Insurers part of the road safety problem

I HAVE been attempting in recent times to highlight the contribution of Irish-based insurance companies to our poor road safety record by insuring provisional licence-holders to drive cars unaccompanied by a qualified driver.

Your readers may be interested in the very different attitude of the Association of British Insurers, as reported by Reuters on November 7:

“The insurance industry body stepped up calls for tougher rules for young drivers ... after research showed their risk-taking was plaguing the roads. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) urged the government to introduce a minimum learning period for young people before their driving test and a limit on the number of passengers they can carry after they have passed”.

I wonder what the ABI would think about the stance of the Irish insurance sector.

Perhaps the Irish Insurance Federation can comment.

Why has no action been taken by their industry to eliminate the glaring problem of selling insurance that permits drivers to drive unaccompanied — even though they have not demonstrated their competence by passing a road test?

Their comments on road safety seem neatly to sidestep this practical insurance and risk management issue.

Donal Fellows

ul. Prosta 70

Warsaw

Poland