Tracker insurance news - Question of speed for telematics car insurance buyers

Car insurance news - Motorway speed increase proposal disagreements

Motorists with telematics car insurance may be particularly interested in whether or not the speed limit will be increasing on all Welsh and English motorways from 70mph to 80mph by 2013, since the lower annual premium they receive is largely reliant on positive driving habits being upheld.

Although the Government states that road deaths will be reduced and the UK economy will benefit from the change, other groups and organisations who have undertaken research on the subject disagree.

For example, Martin McKee, professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says, "It is difficult to see how any benefits of an 80mph speed limit would outweigh the costs. Past evidence shows that speed limit increases lead to substantial rises in road deaths, as well as other potential negative health and economic impacts."

Despite faster journey times being a bonus for many, some road users, including those saving money with a telematics car insurance policy, are waiting for the Government to provide additional proof that a speed limit increase will be more beneficial than harmful to the British public.

As Mr McKee states, "Given the recent loss of life on the M5, we challenge the Government to produce the evidence to justify their policy with its attendant risks to life."

To reduce the risk of being involved in an accident on UK highways, motorists should obey all speed limits and other road laws. Regulations are in place to keep people safe; ignoring them is reckless and can lead to severe injuries and fatalities.