Drivers 'try to dodge convictions to keep insurance down'
Published On 24 June 2007
Motorist in the UK will go to illegal lengths to avoid points on their licence - which can lead to higher car insurance premiums.A survey by Churchill Insurance found that 29 per cent of drivers in the UK said they would happily accept their loved one's points if it meant their partner would keep their licence.
Similarly, around a quarter (23 per cent) said they would ask their partner to take their points.
"This research shows the lengths that some drivers will go to in order to stay on the roads despite committing driving offences such as speeding," commented Frances Browning, a spokesperson at Churchill.
"Trying to escape convictions by swapping points with another person is highly illegal and can lead to prosecution. The way to avoid a speeding ban in the first place is simple - drive responsibly."
However, the survey revealed that nine percent of motoring couples thought that it was perfectly acceptable to swap points if they also shared their motor insurance policy.
A further one in ten drivers said that they would ask their partner to take the blame for them if they were caught driving without insurance.
Illegal tactics like these have forced car insurance premiums to rise recently. An AA survey showed that the typical cost of fully comprehensive car insurance was £802 in the first quarter of 2007.
