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Confused.com Reveals The Extent Of Poor Driving Habits In The UK

Confused.com has revealed shocking research showing the extent of driver habits on UK roads, with a range of behaviours admitted.

Apparently some drivers across the UK are getting in the driving seat wearing nothing more than pyjamas and with their feet clad in just their slippers or even barefoot. Applying make-up is another part of the morning routine which some women leave until they are actually driving the car: 1 in 10 women put make-up on and drive at the same time and 15% of men have had a shave while driving.

Car insurance experts at Confused.com are warning drivers to wake up to the potential danger of inappropriate footwear and dangerous driving habits, and advising drivers to keep a pair of sensible ‘driving shoes’ in the car for safety.

Wearing high heels behind the wheel is not uncommon with 40% of women admitting this and 46% of us admit to eating and driving at the same time. 47% of men and 18% of women are checking out other drivers to see if they are attractive as they motor along and 49% of men pick their noses and drive at the same time, which apart from being disgusting means their hands are not on the wheel. Similarly, almost half of us (49%) regularly change the music while we are driving.

18-24 year-old men (40%) and 25-34 year old women (47%) are the most likely to wear flip flops to drive but the main slipper wearers are the 25-34 year-old men (14%) and 18-24 year-old women (21%). Over 55s are least likely to wear slippers or flip flops to drive and women driving in high heels peaks at 25-34 years old with half of women in this age group admitting to driving in heels.

Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com, Gareth Kloet commented: “It’s not against the law to drive in your pyjamas or pick your nose at traffic lights but any behaviour that could cause you to drive without due care and attention should be avoided. Wearing inappropriate footwear could cause the driver to lose control of the car and so we’d recommend keeping a pair of suitable shoes in the car to avoid any crashes. Look at your feet; if you are wearing shoes which you would not wear for a driving test then you probably shouldn’t wear them to drive either.”

Julie Townsend, Deputy Chief Executive at Brake, the road safety charity, also voiced her concerns: “It’s deeply worrying that many drivers have such little regard for their own and others’ safety that they will apply make-up, shave and eat at the wheel, or wear unsuitable footwear. Driving is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously and given your full attention. We all live hectic lives and people often feel cocooned in their vehicles, but we need to bear in mind that a lapse of concentration at the wheel can lead to needless tragedies.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Reveals Careless Car Parking Has Led To £1.3bn Worth Of Damage

Confused.com has revealed that careless car parking has led to £1.3bn worth of damage*. An alarming 1 in 6 drivers would never leave insurance details if they pranged another car, and 45% would only consider it if the accident looked serious. To combat the problem Confused.com is announcing a campaign to promote Car Parking Etiquette.

When it comes to car park scrapes, the nation’s lawyers are amongst some of the worst offenders, with more than 1 in 4 (26%) admitting to having committed a prang and run. Also well above the average are those working in property with 1 in 3 choosing to go without leaving their insurance details.

Teachers lead by example and are some of the least likely to be guilty, with less than 9% committing prang and runs. Those working in environmental services prove that they really are more considerate to others – only 8% have left the scene of a scrape.

The research also shows that men are more likely to have a car park prang than women, with nearly 20% having scraped another car compared to only 15% of women. Not only are men more likely to be driving carelessly, but they also admit to it. 1 in 5 men blame their own careless driving for a car park accident, compared to women who would rather blame the stingy sizes of the UK’s car park spaces (42% of women against 33% of men).

Those who have been driving the longest behave the most responsibly in car parks, with more than 50% of over 55s always leaving insurance details compared to only 30% of 18-24 year olds.

For all those drivers who prang and run, the most likely reason is embarrassment (31%). This is closely followed by drivers who blame financial implications (30%) for their lack of honesty. As car insurance costs continue to rise, it’s no surprise that drivers are determined to hold onto their no claims bonuses.

“To encourage some honesty and car park etiquette”, said Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com, “we are offering visitors an ‘If you bump me, don’t run, be nice and leave your number’ sticker for your car window, to encourage others to leave their details if they bump your vehicle.” The sticker can be downloaded from www.Confused.com/car-insurance/car-parks.

65% of motorists blame their car park frustrations on the small size of parking bays, with nearly half (41%) finding the amount of pillars in car parks the reason for their bumps and scrapes. Only 1 in 10 drivers find parking in car parks easy but this problem is exacerbated by the trend for bigger cars. Whilst the typical family car has become more than a foot wider over the past 50 years**, the industry standard for the car parking space is 2400mm x 4800mm has not changed.

