Churchill Car Insurance Reveals the Answers from their Claims Data

Across the country there are people from many different disciplines that might not be aware that there is a difference between their own motoring habits and someone from a different profession.

However, according to results found from Churchill Car Insurance’s claims data, computer engineers come out on top as the motorists with the worst accident records, with a higher frequency of claims than any other profession. It also found that the drivers with the lowest claim frequency were farmers.

It suggests that there could be a link between the profession that someone is involved with and the likelihood of being involved in a car accident. As well as Computer Engineers, the top ten most frequently claiming occupations consisted of Sales Managers, Chefs, Students, Doctors, Estate Agents, Surveyors, Customer Advisors, Hairdressers and Social Workers.

On the other end of the scale, the lowest number of claims came from Aircraft Fitters, Stores Personnel, Ambulance Drivers, Laboratory Technician, Pilots, Caretakers, Agricultural Engineers, Green Keepers and Mechanical Engineer.

The results could suggest why certain professions have more accidents as well, with those suffering more accidents in more stressful occupations in urban areas. On the other hand, those with less accidents tend to be more rural (in the case of farmers) or working in jobs that require a greater skill behind the wheel or with reactions times (such as pilots or ambulance drivers).

Tony Chilcott, the Head of Churchill Car Insurance agrees, pointing out that “The poorer claims experience associated with computer engineers, sales managers, chefs and doctors most likely reflects the long hours they work in a very stressful job.

“As a result, they are more likely to be tired when driving and possibly distracted.

“Conversely, those who have jobs which involve working outdoors or who drive for a living tend to have fewer accidents.

“Farmers have a lower claims frequency because they live and work in rural areas with less congestion, which are likely to be more tranquil to work in than a stressful office environment.”

So perhaps the choice of profession really does affect our driving after all?
Source: Churchill Press Release

According to new Figures from Sainsbury’s Finance

It is one of the factors cited by modern drivers as a nuisance of the modern world – car insurance is too high, with unaffordable premiums making cars uninsurable.

However, despite the risks of even higher premiums for car insurance, two thirds of Britons are still admitting to driving in a ‘potentially dangerous’ way, according to figures released by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance.

Their figures demonstrate two thirds of drivers in the UK admit to taking part in a dangerous activity whilst driving during one month earlier in 2009. The figure of 69% of those asked demonstrates a 4% increase on the same period from 2008.

There are a range of illegal habits that drivers should avoid taking part in unless they want to face prosecution, an injury or their car becoming uninsurable in the future. Some of these are well known, such as talking on a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel and drinking and driving. However, there are certain activities that some people might not have considered.

Those who do not want to see an increase in their motor insurance premiums might wish to stop eating and drinking whilst driving, driving whilst tired, speeding excessively or wearing flip flops to operate foot pedals. Eating and drinking behind the wheel accounted to 43% of motorists during June 2009, a 2% increase from the year before, with driving whilst tired close behind at 32%, a rise of 4% from 2008.

Not all of the figures show a rise and as shocking as it might sound to hear that some Britons might feel the need drive bare-footed or with flip flops, these figures actually went down from 18% to 14% in the last year.

Worryingly though, drink driving has shown no change from the year before, remaining at 9% as it did in 2008. This is despite the warning that those who are convicted of a drink driving offence may find it hard to find an insurance provider willing to provide them with motor insurance in the future.

“Unfortunately many motorists get distracted too easily whilst driving and don’t consider the possible consequences of their actions”, said Lucy Hunter of Sainsbury’s Car Insurance, “We would urge motorists to concentrate at the wheel and not be tempted to engage in anything that could distract them.”