Tuesday 8 November 2011

Are we looking at a future of lazy drivers?

The festive period is fast approaching and this Christmas many of you will be embarking on those long journeys across the country to visit close friends and family.  We all know what it’s like…the long drive can be tiring with that of the early start, the screaming kids and the continuous weaving between those slow Sunday drivers.  Sometimes all you want to do is sit back, relax and let the car do all the hard work.  A few years ago this wouldn’t have been given a second thought but now BMW have come up with an all new exciting invention that can potentially put all your worries to one side.  The BMW 5 series has a new built in technology that takes control of the wheel so that you don’t have to.

I know what you’re thinking…how on earth is that ever going to be feasible?

BMW have installed 12 sensors around the edge of the car that scan the surrounding road.  All the information that these sensors collect is then sent straight to a high tech computer system in the boot of the car which processes it and sends it forward to an advanced GPS system…pretty snazzy!  Once you hit the motorway all you would need to do is double click the volume button on the steering wheel and then you’re free to put your feet up!

Even the famous Jeremy Clarkson has tried and tested this exciting new piece of technology.  He took a back seat while the BMW 330 took him around the Top Gear track without him even needing to lift a finger!

Don’t get too excited, this new piece of technology is still under review and as a result the car is still a long way from reaching the showrooms.  But fear not…the technology has also been a successful guinea pig for future exciting driving gadgets- congestion assist and emergency stop assist.  The congestion assist gadget means that your car will be able to drive itself at any speed up to 25 mph!  We’ve all been there…half an hour has gone by, you’ve got cramp in your foot and you’ve still not made it through the traffic lights that are within reaching distance.  Well now you can sit back, relax and nurse that cramp as the congestion assist gadget does all the hard work for you in that dreaded traffic jam.  The emergency stop assist is another clever gadget that is currently under review.  It is able to monitor the driver’s health and detect any serious illnesses.  If detected, the car then has the ability to safely pull off the road and contact the emergency services on behalf of the driver.

Technology, especially in-car technology has come a long way in the past few decades, from the radio and cassette player to satnavs and portable DVD players.  It is therefore hardly surprising to find that this futuristic technology is now in the pipe line.  The concern is that this technology will simply promote lazy driving and hamper long term driving abilities.  Will motorists that put their trust in this new technology automatically expose themselves to increased danger on the road, or will it help prevent human error when driving and decrease the amount of road accidents?  Only time will tell, but it’s safe to say that we are entering a new era of driving and driving safety thanks to new technology like this.

Whether you’re driving or simply enjoying the view make sure that you are insured and covered!  Visit eCar- an online insurance solution that allows you to manage your car insurance at a time most suited to you! Alternatively, join Jeremy Clarkson and the boys down at Top Gear Live UK the weekend of the 11th Nov and visit stall s3 to get more great deals on your car insurance.  You may even be in with the chance of winning one year’s free car insurance and an iPad2!

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Thursday 3 November 2011

Safely tweet whilst driving on the M6 - Social Media to take the next step!

Over the past few years the usuage levels of both Twitter and Facebook have increased at an exceptional rate. Facebook numbers reached a new record in 2011 with over 500 million people being registered. Twitter is expanding on a similar scale with over  140 million tweets being sent per day.

Currently many motorists, especially young motorists, are continually picking up their phone to check Facebook and Twitter whilst driving- this is not safe!

It is therefore not surprising to find that technology companies are now talking about installing a new and exciting technology for motorists - web connected entertainment.  And yes, this means that motorists would have access to Facebook and Twitter while they are driving! So lets picture the scene: you’ve just got  back from a fab holiday and you’re now just about to embark on the dreaded car journey home in the pouring rain. You haven’t had any contact with your friends and family all week and are dying to find out all the recent gossip that you've missed out on! I know what you’re all thinking, “Facebook and Twitter installed in my car-what a great idea!”.

So how would it all work? ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) would all work within a type of cloud platform and absolutely everything would be stored within the car itself with all the necessary controls being stored on the steering wheel!

But wait, while this may all sound very snazzy there is major concern behind the technology, especially with the increasing number of youngsters now behind the wheel. It has been argued that the installation of this new technology could potentially cause further distraction and accidents on the road.

Rick Kreifeldt, vice president of innovation and research at Harman supports the new technology and argues that the technology would not be distracting and that it is actually no different to listening to the radio whilst driving.  He claims that instead this technology will get rid of any distractions and dangerous driving behavior seeing as the mobile technology is actually integrated into the car, unlike with smartphones or MP3 players.

Motorists today need to bear in mind that while this new technology is an innovative new invention that no doubt will be a big hit in the UK, it’s also paramount that when installed, motorists still give the road their full attention whilst driving in order to reduce the risk of accident! So when you’re embarking on that long boring journey home from the airport, its vital that you stay alert! Furthermore, make sure you’re fully covered. This way, motorists will be able to catch up on all the latest news and gossip safely.

Don’t be your own worst enemy, make sure you’re covered! If you’re a driver, new or old looking for an excellent quote on your car insurance, visit eCar - an online insurance provider that will let you manage your car insurance at a time convinient for you. Alternatively, get yourself down to Top Gear Live at the NEC Birmingham 11-13th November and visit the eInsurance Group exhibition stand S3 for further information on excellent insurance quotes.

Honesty is our best policy and at eCar we believe that honest drivers who tell the truth on their applications should not have to pay for the cheats that don't! eCar is promoting its Truth or Dare campaign at TGL 2011 to encourage honesty amongst drivers when applying for a quote.  Furthermore, come along and visit the ‘Truth Booth’ to confess to a little secret and be in with the chance of winning a brand new iPad2! So what are you waiting for? On your marks, get set, CONFESS!

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Thursday 20 October 2011

How to avoid a £10,000 fine and 12 points on your licence. The eInsurance guide to tyre safety.