“Motorists should be extra vigilant in car parks, taking into account the size of our cars compared to the average size of parking spaces,” said Kloet. “This is even more reason to respect other drivers, to confess to any prangs and to exercise Car Parking Etiquette to help other drivers.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Reveals UK Households Wasting £1.7 Billion By Not Switching Home Insurance Providers

Confused.com has revealed that UK households are wasting on average £1.7 billion* a year because they “can’t be bothered”** to switch home insurance providers.

According to the latest Confused.com research, which surveyed homeowner’s attitudes to switching insurance providers, 73 per cent stated that they have home insurance, but a surprising 34 per cent said they had never switched home insurance provider.

In fact, 70 per cent said they had been with the same provider for two years or more, potentially missing out on an average saving of £95.26*** per year just by switching home insurance providers. Collectively, UK households could be wasting£1.7 billion by not shopping around to get the best deal.

32 per cent of those surveyed say they haven’t switched providers because they can’t be bothered while 29 per cent say their current deal is so good there is no point switching.

22 per cent of homeowners are under the illusion that switching home insurance is too complicated. However, with 66 per cent of people saying they would be willing to switch home insurance if they could save money, it’s not really affordability that should be questioned but inertia and people’s attitudes towards switching.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Home Insurance at Confused.com, said: “We are a money saving nation, however most of us still aren’t making the effort when it comes to getting insurance for our homes. At Confused.com home insurance customers could save money on their insurance premium.

“Shopping around can not only ensure the best value for money, but can also prompt homeowners to ensure they have the right level of cover. Levels of cover can vary between providers so check everything you want is covered and then select a policy that meets your needs. It’s worth doing this on an annual basis or after a big purchase to make sure you’ve got the right cover at the right price – loyalty doesn’t pay and you may be able to find better cover at a lower price.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused Announce £1000 Giveaway When Purchasing Home Insurance

Confused.com is offering £1,000 to spend on household bills to four lucky people who get a home insurance quote through the price comparison site during March.

The giveaway comes on the back of recent Confused.com research which found that 34 per cent of homeowners admitted that they have never switched home insurance provider*. This is despite the fact 70 per cent of Confused.com home insurance customers could save money on their home insurance premium**.

To motivate people to shop around for a better deal, four lucky customers who get a quote on home insurance in March through Confused.com will be randomly selected to win £1,000 to spend on household bills.

Gareth Kloet, Confused.com Head of Home insurance said: “We wanted to say thank you to those people who are looking to get home insurance through Confused.com, by giving them a chance to win £1,000.

“As we all know, money is a topic of much discussion and many people can’t afford to buy those essentials for the home, or even pay some bills. Therefore at Confused.com we wanted to give our customers a helping hand. Not only by saving them money by using our comparison site but by also giving them the chance to win £1,000 to spend on things they need.

“We want people to be aware that they could save hundreds of pounds on their home insurance just by shopping around for a lower quote. 22 per cent of homeowners are under the illusion that switching home insurance is too complicated*** but by using a comparison site like Confused.com it means that we do the hard work for them.”

Via EPR Network
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Admiral Has Revealed That The First Year Of Driving Poses Risk For New Licence Holders

Admiral has revealed that motorists driving within the first year after passing their driving test are considerably more likely to obtain a conviction or make a claim than when learning, according to new research.

Car insurance specialist Admiral looked at data from 1 million car insurance quotes and found that drivers in the first year of driving on a full licence are more than one and a half times as likely as those on provisional licences to have a conviction, and are a staggering three times as likely to make a claim.

Dave Halliday, Admiral acting managing director, said: “These statistics make worrying reading. It’s exciting to be out on the open road on your own once you’ve passed your test, however, new drivers mustn’t forget they’re inexperienced and although they now have a full licence, it certainly doesn’t make them expert drivers.

“When learning, you’re under supervision, so have your mistakes pointed out to you, but the ability to drive independently means confidence can soar, particularly with peer pressure when a new driver is carrying passengers. New drivers also need to remember that if they build up six or more penalty points within two years of passing their test, their licence is taken off them and they go back to being a learner.”

The research also showed there’s a difference between men and women when it comes to provisional compared to full licences as well.

Women within their first year of driving with a full licence are 1.9 times more likely than women on a provisional licence to have a conviction, and equivalent men are 1.3 times more likely. However, it’s important to note that men with a full licence are 2.8 times more likely than women to have a conviction in their first year.

For claims, women within their first year of driving with a full licence are 4.5 times more likely as those on a provisional licence to make a claim, and men are 2.2 times more likely. However, women with a full licence are twice as likely as equivalent men to make a claim.

Dave continued: “It’s not a surprise to see that men are more likely than women to have a conviction in their first year of driving on a full licence. It may be a surprise to some people that women are more likely to make a claim, however, although men claim less, their claims are more likely to cost more and be more serious.”

Via EPR Network
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New “Buy Now” form for actinspro.com is launched

It is now faster and easier to purchase liability insurance using the new form on the ACT Insurance Program website.

