Worst in-car smells study

Halfords has commissioned a study on what smells people in the UK hate to be exposed to while in their cars – and the results have now been published.

It’s never pleasant smelling something bad, but when you’re stuck in a enclosed space with it, then it can feel even worse!

Car insurance policyholders stated that top of the list of worst in-car smells was wet dog. Yes, despite being a nation of animal lovers, a soggy pooch is apparently the smell road users dislike more than anything else.

The other pongs drivers detest the most after wet dog are dried spilt milk, child’s sick, teenage body odor, rotten fast food and fruit, sweaty feet, cigarette smoke, dirty nappy, and, finally, animal mess on shoes.

Reportedly women car insurance policyholders were the most likely to try and mask these undesirable niffs with an air freshener – however some men do choose to purchase an air freshener too.

Strangely, the study did not cover how well motorists did when it come to cleaning their car – which is the best way of getting rid of rotten food and animal mess smells! After all, there’s only so much you can hide with an air freshener…

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Nearly 20% of motorists believe they would fail a practical driving test

Do you think you could pass a driving test today? After polling a number of motorists, a survey conducted by a car insurance provider found that nearly a fifth of respondents believe they wouldn’t be able to.

The insurer also revealed that more than 50% of motorists had acquired “bad habits” since completing their tests, potentially committing actions such as speeding, tailgating, or getting into the wrong lane on roundabouts.

In addition, a selection of participants took a practical driving test in order to assess their motoring capabilities. Unfortunately, none of these individuals managed to pass – performing at least three major faults while behind the wheel.

These findings suggest that many individuals should consider improving their motoring skills – and they might be able to do this by purchasing telematics car insurance with insurethebox.

Our policies come with a device (called an in-tele-box) which monitors certain aspects of an individual’s driving skills. This information is then displayed on his or her personalised customer Portal, allowing them to improve their motoring abilities. Consequently, by following this advice and driving safely, they may see their premiums decline at renewal, as well as potentially receiving a lower-cost quote from the outset of the policy.

To see how much you could be saving with a telematics car insurance quote, please click on the get a quote button today.

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Police dog tracks suspected vehicle thief for two miles

With today’s technology, recovering a stolen vehicle may not be a completely impossible task. For example, as our telematics car insurance policies come with GPS locaters, we might be able to track a policyholder’s vehicle and assist police in the event of theft.

It seems that one resident of North Somerset may not have purchased this form of vehicle cover when his or her Mercedes was taken from their home recently. Fortunately, police managed to find their property and catch the suspect – with the help of a German Shepherd named Troy.

According to reports, this sniffer dog covered a distance of around two miles whilst tracking the individual, covering terrain such as woods, fields, and even possibly a fence or two. Eventually, Troy’s extreme dedication paid off, locating the suspected criminal.

The stolen Mercedes was also found by police officers, abandoned in a largely wooded area called Brockley Combe. Officers then likely reunited the owner with their stolen property and Troy received praise for his outstanding tracking skills.

However, although I’m pleased that this incident appears to have been adequately resolved, the vehicle might have been located sooner if the owners had purchased telematics or black box insurance.

Still, I’m just glad that everything seems to have worked out well – I just hope Troy received an adequately sized treat for his brilliant tracking skills.

Image © warriorwoman531 via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

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Safety teams rescue kitten from fast-moving traffic

Have you ever been stuck in traffic and wondered what was causing the hold-up? Perhaps an individual has suffered a collision and is busy making a claim with his or her car insurance provider, roadworks could be interrupting the traffic flow, or a kitten could be preventing motorists from travelling to their destinations.

Yes, you read that sentence correctly.

Those using the Burnley Tunnel in Australia could have been delayed recently after an operation to rescue a stranded kitten – believed to be a stray – involved shutting down parts of the road.