As the winter season approaches and the signs of colder weather are becoming more apparent, it’s not surprising that many websites are giving tokens of advice regarding safety on the road for drivers. Many of these handy tips are there to ensure you don’t run the risk of being involved in an accident on the road. But one car safety tip that is frequently mentioned, is not only there for your protection, but could also save you a fine of up to £10,000 and 12 points on your driving licence – tyre safety.

As October has officially been named Tyre Safety Month, it seems fitting that we’re writing a blog that raises the dangers of having unsafe tyres and the penalty you could pay if you don’t do anything about it.

The main issue amongst most drivers is the fact that the majority are unaware about the laws on tyre safety. A comparison website has recently discovered that 57% of drivers were unaware that the correct tyre depth is 1.6mm, whilst 58% did not know the answer to what the correct pressure of their tyres should be.

Surprisingly, it was also discovered that the age group least likely to know how to put air into their tyres are those aged 18-24, who are the group that  not too long ago would have been shown how to do this in their driving lessons. This bears evidence to the fact that not enough is being done to ensure road safety.

So what are the rules on tyre safety? The two main focuses are on tyre depth and tyre pressure. It’s suggested that you should check the pressure of your tyres once per week. However, it’s very unlikely that most people will have the time to do this, so we suggest at least once per month and to make it a priority before embarking on a long distance journey.

Tyre depth is especially important, as this can rack up a hefty fine if it’s not checked frequently. The law states that there should be a minimum of 1.6mm throughout the 3 central quarters of the tyre. If police discover that your vehicle is above this depth, they can slap you with a fine of £2500 and 3 points on your licence for each illegal tyre. Additionally, if you’re involved in a crash and it is found that your tyre depth is below the legal limit, you run the risk of voiding your car insurance policy all together!

Other tips on tyre safety include checking the overall appearance of your tyres. Any visual signs of wear and tear should make you consider replacing the tyre, as this is the cheaper alternative to getting caught with illegal tyres.

This may not be the most interesting topic and checking your tyres regularly is not on top of everyone’s list of priorities, but it’s seen as one of most basic aspects of road safety. It’s a worrying fact that most people are unaware of the rules on tyre safety whilst court convictions for driving on defective tyres are at a four-year high, not to mention the high level of risks you run when driving with illegal tyres.

Help is at hand for those still unsure about how to correctly check their tyres are legal on the road. Throughout Tyre Safety Month, tyresafe.org is sharing the best tips and advice available, with a focus on driving in the winter.

So as the winter months begin to set in, now is the perfect time to get into the habit of checking your tyres. It’s common knowledge that road hazards are much higher during this time and the risk of being involved in a car accident increases. Tyre safety is essential, whatever the weather. To ensure that you are completely covered on the road, this is one aspect of road safety you can’t afford to overlook.

If you’re a driver looking for a great value quote on your car insurance, visit eCar - an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.

Make sure you’re kept safe this winter. Avoid fines and increased risks on the road by making sure your tyres are properly maintained and visit eCar to make sure you get the right cover whilst saving you money on your car insurance at the same time.

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Thursday 6 October 2011

The eInsurance Group guide to owning a car at university.

It’s that time of year again - a new group of students begin their journey into higher education, with most moving out from home and into their university digs.

For many it’s time to think about purchasing a car in order to get around their new city and also make it easier to drive back home to give the parents some clothes to wash! But with the cost of being a student becoming more and more expensive, it has never been more important to ensure that students can buy a car that will please both their university lives and their wallets.

Here are some handy tips from eInsurance Group:


Get the right Insurance.
It can be difficult for students to find the right type of car insurance policy without it costing most of their student loan! Therefore, it’s very important to shop around and find the right policy for you. When purchasing your car, it’s always a good idea to think about the insurance cost. For example, cars with a smaller size engine and fitted security features will usually get the driver a much cheaper policy.
Students should also consider Pay As You Go options where they can pay monthly instead of being stuck with one large annual payment.
Click here to get a quick and easy quote online with eCar - As well as our Standard Annual Policy, we offer a Short Term Policy from 1 to 28 days, to a flexible Pay as you Go (PAYG) monthly policy.

Student Car-Share Schemes.
This is a great way to save money as well as being environmentally friendly. Student car-share websites such as www.studentcarshare.com can help students find others who are willing to car share in various universities across the country.
Alternatively, you can simply ask those who are on your course if they might be interested in car sharing. Most students generally live in the same areas so it’s worth asking, plus it’s a great way to potentially make new friends on your course.

Choose the right car ...
Choosing a car as a student is not just about what colour you’d like or how fast it can go. The type of car you get can affect what you pay on your insurance, road tax, petrol and all other additional costs you need to make.
Cars such as Ford Fiestas, Vauxhall Corsas and Renault Clios are all popular choices for students as they’re cheap to run and cheap to repair should something go wrong.
Also remember to check the car’s service history. There is no point in buying an old banger for it’s cheap price tag, only to have a massive car-service charge for it further down the line.

...& Haggle!
Once you’ve found the right car, it’s always a good idea to negotiate with the salesperson to ensure you’re getting it as cheap as possible. Most car dealerships set the price high enough to leave some room for haggling, so it’s worth asking how much they are willing to reduce the price to.

Drive safe.
A student who has a car will likely be asked by their peers for lifts to the supermarket, to lectures or from nights out in exchange for petrol money. It’s the latter request that you need to be careful with.
Decide before you go out if you are going to be the designated driver or not. If you’ve made the decision to drive everyone home that night – stick to the soft drinks!
Driving under the influence is a serious crime that can be a major risk both to yourself and all those around you. Police have a zero tolerance policy for this, so it’s not worth taking the risk.
The rule is simple – Don’t drink and drive.

If you’re a young driver looking for a cheap quote, visit eCar - an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.

Visit eInsurance Group for your insurance needs.

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Tuesday 20 September 2011

Rock-eating pug among those nominated for the 'weirdest pet insurance claim' award.

You never know what kind of trouble your pets can get into, which is one of the reasons why many of us purchase pet insurance.

Most pet insurance claims may involve more common, regular types of accidents and injuries, although recently there have been reports of some much stranger claims pet owners have made.