Now buying a policy is even more simple and quick than before! The revised purchase online process on ACTinsPro.com will get you covered in one simple step. The new form was launched a couple of days ago and is already showing great results and positive feedback from users. Statistics in Google Analytics show that the purchase process used to take 35 minutes to buy either a show or annual policy! Now with the new form it takes less than 5 minutes for new users and even less than that for returning customers.

“I renewed my annual policy faster than I ever realized I could!” a customer said in a recent phone call.

What is really good about this new form is that it allows customers to switch between annual and show policies quickly without needing to go back to the homepage, and without having to re-enter any information. Everything a customer needs to purchase an annual or show policy is on one page, in one simple step.

ACTinsPro stands for Artists, Crafters & Tradesman Insurance Program and is managed by Utah-based Veracity Insurance Solutions, LLC, the experts in the commercial liability insurance industry with over 30 years of experience. The ACT Insurance Program provides information and online insurance options for those in the Arts and Crafts industry in all 50 states.

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IPP advises agents on Flight Plus Liability as Airlines collapse by the week

Global travel credit specialists and UK market leader International Passenger Protection Ltd (IPP) have highlighted to new Flight Plus license holders that they will be liable for the financial collapse of any suppliers they sell such as Airlines, Hotels, Car Hire Companies, Rail journeys, Amusement parks, Ferries etc.

“Flight Plus presents a fresh direction in giving some form of clearer consumer protection, however we are seeing many agents still not grasping the actual liabilities they could face, no different to existing ATOL holders with agents still convinced that their ATOL covers the collapse of not only them but anything they sell”

“ATOL will only cover the collapse of anything the agent sells if the agent themselves collapses at the same time, otherwise the agent is always responsible for anything they sell which financially collapses which is part of a flight package” continued Mclean.

However IPP’s concern continued with the fact that the new ATOL certificate will only be issued to the public if they buy an ATOL holiday. “This seems to defeat the ultimate objective of an informative sale for all people purchasing travel, it’s a shame the certificate could not have gone a step further to clarify a trip not being protected so consumers can make an informed choice on their purchase and if they wish to protect or not.”

The warning comes as the 8th collapse in a matter of weeks with Air Australia leaving thousands stranded abroad, and with at least one airline collapsing each week in the last four weeks. “Collapses are not just stretching to Airlines, we have seen companies such as Sea Ferries and Hotels collapse or currently in dire financial strain” commented IPP’s Director Paul Mclean.

Protecting agents exposures can be simply covered with an annual policy covering scheduled flights and or end suppliers for very little costs per passenger. But IPP pointed out that agents should ensure they only take out insurance with Insurers whom are UK registered and members of the FSA and it would be prudent for them to check out the credentials of the Insurer providing the cover.

With the eurozone crisis, rising fuel costs and an increased tax burden, IATA forecast Europe’s airlines would lose at the best $600 million this year. The recent collapse of long established caries such as Malev and Spanair demonstrated how even governments are willing to let a state supported airline wither away. Numerous governments have shown their reluctance to continue support national carriers by seeking new investors such as Malev, LOT, SAS, TAP, and CSA Czech Airlines. This does not mean these carriers are at risk necessarily but investment from the banks is simply not there anymore which the whole industry depends on not just airlines.

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Launches New Partnership With Quotemehappy.com

Confused.com has launched a new partnership with Quotemehappy to offer insurance to careful drivers. Quotemehappy.com is an insurer that is specifically set up for careful drivers who want reliable, low-cost policies.

Confused.com’s comparison service makes it easy for customers to compare car insurance and with the new relationship with Quotemehappy.com, customers have even more choice.

Quotemehappy.com offers a comprehensive policy to careful drivers. The insurance brand keeps its costs as low as possible by operating online and premiums are also kept down as Quotemehappy.com is very clear about who it will and won’t insure. For example, it will not insure new drivers, those with older or more expensive cars or drivers who have had more than one at-fault claim in the last four years.

Marco Distefano, Managing Director of Quotemehappy.com, said: “Quotemehappy was created to give careful drivers a fair pricing and personal service when getting car insurance.

“At Quotemehappy.com we have negotiated some fantastic premiums with our specialist panel of insurers and see Confused.com as the ideal partner to ensure that this brand continues to reach the maximum number of potential customers as possible, whilst further enhancing Confused.com’s commitment to provide a specialist quote for every client, from every background with any specific needs.”

