three to nine penalty points, and often pertains when the motorist aims to inconvenience other road users and potentially put them in danger. How do you define driving without consideration? Muxch depends on the judgment by a Police officer or PCSO in each case, so maybe this subjective element means insurers should set little store by it?
SPEEDING: IS IT ALL SAFETY, OR PARTLY A HANDY REVENUE STREAM?
This nugget of data from Quotezone is interesting, as it highlights social engineering rather than true risk.
“Londoners have the highest number of motorists who have been caught speeding in a 30mph zone – with the SP30 exceeding the statutory speed limit along public roads. “
As a city of nine million and counting, plus thousands of ULEZ and speed cameras, it’s no surprise that the stats show a high rate of conviction. As limits are reduced to 20mph in many parts of the UK, we can expect more convictions and fines to help pay for public sector pensions and wages in the Councils who enforce the new limits. But is low limit speeding an indicator of high risk behaviour?
The facts are that fatal road accidents in the UK have remained static for some years. Since 2019 pedestrian and cyclist deaths have also decreased by 23% and 21% respectively across the UK. If 30mph speeding in London was a primary cause of pedestrian and cyclist deaths then those figures would show a rise since 2019, not a decrease. But there is no causal link, the data proves it. What there is instead is an assumption that a conviction for speeding 20mph or 30mph is inherently dangerous behaviour. In reality, dangerous driving, road rage incidents, or speeding above 60mph in an urban area are probably more reliable indicators of risk to insurers.
MOBILE DISTRACTION
This is worth noting: Regular use of smartphones whilst moving is a huge distraction. Checking messages, or worse still replying by typing, is arguably more dangerous than speeding, since it requires eyes to be focused away from road conditions for several seconds.
“Although it has been over a year since the government declared zero tolerance for driving and using a mobile phone, motorists in the South East of England have the highest number of CU80 convictions in the UK. It is now illegal to have a hold of a mobile phone whilst driving, right across the UK, and sees motorists slapped with up to six points and £1000 fines.”
COMMENT
Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “It’s shocking to see the number of motorists who still break the laws of the Highway Code up and down the country. We’ve crunched the numbers and have found that seven of the regions across the UK have the highest proportion of drivers for a singular conviction. The North of England has the most repeat offenders behind the wheel (Yorkshire), as well as the largest amount of drink driving charges (North West).
“Scotland sees the highest number of motorists charged with dangerous driving – and the East Mids is the region with the highest number of drivers illegally running through red lights – which could land them with three penalty points and a £100 fine.
“Whilst many people might unknowingly be committing offences and need to brush up on the Highway Code, it’s concerning to see the numbers of convictions involving more serious offences, where drivers are knowingly committing crimes such as drink driving, that in a number of cases, are causing people to lose their lives. We all need to do our part and be sensible when it comes to the rules of the road – keeping safety as our number one priority.”
Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year find savings on household bills and essentials such as car, motorbike and convicted driver insurance.
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