One of the latest odd pet insurance claims concerns a pug named Harley who lives in Rhode Island. He has been in the press recently after his owner Lori Laverdiere noticed that he was unable to eat or drink without vomiting. After taking Harley for an X-ray, they found that he had eaten over 100 rocks, which were crammed into his stomach and intestines!

Thankfully, Harley made a full recovery, passing the rocks after taking some medicine.

For such a small dog, this is quite an achievement; one which the Veterinary Pet Insurance Association has recognised in their annual ‘Hambone Awards’. These awards highlight the more unusual pet insurance claims that have been made throughout the year.

Harley will have to fend off some tough competition for the coveted award. For example Tobey, a 7 year-old Labrador, paid the price for his love of playing with the garden sprinkler after his stomach bloated to twice the size from consuming so much water. Another unlucky pet was Chico, a Chihuahua who was injured after an owl swooped down to catch the miniature dog as a light snack. Luckily the owner managed to scare the owl away, but left Chico with a puncture wound on his foreleg.

Many others have also been put up for the prize, in which the general public vote on which story they believe worthy enough for the prize.

Although these stories are humorous and entertaining, there is a serious message behind them - how important it is to purchase pet insurance for your furry members of the family. These stories highlight how your pets can fall victim to serious injuries in the most bizarre situations. Harley’s owner Lori says how happy she was that she took out a pet insurance policy, which she was able to use for the X-ray needed for her dog.

Luckily, all of the pets nominated were in fact covered by some form of pet insurance. However if this weren’t the case, it’s likely most of these owners would have been faced with a costly veterinary bill.

What needs to be remembered is that our four-legged friends are a curious bunch and can get themselves into trouble. It makes sense therefore, both for your pets’ safety and your bank balance that they are covered and kept safe!

Visit ePet for pet insurance to protect against unforeseen incidents that can affect both your pet and your pocket. ePet offers a variety of policies to suit you and your pet. Each year 1 in 3 pets are injured or become ill and need urgent veterinary treatment. We can help cover the cost of these unexpected bills for as little as 13p a day, leaving you with the important job of helping your important member of the family back to full recovery.
Read more about this story here.

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Friday 9 September 2011

New parental controls for cars as 4 year old caught driving

It’s a stage that most parents have to go through and which most of them dread... their child has just passed their driving test and wants to borrow the car! Whilst they have passed their test with flying colours, it’s hard not to turn into an over-concerned parent and wonder how your child will drive once they are free to venture the roads by themselves. However, parents may soon be able to put their worries aside, thanks to a new piece of technology that can ensure your kids are behaving on the road.
Motor vehicle giants Ford are set to launch new parental controls for the 2012 Fiesta. The technology works via the ignition key, where parents can programme in a maximum speed, limit the volume of the stereo system and make many other tweaks to make the car much safer to drive.
Whilst many deem this to be a step in the right direction, there are still some issues. For example, the parents can only put a speeding cap on of up to 80mph. There is nothing in place to stop someone from going up to 80mph in a 30mph zone, apart from a warning chime that will go off when the car reaches certain speeds.
Whist this is still in its early stages, many will welcome this new safety tool, allowing many parents to feel more at ease when handing over the keys to their eager-to-drive offspring.
This is also seen as a much more productive technique to teach your children road safety, than say teaching your four-year-old child how to drive by handing over the keys and giving directions from the back seat, which is exactly what happened recently in Jinal, China.
The video was uploaded onto YouTube, where you can hear the parent filming, telling his child to “concentrate” and “be careful”. It is reported that the parent gave his child stilts to use so she could reach the pedals, similar to a famous scene from the Indiana Jones films.
What’s even more staggering is that when local officials were quizzed on the incident, they claimed there was little they could do if they were to catch the family responsible; as children under the age of 14 in this region cannot be given tickets. Instead, they would only be able to ‘educate the parents’ not to let their child who was still using a pacifier, to drive a car!
From the reports describing how shocked and appalled many people were from this video, it’s unlikely this will catch on in the UK! For the parental control key system however, it appears to be a step in the right direction. It has not yet been reported whether installing systems such as these will help to decrease the high costs of insurance premiums for new drivers. However, it will more than likely be a benefit rather than a hindrance. Only time will tell if this new piece of technology will catch on and benefit safe young drivers who are constantly suffering from high insurance premiums.

If you’re a young driver looking for a cheap quote, visit eCar, an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.

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Thursday 1 September 2011

Be careful who you leave your Ferrari with

When you hand over your car to the mechanic, you’re taking a possible risk. You give your car to a potential stranger and hope they have actually done what they say they have. Of course, most mechanics nowadays are highly qualified and trustworthy, but you never know when one might decide to take your car for a spin, which may have drastic consequences, such as potentially writing the car off!

This is exactly what happened to one particular owner’s vehicle, with his car being none other than a £300,000 Ferrari F40!

The owner of this vehicle had initially bought the car brand new 20 years ago for this price. There have been reports of these cars now going for as much as £1 million in good condition!

It has been reported that the owner of this vehicle was in Europe on business at the time and it was the mechanic responsible for the car during this time that was driving the car.

Eye-witnesses reported that the car was going between 70-90mph in a 35mph zone when he lost control of the vehicle as it veered into the curb and hit the fence. It’s unclear whether the crash was down to a driver error or a mechanical failure in the car. What is known however is that the mechanic should not have been driving the car at the time, let alone at such excessive speeds!

This is not the first story that has come out in recent years in regards to the bad luck Ferrari owners seem to have. For example, in 2010, another hapless mechanic lost control and destroyed a Ferrari worth £200,000 after taking it for a drive as part of its MoT. It’s safe to say that the owner was not happy to hear about this ‘quick’ road test!

Another example happened more recently in Croatia, when a van had lost control of its brakes, slamming into a parked Ferrari spider worth £120,000 and pushing the front end of the car into the sea.

Luckily with all of these incidents, no one was majorly hurt or injured, apart from the owners’ feelings, as well as their cars!