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com, continued: “At Confused.com we want to offer our customers the right cover at the right price by offering genuine value for money, a quality product and competitive prices for careful drivers. Adding Quotemehappy.com to the ever increasing number of insurers that we compare prices for is a great result.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Reveals £203m Worth Of Car Damage Caused By Misleading Sat Navs

New research from Confused.com has revealed that Sat Navs have caused over £203m worth of damage to drivers on UK roads, through accidents caused by misleading directions. With the Department for Transport holding its first ever Sat Nav Summit in March, the issue of misleading Sat Navs has become an ever-increasing problem across the nation.

A staggering 83% of British drivers have admitted to being misled by their Sat Navs, resulting in over half the country (52%) screaming at their devices. 68% of the drivers end up with longer journeys and clock up unnecessary miles while 45% of British drivers have confessed to feeling angry and frustrated while behind the wheel, which in turn has led to 31% of British motorists red faced, spending between£100 – £500 on Sat Nav related car damage.

Whilst it’s mainly men who blame their car damage on their Sat Nav, women are more likely to admit that it leads them astray. Women also get more frustrated than men, with 57% of female drivers freely admitting that they scream at their Sat Navs, a shocking 12% higher than male drivers.

On a national scale, drivers in the East Midlands fared the worst with their Sat Nav relationship, with 57% shouting at their Sat Navs and 50% feeling frustrated behind the wheel. Northern Ireland has proved the most docile with only 31% getting angry at misleading Sat Nav directions. 80% of Scots claimed to be given misleading directions constantly by their Sat Navs leading to over half (51%) of Scottish drivers screaming at their devices. The research did however pinpoint the Welsh city of Aberystwyth as the worst for Sat Nav anger management with an alarming 75% admitting to regularly losing their temper.

With the amount of Sat Nav accidents occurring across the country, and the pending Sat Nav legislation, Confused.com is calling for British motorists to register their Sat Nav blackspots from around the UK on Confused.com.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com, said: “As car insurance costs continue to rise, it’s never been more important to keep your motoring costs as low as possible. Our research has shown that the Sat Nav is not always the blessing it was once hailed to be and increasingly, motorists appear to be sighting the device as a source of frustration and danger. We hope that our Sat Nav blackspot map will not only help reduce risk, but we also hope that frustrated drivers get back behind the wheel a little happier.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Reveals Young Male Drivers Pay Almost Double For Insurance Compared To Women

Confused.com/Towers Watson have revealed that the cost of car insurance for young men continues to go through the roof, with 17-20 year olds paying almost double what women drivers of the same age are paying.

Male drivers in the 17-20 year old age group are suffering as female drivers pay£1,771 less than the men UK-wide: it currently costs an average of £1,959 for women aged 17-20 to insure a car compared to £3,730 for men. These are the findings of the Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index (Q4 2011), which is based on more than 4 million quotes.

Young people are feeling the impact most, with car insurance for young drivers seeing huge rises from the previous year. Regionally the picture is even more surprising: young men passing their driving tests in inner London can expect to be quoted an average of £5,523 to insure their car if they are aged 20yrs or younger which is more than 48% higher than the average for this group and 5.7% more than they paid in Q4 of 2010 meaning taking the time hunting around for the cheapest car insurance even more worthwhile. Their counterparts in Manchester and Merseyside fare even worse, with average costs of £5,724 facing them to insure their cars when they throw away the ‘L’ plates, a shocking rise of 10.6% year-on-year (Q4 2011 compared to Q4 2010). A 17-20 year old female in inner London can expect to pay £3,261 on average: a rise of 4.4% year-on-year, and they are paying an average of £3,307 in Manchester/Merseyside – a 9.9% rise year-on year. A high cost, but this is still more than £2,000 less than men of the same age.

When a driver adds another person to their comprehensive policy, average costs come down, so a 17-20 year old man pays £3,907 (UK average) as the only driver, but when they add on another driver the costs fall to an average of £3,345, a saving of more than £500. For 17-20 year-old women the UK average is £2,046 if they are the only driver and this falls to £1,819 for 17-20 year olds with another driver on their policy.

Comprehensive car insurance for women across all ages and regions fell marginally in quarter 4 of 2011 (-1.3%), but prices continued to rise for men, although by just 1% in quarter 4. Year-on-year, it was 61-65 year old men who saw the biggest jump in costs, with a 7.4% increase, bringing the average premium for men of that age group to £504. For women drivers it was the 26-30 year olds who saw the steepest jump in prices with 7.2% hikes, giving an average of £789.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance for Confused.com commented: “From December, EU legislation will mean that insurers can’t use gender as a factor in setting prices. The differences highlighted in our report show that there is still a huge disparity between what men and women are being charged for their car insurance. Insurers clearly still have a long way to go to comply with the new legislation. It’s more important than ever to shop around and we’re committed to making it easier for people to save money on their car insurance.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Launches New Points Promotion With Nectar

Confused.com has announced it will unveil a new promotion with Nectar, the UK’s largest loyalty programme. Customers will receive 1,000 Nectar points for every car insurance policy they buy through Confused.com. The promotion is running from 12 December 2011 until 31 March 2012.

