Daily Motor News-Wednesday 23 October

‘Why are headlights allowed to be that bright?’ 

The AA has warned motorists to drive carefully as the shorter days and worsening weather create more difficult driving conditions. Managing director Tim Rankin said drivers should ensure their headlights were set up appropriately after the company found an 11% rise in crashes after the clocks change, meaning it gets dark an hour earlier. Full story

Sabre Insurance: Motor insurance claims inflation continues to hit growth 

Motor insurer Sabre Insurance said it expects annual gross written premium growth to moderate slightly as claims inflation remains elevated. The London-listed firm reported gross written premiums of £186.5m for the third quarter, up 15% from £162.2m a year earlier. Full story

Motorists urge action on soaring insurance costs ahead of autumn statement 

Motorists are calling on the Government to take action on rising costs ahead of the Autumn Statement, according to research from Close Brothers Motor Finance. A key concern highlighted is the sharp increase in insurance premiums, which have surged by 82% between May 2021 and June 2024, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Full story

Road safety is everyone’s business: 90% increase in video footage reported to police 

More than 200,000 video submissions of dangerous driving and other incidents on the roads of England and Wales have been made through Operation SNAP’s online reporting portal since the start of 2021, new figures have revealed. Research undertaken by Accident Claims Advice suggests that video reports submitted to police forces of dangerous driving or other alleged offences are up 90 per cent in 2023/24 compared with two years earlier in 2021/22. Full story

These job titles bump up your car insurance premiums  

Warehouse workers, healthcare assistants and chefs face the steepest car insurance premiums in the UK, according to new industry data. New analysis from Quotezone reveals the professions that are consistently flagged as high-risk by insurers, resulting in some of the most costly annual premiums compared to other occupations. Full story

Younger consumers are more likely to pay their motor insurance in monthly payments 

GlobalData surveying has found that younger consumers are more likely to pay for their motor insurance via monthly payments. As per GlobalData’s 2023 UK Insurance Consumer Survey, 19.7% of consumers aged 18–24 use monthly direct debit (premium financing) to pay for their motor insurance. This compares with just 11.2% of consumers aged 25+. Full story

Shift to electric vehicles will have far-reaching impact, IMF says 

The global transition toward electric vehicles will have “far-reaching” impacts on investment, production, international trade and employment, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday as part of its update to global economic growth forecasts. Full story

The hidden threat to independent garages in the age of cybercrime 

The UK’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 revealed that half of all businesses experienced a cyberattack or breach in the past year. According to reports, 60% of SMEs cease trading within six months of a cyber attack. Full story

Volvo Cars tops forecast but cuts outlook on market slowdown 

Sweden-based Volvo Cars beat third-quarter operating profit expectations on Wednesday but cut its full-year sales growth forecast as an industry slowdown spreads to higher-end cars. Demand for electric vehicles has weakened in the last year partly due to a lack of affordable models and the slow roll-out of charging points. Full story

Cambridge Mobile Telematics Announces Enhanced Driver Experiences, Crash Capabilities, and Developer Tools 

Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), the world’s largest telematics service provider, today has unveiled major enhancements to its industry-leading DriveWell Risk and DriveWell Crash & Claims Product Suites. These advancements include a simplified onboarding process, enhanced driver/passenger classification, and new crash detection models that deliver unprecedented accuracy across all crash severities. Full story