What do points make? April 24th 2006

* True cost of speeding fines exposed
* Points will almost double car insurance premium

An investigation by Blackspot Interactive into the true cost of a speeding fine has found that motorists can expect to pay nearly double their premium if they have points on their licence.

The findings of this research will add further misery to the 1-million UK motorists who are only one endorsement from a full ban not to mention a further 4.7 million drivers who have current endorsements on their licences.

Blackspot surveyed many of the leading UK insurers to establish the effects of points on an average UK driver. They obtained quotes based on a 39 year old accountant doing around 15,000 miles per annum in a Ford Focus 1.6 CL 16V. The average quote for this example driver with a clean licence produced a premium of £382.10 per annum.

With 3-points the premium rose to £ 409.34 and increased further to £494.50 for the same driver with 6-points. It was then found that the same driver would have to pay a staggering £680.34 for the same insurance if they had 9-points.

For drivers of larger cars the news is even worse as they could face paying almost £1,000 more for their insurance. A driver of a BMW 530i would see their premium rise from £1,172.63 per annum to a massive £2,454.16 if they accumulated 9-points. For every 3 points they acquire on the way the premium would increase by around £300.00.

Under the new Road Safety Bill drivers will have to be even further on their guard. The bill includes changes to the current points structure and the government’s policy on enforcement camera’s visibility and location. New and existing cameras will not have to be brightly marked as before. These factors will increase the chances of driver prosecutions and will surely bring concern to the many drivers who rely on their licence for their job and livelihood and don’t want the prospect of higher insurance premiums.

With drivers already feeling the cost of motoring, how do drivers avoid falling into the Points Premium trap?

Blackspot Interactive Chief Executive Steven Salmon reflected on the results: “Many motorists don’t take this increase in insurance into account. They think about the points and the £60.00 fine. If you take into account the dramatic effect it also has on insurance premiums, being caught speeding can prove to be a costly experience. We believe that investment in driver warning systems like Road Angel will not only improve their awareness on the road, but also help prevent them from being exposed to increased insurance premiums. Indeed, an independent 1-million mile fleet test has proved that drivers using Road Angel have 50% fewer accidents and are 74% less likely to receive further endorsements.”

Road Angel GPS accident blackspot and safety camera warning systems alert drivers to accident blackspots, primary school zones, safety camera locations and other hazardous stretches of road, providing drivers with daily updated information. This information is collected from the Police, Local Authorities, the DFT and existing Road Angel customers and is all managed by Blackspot Interactives’ in house data support team.

Look No Wires! - April 2006

* Blackspot launches industry first battery powered GPS camera and accident blackspot warning device
* No leads, no cigarette lighter required, fully portable
* Advisory speed limit
* 100% legal

Road Angel PLUS is the evolution of the hugely successful second generation Road Angel. Requiring no leads at all, the familiar Road Angel sits on the dash with a built in battery providing over 8 hours use or a full weeks driving for the average driver on a single charge. As well as the existing fully integrated laser alert, new features for 2006 also include: advisory speed limit, improved screen, graphics and new intelligent Backlight feature, which clearly indicate if you are over the speed limit on approach to the hazard.

Steven Salmon, Chief Executive from Blackspot explains the importance of this new version of an already highly successful product: “Road Angel PLUS was the obvious step forward for us. The second generation Road Angel is still a market leader so we have taken a winning formula and pushed it to new heights. We wanted to achieve maximum portability between vehicles and with no leads, the Road Angel PLUS couldn’t be easier to install. We also wanted to improve the screen and graphics for maximum clarity and add the advisory speed limit feature which our customers have been asking for. With the possibility of up to 4,000 new and unmarked speed cameras being introduced in the UK, the need for enhanced driver protection has never been greater. In these conditions, you don’t have to be a bad driver or a fast driver to get points so with these new and improved features combined with the UK’s leading speed camera database all encompassed in the Road Angel PLUS, there is no better driver safety aid.”

The Road Angel PLUS will continue to use the very latest Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology, alerting drivers to accident black spots, primary school zones, safety camera locations and other hazardous stretches of road, providing drivers with daily updated information. This information is collected from the Police, Local Authorities, the DFT and existing Road Angel customers and is all managed by Blackspot Interactives’ in house data support team. Road Angel PLUS requires regular updating via USB PC internet for latest black spot and safety camera information and comes complete with power leads and USB PC connectors for the downloads.

The Road Angel database, which is now the most comprehensive in the UK, will be an essential addition to any car following the results of a recent survey produced by YouGov for Direct Line Insurance. New figures have been released that show a staggering 1-million drivers on their database could be just one offence away from facing a driving ban under the new proposed Road Safety Bill. Shockingly, the report further highlights 4.7 million UK drivers who have current endorsements on their licences.

Road Angel was the first product of its kind to warn of genuine accident black spots and speed camera locations via GPS and the newly developed Road Angel PLUS will continue to protect drivers to maximum effect.

Unlike radar systems, Road Angel is programmed to respond solely to relevant dangers in the driver’s direction of travel. Consequently, having this directional intelligence eliminates false alarms, meaning that Road Angel will not alert if there is no threat to the driver from that hazard.

Road Angel PLUS Key Benefits and Features

See Road Angel PLUS