What’s particularly sad about the Ferrari F40 however is the fact that the owner had previously bought it 20 years ago, brand new. For many Ferrari enthusiasts, this model is believed to be one of Ferrari’s greatest cars ever built and is one of the last cars to be made before the company founder, Enzo Ferrari stepped down as founder and managing director of the company. It would therefore be a shame to see it written off, which is looking likely from the damage to the frame.

This should be a warning to all Ferrari owners. When taking your pride and joy for a ‘routine check-up’, make sure you can trust who you’re leaving it with. It might also be a good idea to ensure you’re covered with Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) Insurance.

If your car is stolen or written off then GAP Insurance will pay out the difference between the price you paid for your vehicle and the value that your insurer will pay out after depreciation.

Premiums start from just £115 for 3 years cover and GAP Insurance will cover any car up to the value of £150,000. It might be too late for the Ferrari F40 owner but not for you to protect your own investment!

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Friday 19 August 2011

To beat a car thief you must first think like a car thief...

There is no worse feeling for any driver than returning to your car only to find that it has been broken into, or even worse has been stolen all together. Whether it’s your £300 P Reg Fiesta or your £1m Bugatti Veyron, there is always the fear that when you leave your car, you’re leaving it in the hands of opportunistic car thieves.

Search the web and you’ll find thousands of articles that give you advice on how to keep your car safe. Here at eInsurance, we’ve decided to compile the best bits of advice from these articles into one handy list that will hopefully minimise your chances of becoming the latest victim of car theft.

•Buy a Ford Ka.
Between 2004-11, confused.com claimed that not one car theft had involved a Ford Ka. When questioning ex-burglar Michael Fraser, they discovered that one of the possible reasons for this may be because they are not very desirable cars in terms of ‘street cred’ in the crime world. Therefore cars such as BMWs, Jaguars and Range Rover Sports should be replaced with a Chevrolet Matiz or a Hyundai i10 Comfort, which are much less at risk to car theft, even if you may lose some ‘street cred’ points in the process!

•Get a tracker fitted.
A study has found that over 90% of vehicles with a tracking device installed that were stolen in the first half of 2011 were recovered, with 80% being returned to the owner within 24 hours. As many car thieves have discovered, it’s becoming much harder to physically break in and steal a car, which means that they focus on home burglary or assault in order to obtain the keys. A tracking device is an extra layer of security for your car should all else fail. Our sister company CVD have teamed up with security specialists Sure-Track to save you over £100 on the purchase of a wireless tracking unit. Many sites say that this should be a necessity for all vehicles, so click here to find out more and save money.

•Turn your wheels when you park/ ensure you steeling wheel is locked.
Many people advise that when you park your car, you should always turn the wheels to face the curb or towards another car next to you. This makes it much harder for thieves to move it, meaning they would have to put more time and risk into stealing it, thus making it more likely for them to move on from your vehicle. Most cars should now have a steering lock system installed, where the steering wheel will lock into place when the keys are pulled out.  It’s always a good idea to ensure that your steering wheel is locked into place before leaving your car, which again will make it much more difficult for car thieves.

•The usual...
Make sure your car is locked, keep any valuables out of sight (or take these with you) and wipe off any marks on your windscreen that might have been made from your sat-nav holder. These may all be pieces of advice that people have heard a thousand times, but many still fail to abide by them. Anything that is left on show that can suggest to thieves your car will contain something of value will make it more of a risk. So regardless of the situation, if you’re running late or in a hurry for example, always ensure you follow these basic rules.

•The importance of having the right insurance.
Earlier this year, the government made it compulsory for everyone in the UK who owned a car to have it insured, whether you were driving it or not. But making sure you have the right type of insurance for you is very important. When getting a new policy, always ensure you’ve told the truth on your insurance application to ensure you are fully covered for any situation. For car insurance, honesty really is you best policy.

Whilst many of you may already know what is written above, the fact is that those who are victim to car theft are found to have not followed these pieces of advice. Car thieves hunt for those who are in a hurry or the ‘it won’t happen to me’ types of people.  So the one time you may leave a valuable item in the back seat may be the time you find that your car has been broken into.

Whist all these things may be seen as an inconvenience or an extra expense you could do without, it can only take one moment of negligence to find that you have fallen victim to car theft. Security measures for vehicles are always changing, as are car thieves’ methods, so it’s always a good idea to keep up to date with the latest security measures and to ensure you keep as safe as possible.

If you want to sort out your car insurance right away, visit eCar, an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.

Visit eInsurance Group for your insurance needs

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Tuesday 9 August 2011

Pets really are good for you!

For those of you who don’t own pets, you may not fully understand why pet owners dedicate so much of their time, effort and attention to their furry members of the family. Recent stories have shown the extremes of this recently, with some pet owners finding their dogs a suitable partner to marry and 1 in 10 pets now having their very own Facebook pages!

But why is this? Why are these animals getting pampered to a life of luxury when some believe they will give nothing but a mess in the back garden back? A recent study published by the American Psychological Association may have the answer to this.

Most people generally depend of human interactions for social support, but can your pet cat give you similar results? It has been widely reported that for people with health problems, animals have been helpful in facilitating that said person’s emotional well-being and physical recovery. But this new study gives evidence that suggests that you don’t have to be ill to benefit from the company of animals.

Three studies aimed to see if everyday people did in fact benefit from their pets. They found that they had better self-esteem, were more socially communicative and generally less fearful than those who did not have an animal companion in their lives. They also found that when a participant had experienced rejection in their lives, their pets would give them a good level of support to make them feel better.

Participants were also asked to write about their favourite pet and one of their friends. The results from this showed that writing about a pet has the same positive effects as when they are writing about a friend.

This is the first study of its kind to focus on the benefits of pets to everyday people. Past studies have only focused on the benefits pets have to owners who are struggling with health problems.

So if your parents or loved ones are sceptical about adding a furry edition to the household, it might be worth bringing up the fact that pets have shown evidence of positively changing your life.

It may also be worth considering that if your pets are giving your all of these benefits to you, maybe it’s time to return the favour and show how much you care...