Confused.com’s Nectar Points promotion will be supported by a 30 second TV advert and radio advert running from 23 December. The adverts will feature animated logo Cara singing ‘YMCA’, with some unique wording added to highlight the Nectar promotion.

Will Shuckburgh, Nectar Client Development Director, commented: “We’re thrilled to be building on an already successful partnership with Confused.com. This is another fantastic way for our card holders to collect more Nectar points whilst getting a great deal on car insurance. It’s great to be working with a leader such as Confused.com, as we know this is something our savvy Collectors will take advantage of and continue to get excited about.”

Mike Hoban, Marketing Director at Confused.com, said: “Confused.com was the first site to offer price comparison for car insurance, so saving people time and money is at the very heart of our business.The promotion with Nectar offers our customers an added reward when they choose to buy cheaper car insurance with Confused.com.”

The Confused.com advert will be aired from 23 December. Find the latest Confused.com games, videos and more from the Cara Confused page.

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Confused.com Find Brits Are A Nation Of DIY Lovers But Pay The Price In Home Insurance Claims

Confused.com has revealed that fifty-three per cent of homeowners are doing their own home improvements due to an increase in living costs. However, many of these projects are ending in disaster, with 11 per cent of those who ‘have a go’ then claiming on their home insurance.

A recent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies warned that households are looking at a 3.8 per cent fall in earnings with data for the first 11 months of 2010-11, marking the largest fall in disposable income since 1981. As a consequence of this strain on income, homeowners in the UK are turning their hand to DIY.

Aside from money issues, the Confused.com survey also showed that thirty-nine per cent of Brits claim to have undertaken home improvement work after watching DIY programs; their favourite being Grand Designs (22 per cent).

Homeowners in Scotland and the West Midlands are most likely to do their own home improvements, with 23 per cent claiming to do DIY, compared with the North East where only 11 per cent do DIY.

Fifty per cent of homeowners in Northern Ireland also claimed to have done a successful job, compared with 26 per cent of homeowners in Wales who said their inspirational home improvements looked dreadful and out of this 26% of Welsh homeowners, if money were no object, then 67 per cent would pay someone to do their DIY.

Of all those UK homeowners surveyed, 31 per cent of these budding Kevin McClouds admitted to having DIY mishaps, and of these 31% homeowners, most disasters were taking place in households in Scotland (12 per cent) and Wales (12 per cent) resulting in home insurance claims.

Despite tackling DIY to save money, 6 per cent of Scottish homeowners have paid over £1,000 in the past 24 months rectifying their DIY disasters. A further15 per cent of Scottish homeowners have paid £200 or more in the same period, whereas those living in Northern Ireland paid out over £350 in the last two years to fix botched DIY. In Wales, 13 per cent said they have paid out £300 fixing bad DIY jobs in the last two years.

Mark Gabriel, Confused.com Home Insurance spokesman, said: “With the economy so fragile, people’s finances are under more pressure and things aren’t getting any easier particularly with the rise in petrol prices and food prices. Therefore people have turned to ways of saving money and have been inspired by home improvement programs.

“However it is important to remember that television often makes tasks look easier than they are. In fact, some home insurance policies stipulate that only professionally accredited tradesmen should carry out certain work, so it is worth checking that you are not inadvertently rendering your insurance invalid by failing to read the small print.

“It is important to look at your home insurance policy to check that you are fully covered, should things go wrong, and to check their policy details carefully. It is also necessary to take extra safety precautions, as DIY disasters can cause accidents.”

For more information on home insurance, flat insurance and staying safe while DIYing, visit Confused.com.

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Elephant.co.uk Reveals Motorists Quickly Forget The Highway Code

Elephant.co.uk, an online car insurance provider and member of the Admiral Group, has announced new research which reveals how quickly people forget the Highway Code after having to memorise it for their driving test.

Since the theory test element of the driving test was introduced in 1996, memorising the Highway Code has been essential for anyone wanting to lose their L plates. However, new research suggests the rules of the Highway Code don’t stay with motorists once they pass, with half of those surveyed saying they hardly remember any of it and only a third saying they have bothered to refer to it since they’ve passed their test.

Elephant.co.uk surveyed 3,000 motorists on the Highway Code to see just how important they think it is to being a good driver and how much they remember. They also decided to test them on some typical Highway Code questions to find out exactly how much motorists do remember, with mixed results.

Seventy per cent admitted they only learned the Highway Code to pass their driving test, and half said they remember none of the Code or just the odd bit of it now. This could explain why nearly half those questioned don’t think they would pass the driving theory test if they had to sit it today.