According to Australia’s 7News, the ten-week-old feline was spotted by CCTV cameras – where it appeared to be frightened and was seen calling out for help. Reportedly, the animal had also tried to dodge several cars in order to try and get itself out of its perilous situation.

After locating the animal, safety crews arrived on the scene, closed off two lanes of traffic, and eventually rescued the stranded kitten. The operation probably took longer than usual as the scared creature darted under a stationary vehicle and had to be coaxed out by team members.

The kitten &ndash now nicknamed ‘Dodge’ – will reportedly be available for adoption soon. After the coverage this animal has received, I’m sure numerous men, women, as well as young driver car insurance holders will be heading over to the shelter in order to give Dodge a loving and caring home.

Personally, I’m just happy the kitten has been rescued from its dangerous location. Although we can only speculate as to how many lives it lost during the ordeal.

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Dubai’s police fleet now includes a Lamborghini Aventador

If you received an expensive car insurance quote recently, spare a thought for Dubai’s police force. I would be willing to bet that the price of the organisation’s motor cover has dramatically increased after adding a new vehicle to its fleet.

Announcing its purchase on social networking site Twitter, Dubai’s police force has bought a Lamborghini Aventador – a car which is allegedly capable of travelling at 217mph and can accelerate to 63mph in less than three seconds.

Considering that many motorists in Dubai allegedly own exotic supercars, the police force may have decided to spend around £360,000 in order to keep up with those individuals who flout the rules of the road.

However, reports suggest that the Lamborghini Aventador will not be used to enforce the law. Instead, it will probably be used to impress tourists and to illustrate (in the words of the city’s deputy police director) “how classy Dubai is.”

The police force could be introducing other high-performance vehicles into its fleet though. It has been reported that the Chevrolet Camaro – an American muscle car – may soon be driven by some of the city’s officers.

I think Dubai’s police force probably received a very expensive car insurance bill recently…

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A man could have saved money if he purchased telematics

Regular readers of this blog are probably quite knowledgeable when it comes to the benefits of telematics car insurance. As well as potentially helping safe drivers save money on the cost of their vehicle cover at renewal, this technology can also prove useful in the event of theft.

One motorist might have been able to benefit from this type of car insurance after his vehicle was recently stolen within the Bristol area. Reportedly, the thieves took the man’s property when it was left unattended with the keys inside.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. The owner decided to post a message on Facebook offering a £1,000 reward if he was reunited with his property – and this relatively unconventional method actually paid off.

Two days after making the appeal, he received a message from a gentleman who directed him to the vehicle’s whereabouts. Even better, it was undamaged and nothing inside had been taken.

Consequently, the man who located the stolen vehicle received his £1,000 reward – and allegedly intends to use this money to partially fund a holiday to France.

Although I’m delighted with this outcome, I can’t help but feel that the situation might have been resolved sooner if he had purchased insurance through a telematics provider. Potentially, his insurer could have used the onboard data-collection device to track the vehicle’s location – assisting police in its recovery.

In addition, if he had purchased this form of vehicle cover, the man might have been able to spend the £1,000 on himself – and could have possibly saved money at renewal if he regularly displayed safe motoring habits.

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75% of motorists may be cutting journeys in order to save money

Numerous individuals would argue 2012 was a great year for Britain, with such occasions as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, there have been many events for Brits to get their teeth into.

But was it a good year for the country’s motorists? After polling more than 9,000 individuals last November, a provider of car insurance has reportedly claimed 75% of motorists cut back on journeys during 2012 in order to save money.

The research, published recently, suggests many road users are having a hard time affording expenses such as fuel or insurance and are instead not using their cars as often. Potentially, this means drivers might have neglected to visit parents, friends, or family members, refrained from socialising or participating in activities, and perhaps been unable to afford commuting to work.

With the cost of motoring-related charges seemingly increasing and cheaper car insurance becoming more difficult to find, these people may feel they have no choice but to pay these often expensive fees.