Visit ePet for pet insurance to protect against unforeseen incidents that can affect both your pet and your pocket. ePet offers a variety of policies to suit you and your pet. Each year 1 in 3 pets are injured or become ill and need urgent veterinary treatment. We can help cover the cost of these unexpected bills for as little as 13p a day, leaving you with the important job of helping your important member of the family back to full recovery.
Read more about this story here.

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Thursday 7 July 2011

7-year-old decides toy cars are boring, so tries out a real car instead!

Most of the time when police pick up a joyrider, they're expecting a certain stereotype. For example, a late teens – mid twenties male in a hoodie probably with no licence or car insurance. But what about a seven-year-old boy still in his pyjamas?

This is what police were faced with in Michigan, USA, when a seven-year-old boy stole his stepfather’s car and drove it 20 miles down the road, reaching speeds of up to 50mph.

What’s even more frightening is the fact that the child had to stand up in order to work the pedals. Witnesses say that even though the boy was driving erratically, he seemed to know what he was doing, which admittedly is quite impressive for a boy who is only seven, but still highly dangerous. This does raise the question however as to who taught the child to drive a car at such a young age?

The reason behind the theft was because the young boy wanted to see his father, who lived 12 miles away. So instead of bothering his mother, who was asleep at the time, he thought the best idea would be to steal his stepfather’s car and drive there himself.

The police were called and were able to safely box in the seven-year-old, until he finally pulled over. They then had to help the young boy figure out how to unlock the car and get out! Police obtained video footage from their vehicle of the boy driving 5mph below the speed limit (so at least he had learned not to speed!).
Luckily, the boy was unharmed and did not cause any damage to anything or anyone else.

Prosecutors are now focusing on how the boy knew how to drive when he was almost 10 years younger than the legal age in Michigan. It is also in question as to who to charge: the boy or his parents.

It goes without saying that his parents will think twice about what they are teaching their child in the future. Our advice: wait until they are of a legal age before you teach your child how to drive!

Visit eCar, an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.

To read more on this story, click here.

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Friday 1 July 2011

eInsurance, part of Brightside Group plc: Winner of The PwC West of England Business of the Year Award.

We are proud to announce that the Brightside Group plc has been awarded the West of England Business of the Year Award. The awards, held by global professional services giants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and in its 23rd year, are designed to acknowledge various businesses for their achievements in areas such as financial performance, innovation, contribution to the region and many more. Previous winners of the awards show the high level of standards needed, with companies including Dyson, MITIE and Bristol Airport all previously winning the coveted award.

Brightside Group is one of the fastest growing insurance broking and financial services in the UK which endeavours to distribute market-defining insurance both to individuals and businesses.

Their current products range from Quota Marketing which specialises in GAP insurance and market-leading targeted lead generation solutions, to none other than eInsurance Group!

For a company that only began 10 years ago as a 2 person start up, Brightside Group has gone from strength to strength. With a 2263% profit growth in policy numbers from 13,000 in 2002 to 313,000 in 2010, they show no signs of slowing down. They have also been recognised for their innovative techniques in tackling insurance fraud, using solutions such as manually checking No Claims Discount and introducing ‘redeye’ to monitor customer identification activity.

As well as their successes financially, Brightside Group see the importance of contributing to the region by employing 1,400 individuals from the South West region. Their impressive charity work for NSPCC’s Child’s Voice South West appeal was greatly noted and appreciated by regional Chair Deborah Meaden; successful business woman more commonly known in the popular TV series ‘Dragons Den’.

The development of sport in the South West across all ages is another aspect that Brightside actively encourages. The online car insurance gurus eCar have been proud sponsors of Wellington Rugby Club and are also principal sponsors at the Somerset County Cricket Club.

David Charles from PwC and chairman of the judges for the businesses with a turnover of over £25 million category said, “We believe it is important to recognise the hard work and continued success that has ensured the region is well placed to move forward. The region has a number of excellent businesses and their ability to stay ahead in the current climate should be rewarded.”

John Gannon, commercial director at Brightside Group, said, ‘This award is a tremendous honour for Brightside Group, and great testament to the dedication and hard work of all our staff. We were thrilled to be recognised amongst the incredibly strong line up of finalists for the award. To win the award against such high calibre companies is a true privilege.’

To learn more about The Brightside Group, click here.

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Tuesday 28 June 2011

Backseat drivers’ comments are steering motorists to danger.

As most drivers know, there are many factors that can distract you from concentrating when you are driving, both externally and internally, which can lead to dangerous conclusions.

In recent years, the most reported distraction has been the dangers of talking on your mobile phone whilst driving. In the UK, the law states that it is illegal to drive whilst using a mobile phone, with police ever being able to prosecute drivers when they are using a hands free devise if they think their driving performance is poor whilst using one.

A recent study by esure however has looked at another dangerous distraction that many believe to be harmless, but in reality is the reason for one in seven road accidents or near misses - backseat drivers.

This new study reveals how backseat drivers’ comments have increasingly become the cause of many road accidents, with partners being the worst offenders. This is becoming an increasing risk for many drivers, mainly because they underestimate the effects that distractions have on their driving. The study also shows that men are the worst culprits to take their eyes off the roads for a chat. But even when drivers keep their eyes on the road, backseat comments can cause distractions which may lead to the driver not spotting hazards on the road.

The study highlighted other top distractions for drivers, which included eating, drinking and changing music, but driving with other passengers was seen as a bigger distraction by those who took part in the study, with backseat comments topping the bill (51% of motorists citing this as the worst distraction).

What’s even more surprising is that even though this study showed that most people recognised backseat drivers as a distraction, almost all (91%) motorists who took part in the study admitted to being backseat driver themselves when travelling in another car!

You may find it difficult to manage distractions whilst driving. Some distractions are unavoidable, but there are some precautionary steps you can take to reduce the risk of becoming distracted. For example, you need to recognise what is causing the distraction. If it’s a backseat driver, you need to ensure they are aware that they are causing a distraction. You may think you are being rude to the passenger, but this is a much better outcome than being involved in a road accident.