When taking a simple test, the 3,000 people surveyed they got the right answer 55 per cent of the time, but some questions proved easier than others. Thankfully 88 per cent knew the speed limit on motorways is still 70mph, but only one in five knew that drivers should not use their horn between 11.30pm and 7.00am. Other questions which proved difficult were to name the correct stopping distance at 30mph, only 39 per cent knew it was 23 metres. Finally, only 30 per cent knew that red cat’s eyes mark the left hand side of a road.

In response to the research, elephant.co.uk managing director and car insurance expert Brian Martin said: “The results of our mini test suggest the Highway Code is something most motorists only read in order to pass their driving theory test. The results were hit and miss, and it is concerning how few drivers remember some fairly basic rules of the road.”

Regionally, motorists in the West Midlands were the least confident they would pass their theory test today (63 per cent) compared with those in the South West who were the most confident (80 per cent). This self confidence from motorists in the South West could be justified, as they answered the test questions correctly more times than those in any other region. Most regions scored very similar results for questions on the Highway Code, around 55 per cent. However those in the South West scored best with 58 per cent. The worst scoring region was the East Midlands, with 51 per cent.

However, with few motorists remembering much of the Highway Code today, elephant.co.uk’s research did find that a large majority (68 per cent) think it is important to know it in order to be a good driver. A large section of those questioned (46 per cent) also think motorists should be retested on the Highway Code on a regular basis.

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Confused.com Reveals That Keeping Diabetes A Secret Could Invalidate Life Insurance

New research by Confused.com has revealed that 26 per cent of people only have a vague idea what diabetes is, and worryingly 22 per cent of diabetes sufferers are not comfortable telling people about their condition, potentially putting their health at risk.

Keeping diabetes a secret not only makes diabetics more vulnerable but also means their life insurance could be invalidated.

This Confused.com research is supported by a survey conducted by Diabetes UK which shows that one in three people with diabetes have been keeping their condition a secret.

In light of this, Confused.com is warning against the dangers of keeping a medical condition secret and reminding people that their life insurance could be invalidated if they are not upfront about any condition they have been diagnosed with.

Diabetes is on the increase in the UK with one person diagnosed every three minutes. In fact 31% of people know someone with diabetes and there is an estimated half a million more people in the UK who are likely tohave diabetes but have not been diagnosed.

Diabetes is a more common condition than most people believe with an estimated 4 million people being diagnosed with this condition in 2025.

Matt Lloyd, Head of Life Insurance at Confused.com said: “Having a condition such as diabetes does not always mean you cannot get life insurance quotes. Particularly, if a person with diabetes is controlling their condition as directed by their doctor it is possible that they may be able to get a policy put in place. It is also worth going back to the insurer if you have made a positive change to your lifestyle since you were originally quoted for insurance because you may be entitled to a cheaper policy if you are healthier now than when you took out the policy.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Launches Interactive Road Safety Map

Confused.com has launched an informative mapping tool that reveals the dangers of road rage. The interactive road safety map reveals the country’s most dangerous roads and junctions.

Cyclist and motorist rage is in the spotlight this Road Safety Week and, according to Confused.com, both cyclists and car owners have strong feelings about how to handle it.

Both cyclists and motorists are turning to social media to report incidents of road related anger with Confused.com identifying 2,674 tweets mentioning both ‘road rage’ and ‘cyclist’ during the first nine months of this year. In response to this emerging danger, Confused.com created the interactive map so that both cyclists and drivers can pinpoint rage blackspots.

In addition to the cycle safety map, a survey of 1,000 motorists and 1,000 cyclists carried out by Confused.com identified what sends cyclists into a ‘two-wheel tantrum’ and turns car drivers ‘cyclo-pathic.’ Along with the survey and the map, people can learn more about ‘cycle rage’ by watching a cycle issues video about the subject.

The survey found that 72 per cent of drivers have experienced one or more incidents involving a cyclist during the last two years. A quarter of these drivers were keen to see cyclists pay road tax and 14 per cent of drivers wanted to see cyclists displaying number plates on their bikes. Getting cyclists to pass a version of the driving test was a popular idea among 44 per cent of annoyed motorists, while 43 per cent said that they would like to see cyclists take out a form of insurance. Catching those who cycle through red lights was a top solution among 59 per cent of car drivers. Almost one third of motorists said that cycling on the pavement (which the Highway Code states is illegal) should be stopped.

Meanwhile, almost a quarter of the cyclists said they’ve been beeped at or sworn at by a motorist and more than one in eight had been knocked off their bike by a motorist. Additionally, 65 per cent of cyclists told Confused.com that they feel less safe than they did a year ago and 34 per cent say they’ve been a victim of road rage.

