Road safety 'not to blame for premiums hike'

The UK has fallen to third in Europe for road safety but this is not what is driving the increase in motor insurance rates, claims the AA.

In 2001 the UK had the lowest number of deaths on the road compared to the 30 other European countries surveyed, although by 2006 the country was third in Europe, according to figures released last week by the European Transport Safety Council.

But, according to the AA, this is not the sole driver behind climbing car insurance premiums, which rose by six per cent in 2006.

The cost of claims is rising for insurers, said Ian Crowder, the public relations manager for the AA. New technology to keep drivers safe is more expensive to repair.

Safety features like folding panels and crumple zones protect the passenger but mean that damage to the car is much greater.

More people are making personal injury claims than they used to, a move which he claims could be fuelled by "’ambulance-chasing’-type insurers which you can see on daytime television," said Mr. Crowder.