Also, if you are aware that you are a backseat driver, like many who took part in this study admitted to being, it’s essential to learn to respect the driver of the vehicle and understand that you are more than likely going to be more of a hindrance rather than a help with your comments. Distractions are everywhere for motorists, so you should not add to these with your ‘helpful’ comments!

There is currently no law against back-seat drivers, but there are laws that focus on not engaging in distractive activities. Motorists can be charged with careless driving or failing to be in proper control of their vehicle. In other words, a backseat driver might not receive 3 points on their licence, but their comments may lead to the driver getting into trouble with the law if they become too distracted.

Above all, remember to simply focus on your driving. This needs to be a priority for all drivers, even if you’re driving on a route you regularly take. It may seem a pretty obvious, but many motorists forget this, which makes them victim to distractions like backseat drivers’ criticisms. And remember, if backseat drivers persist with their comments, you can always kindly remind them where the nearest bus stop is!

Visit eCar, an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.

Click here to read more.

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Wednesday 22 June 2011

Cheapest way to travel in London? Chauffeur-driven luxury cars!

When getting around busy cities in the UK such as London, many of us tend to take public transport, with the bus or tube being popular choices. Most of us would much rather travel in a more luxurious form of transport rather than squeezing onto the tube for the daily commute. Unfortunately, the general consensus is that luxury travel would be out of most people’s price range, with public transport costing much less. But in reality, is public transport really the cheapest choice?

According to new research by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), it would seem that a cheaper option to public transport would be the Rolls-Royce Phantom!

For those who don’t know much about the Phantom, here’s a brief overview:
Nearly 20ft long and 6ft 6in wide, suicide doors that close electrically, a 6.75 litre V12 engine which goes 0-60 in 6 seconds and has a price tag of £250,000. In other words, it’s a far nicer experience than slotting yourself into a tube carriage that’s already full to the brim. But how on earth can it be cheaper to use one of these over public transport?

The ETA has worked out that currently, a tube ticket in central London can cost up to £24 per mile. The Phantom will set you back £200 per hour (which includes your very own chauffer), which works out to around £16 per mile in Central London.

The only downfall on travelling in the Phantom is its lack of regard for the environment. The ETA state that driving one kilometre would emit 377g of CO2 which is around five times more than that generated on the tube.

This research has highlighted the ever-rising cost in public transport, which is putting many people off using it. The fact that hiring one of the most luxurious cars available today can be cheaper than the tube certainly should raise some eyebrows for those involved in public transport fares. So the next time you’re in London and decide to treat yourself by hiring or even buying (if you’re lucky and have a spare £250,000 lying around) a luxury vehicle, you may save a few quid on travel expenses! Just make sure you’re insured before you set off!

Visit eCar, an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.

To read more on this story, click here.

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Thursday 16 June 2011

Britons still reluctant to take out travel insurance – but at what cost?

It’s that time of the year again – Britain’s unpredictable ‘summer’ weather is here which means that holidaymakers across the UK will takes their chances abroad for warmer weather.

Planning on what one needs to take with them on holiday can usually be a stressful experience. Whilst trying to make sure all the essentials are packed such as tickets and passports; new research has shown that holidaymakers are choosing not to pack one vital item... Travel Insurance.

Around 12 million Brits have made plans to visit friends and family abroad this summer, with many more expected to book last minute deals online. However, despite this huge figure, only half of young people have taken out insurance. Research published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) found that 39% of people who were visiting friends and family in Africa did not take out travel insurance on their previous trip and only 48% took out travel insurance when visiting relatives in South Asia.

Many people feel that travel insurance is redundant when visiting friends or family abroad, regardless of where they are travelling in the world. In reality, it’s the most important item to pack in your suitcase. The foreign office are reminding those who don’t take out travel insurance run the risk of facing a colossal medical bill, whether they are visiting friends and family or not.

In order to tackle these alarming statistics, the FCO have launched a new ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign, which aims to remind Brits to make sure they have obtained appropriate travel insurance before they jet off. The FCO has also released some examples of foreign medical costs. For example, a broken arm in Spain can cost £5,000, whereas getting an air ambulance in Australia can leave you with a bill of £100,000.

The same costs can apply to potential diseases you may catch while abroad. For example the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have recently warned that the rise in malaria cases in UK, which has seen a 30% increase in cases, is potentially down to travellers staying with friends and family abroad and not taking the necessary precautions. The HPA believes that this is because many travellers staying with people they know believed they would not be at risk when they know the area they were visiting. However, those who have not taken out insurance will not be able to rely on the Foreign Office to arrange better medical treatment or pay bills for any British travellers.

Besides these facts, many still see travel insurance as an unnecessary extra when planning a holiday, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. This blog only scratches the surface of potential risks travellers face when going abroad, with many more (for example, ash clouds cancelling flights) that could also be detrimental to travellers and their wallets. Even the slightest injury abroad or losing an item of luggage could leave you with a bill that costs more than the holiday itself.

With the ability now to obtain online travel insurance at a cheap and affordable price, there really is no excuse. It should be a priority after you’ve booked your flight and accommodation. You can then get back to the other important task... looking forward to your holiday!

Check out eTraveller to see how much money you can save on your travel insurance. You can get a quote in seconds, with a choice between Essential and Extra cover to suit your own individual needs. Click here to see how much money you can save.

For more on this story, click here.