Cyclists have some suggestions about ways to improve their journeys. Some suggestions include legalising cycling on pavements (28 per cent), introducing more bike lanes (58 per cent) and increasing the availability of hire bikes (25 per cent).

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com, said: “Rage on the roads is a big problem for both motorists and cyclists and our research shows that both groups have much to complain about. Whilst both parties can point at differing solutions to help improve road safety, we urge all road users to exercise respect and courtesy as the roads are for everyone and tolerance could save people’s lives.”

Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive of Sustrans, the UK charity encouraging people to travel by foot, bike or public transport said: “People need to be more considerate and aware of all other users when making their journeys.”

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Confused.com Launches Exclusive Motor Brand Pink Pound

Confused.com has launched an exclusive motor brand called ‘Pink Pound’ on its insurance panel.

Pink Pound Insurance is a division of Right Choice Insurance Brokers specifically set up for gay and lesbian customers and cannot be found on any other major comparison site.

Every customer has the right to get a fair chance at getting car insurance and Confused.com, with its relationship with Pink Pound, allows every customer to be treated individually. The launch of the exclusive brand allows homosexual couples to get auto insurance discounts just like other couples.

‘Pink Pound’ insurance takes customers individual situations to identify ways of reducing their premiums, to obtain competitive rates, using some gay specific schemes whilst at the same time giving the most professional service.

Mike Joseph, Managing Director of Pink Pound said: “Pink Pound insurance was created to give the LGBT community the product, pricing and personal service that is lacking from most standard offerings.

“At Pink pound we have negotiated some fantastic premiums with our specialist panel of insurers and see Confused.com as the ideal partner to ensure that this brand reaches the maximum number of potential customers as possible. Whilst further enhancing Confused.com’s commitment to provide a specialist quote for every client, from every back ground with any specific needs.”

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com continued: “Adding Pink Pound to the ever increasing number of insurers that we compare prices for is a great result. We do not discriminate against anyone as it’s all about getting the right cover at the right cost and insuring that everyone has an equal opportunity in getting these deals.”

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Confused.com Partners With Road Safety Charity, Brake

Confused.com is partnering with the road safety charity Brake, joining forces against menaces on the UK’s roads. Brake’s research shows that five people are killed and a further 65 seriously injured on UK roads every day.

Brake exists to make Britain’s road safer and by lobbying the government the charity has enticed thousands of people to petition for new road safety laws. This new partnership with Confused.com will strengthen Brake’s on-going campaigns to improve road safety in the UK, helping to combat serious issues such as drug driving, drink driving and reckless motoring.

Earlier this year, Confused.com discovered that 70% of drivers don’t think enough is being done about drug driving and 71% want to see the government do more to combat it. These are the type of issues the two organisations will campaign on in coming months.

As part of the partnership, Confused.com will sponsor Brake’s e-bulletins and campaigns as well as launching a joint campaign in the New Year.By providing support and working together with Brake, Confused.com hopes to see an improvement in road safety legislation and enforcement and overall better driving and safer roads.

Road safety is an issue which Confused.com has put at the core of its business. In November 2010, the comparison website was involved in the Transport Select Committee’s investigation behind the causes of soaring car insurance costs. Confused.com believes that better driving will reduce incident rates and claims, which will lower car insurance premiums for all drivers in the long-term which will hopefully create better driving and safer roads as a result.

Katie Shephard, spokesperson for Brake, says: “Brake is delighted that Confused.com has chosen to support Brake this year and made a donation to the charity to support our cause. By supporting Brake, Confused.com is helping to raise awareness about road safety and every penny donated will go towards Brake’s work supporting families affected by road crashes.”

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com says:”Confused.com recognises the importance of road safety and has supported many of Brakes campaigns, including the graduated driving licence. We were overwhelmed by the response from motorists and look forward to similarly heavyweight campaigns.Confused.com will be working closely with Brake with the run up to Road Safety Week and throughout next year we will be supporting Brake on a number of road safety issues as well as unveiling our own campaign in partnership with Brake.”

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Confused.com Research Reveals The Decline Of The Driving Test

Confused.com has unveiled that 13 per cent of people know someone who is driving on roads without a driving licence, identifying a menace on today’s roads, the driver that hasn’t taken their driving test.

The research shows that there has been a dramatic fall in the number of people learning to drive in a short time period as a result of huge rises in the cost of motoring. According to figures from the Department for Transport, between April and August this year, fewer than 640,000 driving tests were taken in the UK. This represents a 5 per cent fall on the same period in 2010, and a huge 15 per cent decrease when compared with the same period the year before when learners sat almost 750,000 tests.

This drop in the number of people learning to drive also correlates with a 2.7% or£22 hike in the cost of comprehensive car insurance in the second quarter of 2011 and a 24% rise in second quarter year-on-year prices.

