Safe drivers deserve a better deal

THE call by Consumer Affairs director Carmel Foley on insurance companies to cut premiums for drivers with no penalty points is guaranteed to win popular support.

To date, only Hibernian Insurance has offered a 10% cut in premiums as a reward for drivers with a clean record.

In a timely move, Ms Foley has thrown down the gauntlet, urging all insurance companies to exceed the 10% offer.

Going on past experience, however, the Irish insurance business has been notoriously reluctant to reward compliant drivers despite making, in relative terms, 10 times the profits of its British counterpart.

Given the instant success of the penalty points system, introduced by Transport Minister Séamus Brennan, in reducing carnage on the roads, there is an onus on the industry to respond positively to demands that careful motorists be given more generous premiums.

If it ignores the call, the Government should compel the industry to give safe drivers a better deal.