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Wednesday 8 June 2011

Hitchhiker Cat Travels Over 400 Miles from Home

Charlie is a one-year-old black and white moggy. Recently she vanished from her owner Natasha Jones, 18, only to be found four months later... 400 miles from home!
Natasha currently lives in Tywardreath, Cornwall. She bought Charlie, along with her brother Bruster from a nearby farm over the Christmas period. Both cats were being house trained before they were let outside to roam the neighborhood. However, when both cats were let out for the first time in February, only Bruster returned a few hours later with Charlie nowhere to be seen. Weeks went by and with still no sight of Charlie, sadly she was presumed dead.
Natasha frantically attempted to find her beloved cat by posting flyers across town, hoping that someone would spot her and hand her in. It was not until 4 months later that Natasha received a call, explaining her cat had been found 400 miles away in North Wales.
 Representatives from the RSPCA said that it’s quite common for cats to wonder away from their homes, but for Charlie to travel such great a distance was unbelievable.
Charlie was found injured on the side of the road at the port of Holyhead, North Wales. RSPCA Inspector Mike Pugh said that they only realised that the cat had an owner when they spotted her collar. When she was found, she was reported to have been in a lot of pain and was terribly frightened.
As to how she ended up 400 miles from home is currently unknown. The most likely explanation would be that she hitched a ride with a van or lorry. The RSPCA have begun asking many van drivers who travelled from Cornwall to the north of Wales in February to get in touch if they have any further details on this story.
This story, although having a happy ending, highlights a valuable lesson in keeping our pets safe. Pets have a tendency to get themselves into trouble and it is up to the owners to ensure that they are kept out of harm’s way as much a possible. Many pets that have gone missing have been reported to have been found again hundreds of miles from their homes, months or even years after they have been reported missing. So getting your pets microchipped should be a necessity for all families.
Also many lost animals, like Charlie, don’t have enough experience in wild environments, which means that the chances of them being hurt or injured are very high. This means that families may have to pay thousands in veterinary bills. Therefore, pet insurance should be something all families need to consider.
Natasha has been reunited with Charlie and is now being nursed back into good health. They are now also getting Charlie microchipped just in case she decides to set off on another long distance adventure!
Visit ePet for pet insurance to protect against unforeseen incidents that can affect both your pet and your pocket. ePet offers a variety of policies to suit you and your pet. Each year 1 in 3 pets are injured or become ill and need urgent veterinary treatment. We can help cover the cost of these unexpected bills for as little as 13p a day, leaving you with the important job of helping your important member of the family back to full recovery.
Read more about this story here.
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Friday 3 June 2011

Are you covered for the festival season this year?

The summer is almost upon us, which means that the festival season has arrived. The UK is spoilt for choice in terms of festivals, ranging from small local festivals featuring the best of the local talent, to the mammoth Glastonbury Festival where over 130,000 will gather to see the likes of Coldplay, U2 and Beyonce.
Those who are planning to go to any festivals this year are being warned that as well as making sure the essentials have been packed (sleeping bag, toilet paper, tent!), they should also make sure that they will be fully covered with a good insurance policy throughout the event.
Many experts have reinforced the importance of being on guard against opportunistic thieves. Festival goers will spend most of the day away from their tents to watch various bands and artists perform throughout the day. This means that tents will be left unguarded for hours at a time. Potential thieves could enter someone else’s tent and take something without anyone knowing, due to the difficulty of not knowing which tents people own. It is therefore invaluable for festival goers to ensure that their insurance policies will in fact cover them during the course of the festival they attend.
Many insurance policies state that if you need to make a claim, it’s vital that you report any lost or stolen items within 24 hours, as some policies may become void if policy holders fail to do this. Other insurance policies will not cover any items that have been left in a tent that doesn’t have a lock, so to avoid any hassle, it’s best to ensure all valuable items are kept with you at all times, keeping a vigilant eye out for potential pickpockets.
As well as having insurance to protect your valuables, those attending festivals also need to consider checking their car insurance if there is more than one driver on the way to the festival and back. Second driver cover may vary between insurers. This is important advice for festival goers, who mainly consist of young drivers and on average are more likely to have an accident. Breakdown cover is also worth checking, especially if you have to travel a great distance.
Even though many people don’t want to think about these things when they’ve bought their festival tickets, most experts say that it’s worth the hassle. Festivals are great experiences that can easily be ruined if you find that one of your valuables has been pick-pocketed and your insurance can’t cover it. Festivals are also very expensive, so extra costs which could have been avoided can be very annoying.
So to make sure you are fully covered on the policies you currently hold, check your home insurance can cover any valuable items you take away with you and also ensure your car insurance has breakdown cover and that any second drivers are also covered. Doing these simple checks shouldn’t take long and will put your mind at ease for the festival season, so your only worry will be finding the best place to stand that is close enough both to the stage and the beer tent!
Visit eCar, an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever it’s suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.
Furthermore, visit eHome for an online insurance solution which allows you to buy your insurance any time of the day or night. We are completely online, so we don’t have to invest in expensive call centres. This means we can pass the savings onto our customers in the form of lower premiums! We can offer you great deals in Building Only, Contents Only or  Building and Contents policies.
To read more about this story, click here.
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Wednesday 1 June 2011

Citroёn to recall over 20,000 cars to resolve ‘passenger brake’ problem

BBC television programme Watchdog has recently uncovered a serious issue with Citroёn’s new range of C3 Picassos. It was discovered by investigators that the brakes in the car could be operated by those seated in the passenger seat.
The fault is due to the conversion made to the French cars exported to the UK market, to make the initially left-hand drive cars, right-hand drive. This leaves a section of the braking system on the footwell on the passenger’s side. Currently, this mechanism is only protected by a thin piece of felt, which means that those seated in the front passenger seat can activate the brakes if they apply enough pressure on the footwell.
This issue was first raised by a cleaning company, which had 3 of the vehicles in question in its fleet. They discovered the error when travelling down the motorway at 70mph, only to find their car suddenly reducing speed to 50mph after a sharp brake that wasn’t initiated by the driver.
Upon hearing about this incident, investigators from the programme, ‘Watchdog’ tested two different cars of the same model in dealerships in South-East England only to find the same issue.
This is a major concern for the Citroёn company, which prides itself on the safety of their vehicles. Ironically, Citroën’s website explains how the C3 Picasso has an innovative and comprehensive braking system, but it’s doubtful they thought a fault like this would occur. Since the programme aired on 19th May, Citroёn have issued a statement on their website to address this issue. They claim that since the C3 Picasso model launched in 2009, they have had no incidents like this previously reported to them. However, they are offering all 22,000 people that have purchased this vehicle in the UK to go to their nearest Citroёn dealership to have an additional component fitted which will isolate the braking mechanism from the front seat passenger. This will be completed free of charge.
This isn’t the first time in recent years that particular models of cars have had to be recalled due to some major faults. In early 2010, Toyota had to recall around 4.1 million vehicles worldwide due to an accelerator issue, in which some cases found the accelerator to stick in a depressed position.
The advice given to C3 Picasso owners is to continue to use their cars as normal and to contact Citroёn with any questions or queries regarding this issue. Reports from Watchdog suggest that if car owners want to check their own vehicles to see if they are affected by this issue, ensure the handbrake is on and that the vehicle is stationary. Then ask someone to sit in the front passenger seat and apply pressure to the footwell. If the driver can see the brake pedal moving down on its own when the passenger applies pressure, then they will need to contact the manufacturer immediately. But again, ensure the handbrake is ON before testing your vehicle.
It’s also a good idea to make sure your car insurance is in order as well to make sure you are covered if this fault or any other potential faults may occur. Visit eCar, an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.
To contact Citroёn regarding this issue, call the Citroёn Contact Centre on 01753475862 or email cuk_contactcentre@citroen.com.
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Tuesday 31 May 2011

