OCTOBER 2019 | 45
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION
PROS FACE HIGHEST
CAR INSURANCE
PREMIUMS IN THE UK
Professionals in the building and construction
sectors are being lumbered with the highest
car insurance premiums in the UK, according
to new research by Quotezone.co.uk.
The data, which covers the full
spectrum of trades and roles within both
sectors, reveals that the average median car
insurance premium comes in at £1,186.
Taxi drivers and workers in the hospitality
industry and farming sector follow close
behind, with medium insurance premiums
of £1,150, £1,182 and £1,072 respectively.
By contrast, police and community sup-
port professionals in the UK are enjoying
car insurance premiums that are less than
half those quotes, with a median premium
of £499. Driving instructors and examiners
enjoy the second-cheapest car insurance
premiums in the UK, with a median price
of £615.
The findings are based on over 60,000
car insurance quotes across fifteen specific
professions in the UK, which Quotezone.
co.uk compiled in August 2019. While each
of the quotes the company analysed were
for personal car insurance policies rather
than commercial policies, a driver’s occu-
pation can still have a significant affect on
their premium.
Launched in 2005, Quotezone.co.uk is
one of the country’s leading car insurance
comparison websites, in addition to helping
users find better deals on insurance for
vehicles as diverse as campervans, quads,
ice cream vans, buses and coaches. It also
compares quotes for motorbikes and vans,
and in August the firm launched one of the
UK’s first insurance comparison services for
bicycle users.
Explaining why a driver’s occupation can
effect their insurance premium even when
they’re taking out a personal car insurance
policy, Greg Wilson, founder of Quotezone.
co.uk, said: “Insurers use a wide range of
variables when they’re calculating premi-
ums, and your occupation is one of them.
“That’s because your occupation has the
potential to say something about your risk
appetite and your driving style, in much the
same way as your age can do.
“In addition, insurance companies have
built up a huge volume of data relating to
which occupations are least likely or most
likely to make an insurance claim, which
can then be used to assess the risk of a new
policyholder with a particular occupation
making a claim.”
www.quotezone.co.uk
SLOWDOWN
IN SHOWERS
Drivers are being urged to take care on
the roads if they get caught in a sudden
burst of rain while on the roads.
Tim Alcock from
LeaseVan.co.uk said: “Driv-
ers always need to be cau-
tious of changing weather
conditions throughout the
year but during autumn,
surprising showers can pose
a big risk.
“If drivers get caught out,
top priority is to slow down,
leave plenty of stopping
room and make sure the car
windscreen is kept mist free
to help with visibility.
“Visibility can be quickly
reduced during a sudden
downpour and if there’s
somewhere safe to pullover
and wait out the shower,
then it’s often worth doing.
Wipers can struggle to keep
up with heavy rain.
“Drivers also need to be
mindful of other road users,
the risks caused by flooded
routes and excess surface
water.”
1. Vehicle
maintenance
Check your tyres and
make sure they’re proper-
ly inflated and have good
tread to grip on slippery
road surfaces.
2. Stopping
distance
It takes longer to stop
when the roads are wet
and slippery. Allow at least
double the usual separation
distance between you and
the car in front.
3. Slow down
Keep your speed down
when driving in showers.
Wipers struggle to keep
up in a heavy downpour
so your visibility will be
reduced. Drive slower and
you’ll have more time to
react to hazards.
4. Put your lights on
Use dipped headlights
so other road users can see
you.
5. Stop
If the shower is really
heavy and visibility is poor,
pull over somewhere safe
and wait out the rain.
6. Flooded roads
If the rain is particularly
heavy, you may find your-
self on flooded roads. If it
looks too deep stop, turn
round in a safe place and
find an alternative route.
7. Aquaplaning
This happens when
your tyres lose traction
from the road. Roads
with lots of surface water
pose the biggest risk.
Reducing your speed will
help.
8. Pedestrians
and cyclists
Be mindful of oth-
er people on the road,
particularly cyclists and
pedestrians. If you splash
a pedestrian, you could
face a fine of anything
from £100 to £5,000.
9. Steamed up car
Make sure any heat is
going straight on to your
windscreen to stop it
getting misted up and to
keep visibility good.