Fortunately, they might be able to save money by purchasing cover through insurethebox. We use telematics technology in order to analyse a policyholder’s motoring abilities. Eventually, assuming he or she drives safely, they can receive a quote which reflects these positive habits.

To demonstrate the money saving benefits, our research shows 95% of customers aged between 18 and 25 received lower cost car insurance at renewal.

If you want to find out more information regarding our telematics cover, please click here.

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Aston Martin and Silver Cross design “exclusive” baby pram

Few people will disagree that Aston Martin make beautiful machines, its vehicles are desired by many car insurance holders and some individuals believe the company has helped to make James Bond an international icon.

However, the vehicle manufacturer has been working on a new project, perhaps its most impressive design yet – baby prams.

Aston Martin has teamed up with Silver Cross, a pushchair company, in order to make a carriage which would probably suit even the fussiest infant. The design comes with various features, such as aluminium alloy wheels, an air-ride suspension, and appears to have a luxurious leather interior.

A spokesperson for Silver Cross called the carriage “the most exclusive pram in the world” and stated that it “is the ultimate in comfort for your baby and in style for the owner”.

If any parents are looking to get their hands on this item, they will probably have to act quickly. Reportedly only 800 of these pushchairs will be manufactured and each one will cost £2,000.

If mums and dads believe this fee is slightly expensive, they should look on the bright side – owners will not need to purchase a car insurance quote in order to control this Aston Martin.

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Economic woes may have dissuaded young people from getting behind the wheel

Few people will disagree that cars are a vital part of everyday life. As well as helping us get from A to B, these vehicles usually bring feelings of independence, freedom, and enjoyment. In fact, because motoring is so essential, learning to drive is often considered a rite of passage.

However, due to the global recession and the sometimes costly prices of car insurance as well as fuel, many motorists seem to choose to refrain from driving – and instead conserve their funds.

Research, recently published by the Department for Transport, supports this theory. According to the organisation, since the financial crisis began in 2007, there has been an 18% reduction in the number of 17 to 19-year-olds taking their practical driving tests. Furthermore, the number of applications amongst those in their 20s declined by more than 10%.

Generally, the findings also suggest that fewer people have been participating in this examination over the years – most likely due to the repercussions of the economic recession.

However, although motoring is largely regarded as an expensive activity, there are many ways to cut these costs. For example, someone may be able to reduce the price of their car insurance for young drivers by purchasing cover through a provider of telematics, such as insurethebox.

These insurers use clever data collection devices to analyse a policyholder’s driving skills – and they normally take this information into account at renewal. Therefore, by proving they are safe, responsible road users, individuals may be able to eventually cut their premiums.

Search the insurethebox website today for more information about our form of this vehicle cover.

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Parents may experience stress when their kids drive at night

For many motorists, driving can be a stressful experience. Although taking to the roads may create feelings of anxiety, individuals might also feel pressured by the combined expenses of car insurance, fuel, as well as road tax.

While driving can certainly affect motorists, the findings of a recent survey suggest parents of young drivers may occasionally suffer sleepless nights.

The research, published by the Future Drive Motor Show, polled many mums and dads to find out which events created feelings of anxiety.

Although some parents were worried by situations such as their child’s exam results and whether or not their offspring were experiencing problems at school, the researchers revealed more than 20% of mums and dads were most stressed when their kids were driving at night.

The majority of parents are very proud when their child passes his or her driving test, but they may still feel anxious due to the dangers associated with motoring. However, if any parents are looking for peace of mind – as well as potentially cheaper car insurance for their offspring – they should consider purchasing cover through insurethebox.

We use telematics technology in order to analyse a policyholder’s abilities behind the wheel, but we also use this innovative tech to track the vehicle’s whereabouts. Therefore, in the event of a collision, we will receive an accident alert, and, if we think it is appropriate, we can attempt to contact the emergency services and direct them to the accident scene.

For more information regarding telematics, and its many benefits, please click here.

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