‘Pay How You Drive’: A Path to Cheaper Car Insurance for Young Drivers?

It’s common knowledge that for young drivers, car insurance can be a difficult thing to find. Even with schemes such as ‘Pass Plus’, car insurance for some young drivers can a lot of the time outweigh the cost of the car itself, making driving unfeasible.
But there may be light at the end of the tunnel with the latest trend in car technology, known as the ‘Smartbox’. The idea of the Smartbox is to track how young drivers use their car. The Smartbox aims to tackle high premiums given to young drivers by tracking each individual driver every time they use their vehicle.
The Smartbox is a small device (about the size of a mobile phone) that will track drivers via satellite. It will measure how fast you drive, how you take corners, how you break, acceleration and will also look at how long the drivers’ journeys are. Policyholders are then able to monitor all their information online. The policyholder’s information is given a rating; one (very poor) to five (excellent). Their premium is then re-calculated every 90 days. The cost of this premium will depend on the drivers’ ratings. The premise for this new piece of technology is that it will encourage younger drivers to drive safely, even when they are driving by themselves. Insurance companies using this technology will then reward this driver with a discount of around 11% on their premium. On the other hand, bad drivers may be punished by having their premiums cost up to an extra 20%.
Although the idea of the Smartbox does sound promising, there are some setbacks, as there are with most new pieces of technology. For example, the Smartbox may not understand that you are taking a sharp turn or going around a mini roundabout. Instead it may mistake this as the driver not taking corners very well, which will affect the driver’s overall rating. Also, as the Smartbox measures mileage, so those who frequently take long journeys in their car will not benefit from this.
Nevertheless, it can be an advantage for those young drivers who drive safely but are being penalised on their insurance premiums only because their peer group on average have more accidents. It may also put the parents’ minds at ease, as they have a system to where they can visually asses their children’s’ driving behaviours anytime.
First impressions from young drivers regarding this new piece of technology are mixed. Many don’t like the idea of being monitored, believing that it takes away the ‘freedom’ that many feel when they first pass their test. Others also believe that good drivers that make mistakes from time to time may also be unfairly judged as a bad driver. But those who believe they are safe drivers feel that it’s about time they were rewarded for their good driving behaviour, rather than being judged on their peer group.
The advice for teens at the moment however is to shop around. As this new technology may sound good on paper, it may not benefit all drivers. Also in many cases, companies that use the Smartbox technology were not the cheapest option.
It will however be interesting to see how this new technology will affect the market and the way in which young people drive, or if it will be seen as just another gimmick.

If you’re a young driver and want to sort out your car insurance right away, visit eCar, an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.
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Friday 27 May 2011

Pothole Crises Takes a Turn for the Worst at the Expense of Bikers

Potholes are a major nuisance for all motorists, but tend to cause bikers the biggest problem, with many accident consultants claiming that bad roads can lead to serious or even fatal accidents. Some potholes can even lead to motorcycles being flipped over, causing major damage both to the bike and the rider.
For the government, fixing the ever-growing amount of potholes is no small task. Recent research conducted by Parliament has estimated a total cost of £13billion is needed to repair every pothole in the UK. This problem has also become more complicated recently as councils are debating on what to define as a pothole. Lambeth Council in South London, has recently stated that any pothole under the depth of 1.57 inches will no longer be repaired, when previously the depth had to be more than 0.96 inches in order for it to be repaired. This trend is likely to be followed now by many councils across the UK.
This is not good news for all motorists who already have to fork out over £1billion collectively in repair bills for damages caused by potholes.
Obviously this is becoming a problem that does not look like subsiding any time soon. Potholes.co.uk claims that even if all councils were given the right amount of funding to fix every damaged road, it could take up to 11 years to catch up in England and 16 years for Wales.
The only advice currently available to bikers is simply to slow down and keep your eyes open on the roads, but this is easier said than done, especially when considering bad weather conditions or poor lighting.
On the forums, the advice on how to tackle a pothole if you can’t avoid it is to slow down as much as possible, releasing the brake just before you enter the pothole. Then stand up slightly with your knees bent on the pegs so the legs to act as a shock absorber. This should also relieve the pressure on the bike when it hits the pothole. After the initial collision with the pothole accelerate slightly and smoothly to avoid swerving.
This information however is only advice from other motorcyclists’ on the forums and doesn’t guarantee an injury or damage free method of hitting a pothole.
Only time will tell how Britain’s pothole crises will pan out, but for now it’s not looking good.
If you are considering making a claim after a pothole motorcycle accident, ensure you gather the evidence of the pothole and make an accurate report of the accident before you make claim.
Visit eBike, the online bike insurance website which allows you to quote and buy your car insurance in minutes! So you can ride safe in the knowledge that you are fully covered. As well as an annual policy, we can also offer you monthly Pay As You Go policies.

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