As a result of the increasing cost of motoring, 20% of people say they cannot afford to be on the road or take their driving test, with 21% of the age group 18-24 claiming they are most affected by cost.

Research has shown that drivers under the age of 25, and particularly men aged between 17 and 24, are those who are faced with the most dramatic rises in the cost of car insurance. In the second quarter of 2011, the average cost of a comprehensive policy for a male driver under age 20 broke through the £4,000-a-year level for the first time. This was an increase of almost 25 per cent on the previous year.

Gareth Kloet, Head of car insurance at Confused.com, said: “A new shocking trend is emerging where people no longer bother taking their driving test. As the price of car insurance increases, we are seeing that the rate of people taking driving tests is falling. This is worrying as it suggests not only that drivers are going to be tempted to drive uninsured but now they might be tempted to not even take their driving test in the first place.

“With more than 28.5 million cars on the road, people must drive safely, so they need to take their driving test and ensure their vehicle has adequate car insurance. People will need to be as savvy as ever to find the cheapest and best deals for them by shopping around on comparison sites.”

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Confused.com Launch Cash Back Credit Card Offer In Time For Christmas

Confused.com has launched a £30 cashback offer for customers looking for a new credit card to cut down interest payments on current balances or to spread the cost of their Christmas spending.

Customers will get £30 cashback once they have been accepted for a Barclaycard and transact over £250 within the first 60 days of opening their account. The £30 will be delivered straight to the customer’s door in the form of a cheque, as a little extra treat from Confused.com.

Using a Barclaycard for Christmas spending could help make shopping more effective, whether shoppers want to spread the cost with 0% interest or earn rewards with the Freedom reward scheme, as well as the £30 bonus from Confused.com.

Chris Griffiths, Head of Credit Cards at Confused.com, commented: “For those customers in the market for a new credit card we are delighted to be able to give away £30 as an early Christmas present to say thank you for using our site. This offer means customers can now get the market leading balance transfer card, Barclaycard’s Platinum, which offers 22 months 0% interest, and get an extra £30 back in your pocket.

“Sorting out your finances is often a New Year’s resolution, but if you have any outstanding credit card balances that are accumulating interest then waiting until 2012 will just add even more interest to your balance, meaning you’ll have more to repay after the joys of Christmas.Therefore a credit card with 0% interest on purchases could be a cheaper option as it can allow you to spread the cost interest free.

“When considering a new credit card it is important to shop around to find the best deal, consider how you want to use it as different cards are better suited for different purposes. Remember that the leading offers are often reserved for new customers, and most providers won’t allow you to transfer balances between cards from the same institutions. Lastly, consider the criteria for being accepted for a card, you can try our free Card Matcher tool that can help you find the right credit card for your credit profile.”

Confused.com offers a free comparison service that compares the whole UK credit card market, and offers a Card Matcher tool that can let customers know whether they are likely to be accepted for the card they want before they commit to completing an application. This service is completely free, secure and it won’t damage users’ credit score.

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Confused.com Compares Professions: Mobile Disco Owners Face The Music With Average Quotes Of £6,800

Confused.com has revealed that, despite many not realising it, their profession may have an effect on the car insurance quote they are offered.

Airline captains could be quoted as little as £320 per year to insure their cars compared with a mobile disco owner whose average cost per year is a whopping £6,800 and apprentice footballers who are tackling quotes above £6,200.

Confused.com has compiled a list of the top ten professions which generate the highest average quotations and also the lowest, based on a year’s worth of quotations. Professions generating the highest average quotations included professional footballers (£6,263.61), nightclub owners (£3841.29), students (£3,006.18) and mobile disco owners (£6,809.57). Professions with the lowest average premiums included airline pilots (£320.81), toy makers (£337.87) and china restorers (£336.44) on average receive the best car insurance quotations.

Confused.com is reminding drivers that if they change their job significantly then they will need to let their insurer know, and it may save money if the individual’s new role is statistically less risky.

Gareth Kloet, Head of car insurance at Confused.com said: “The cost of insurance is calculated on different factors such as the type of car you drive, the area you live and your own driving history as well as statistics for others of a similar demographic to yourself. This does not mean that every airline captainwill be landing a cheap deal -each individual will be quoted on their own data- but your profession can significantly affect your insurance cost so if you change jobs it’s worth letting your insurer know. Contributing factors will include the type of car you choose to drive, the average age of people with that profession and of course your claims history as a driver.

“Regardless of your profession, it’s always advisable to use a trusted comparison site such as Confused.com to get yourself the most competitive quote you can.”

For a more detailed breakdown of the most expensive professions for car insurance, visit Confused.com.

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