Insurance for a learner driver questions.

[JOG]

No, the terms are fixed at the inception of the policy and remain constant for the whole term of the policy. Any potential additional charges, restriction, fees and termination clauses will be set out in the Ts&Cs that you agree to, just like any other form of contract.

The issue is that most people don't take the time to read the Ts&Cs and then claim to have been blindsided when they're applied.

Always read the Ts&Cs and walk away if you're not happy with them

No, the terms are fixed at the inception of the policy and remain constant for the whole term of the policy. Any potential additional charges, restriction, fees and termination clauses will be set out in the Ts&Cs that you agree to, just like any other form of contract.

The issue is that most people don't take the time to read the Ts&Cs and then claim to have been blindsided when they're applied.

Always read the Ts&Cs and walk away if you're not happy with them.

Edited post to remove “arbitrarily”!!!

 

[Lubrown]

Seems to me that compulsory black boxes for new drivers should be brought in, there’s talk of banning new drivers taking passengers or having a curfew so black boxes seem to be the obvious first step, but the next step I guess will be everyone having a black box.

I’m not in favour of them for several reasons…
For starters the non-stop erosion of privacy (and the normalisation of this ‘for our own good’) and the fact they don’t solve myriad other issues - phone use while driving or even just poor awareness etc.
Aiming them at young drivers doesn’t reduce the accidents all others drivers cause (how many times have we seen old dears get confused as to which pedal to press?). Plus you can never fully trust technology. My phone has apparently visited places I had to look up to see where they were (and have never been to in my life) - yet there they are in my location history!
The app for my ‘smart’ watch once told me I’d just completed a run somewhere up north. Meanwhile it failed to record my hike, at the same time, down south. Garmin couldn’t give two hoots their system apparently swapped activities from two different accounts even though they admitted that’s what seemed to have happened “somehow”.
GPS can be blocked or recorded in a database wrongly - we have seen with database errors where the DVLA wrongly record vehicles as being written off.
And then, if you stop using the black box does the recording ever stop? I sold a motorcycle with a tracker on it, stopped my account, told them I’d sold the bike etc. and got a partial refund on the subscription.
I then got alerts every time the new owner went for a ride. I could see where he lived, where he shopped… the lot. Had to call the company twice more to get them to finally stop passing me someone else’s personal data.

I’d say if we want better driving standards we need more Police on the roads and probably more average speed cameras - bet nobody finds that an attractive prospectus they do actually work to reduce accident numbers.
We also need better security at driving tests so people can’t get a friend or relative to do it for them. And force the taxi app companies to somehow ensure only the registered driver is driving - seems a growing issue now and I know several taxis that have been confiscated by Police but the companies involved simply don’t seem to care.

Fine to have black boxes as a choice for people but not mandated for just one group of drivers when bad drivers are present in any group you can dream up.

 

[StratosFearXX]

So thinking about these black boxes and invasion of privacy and stuff, my '24 plate 6.1 knows where I've been, records speeds, mpg etc etc as does my tracker (that I had to fit for the insurance). I'm fairly sure most modern vehicles are the same?

I know I can set my privacy on the head unit but I'm sure it's still recording all that stuff?

 

[Pewt]

So thinking about these black boxes and invasion of privacy and stuff, my '24 plate 6.1 knows where I've been, records speeds, mpg etc etc as does my tracker (that I had to fit for the insurance). I'm fairly sure most modern vehicles are the same?

I know I can set my privacy on the head unit but I'm sure it's still recording all that stuff?

And that's before we mention a smart phone so there is no escape unless you live in the wilderness

 

[dubber36]

I find that driving my daughters car with a Marmalade box makes me try to get 100% scores. To be honest, it's not that hard, you just need to be smooth and observant. Just like how we were all taught to drive. This driving style has carried over to how I drive all vehicles now regardless of whether I'm being monitored or not.

 

[cgtmiles]

I’m not in favour of them for several reasons…
For starters the non-stop erosion of privacy (and the normalisation of this ‘for our own good’) and the fact they don’t solve myriad other issues - phone use while driving or even just poor awareness etc.
Aiming them at young drivers doesn’t reduce the accidents all others drivers cause (how many times have we seen old dears get confused as to which pedal to press?). Plus you can never fully trust technology. My phone has apparently visited places I had to look up to see where they were (and have never been to in my life) - yet there they are in my location history!
The app for my ‘smart’ watch once told me I’d just completed a run somewhere up north. Meanwhile it failed to record my hike, at the same time, down south. Garmin couldn’t give two hoots their system apparently swapped activities from two different accounts even though they admitted that’s what seemed to have happened “somehow”.
GPS can be blocked or recorded in a database wrongly - we have seen with database errors where the DVLA wrongly record vehicles as being written off.
And then, if you stop using the black box does the recording ever stop? I sold a motorcycle with a tracker on it, stopped my account, told them I’d sold the bike etc. and got a partial refund on the subscription.
I then got alerts every time the new owner went for a ride. I could see where he lived, where he shopped… the lot. Had to call the company twice more to get them to finally stop passing me someone else’s personal data.

I’d say if we want better driving standards we need more Police on the roads and probably more average speed cameras - bet nobody finds that an attractive prospectus they do actually work to reduce accident numbers.
We also need better security at driving tests so people can’t get a friend or relative to do it for them. And force the taxi app companies to somehow ensure only the registered driver is driving - seems a growing issue now and I know several taxis that have been confiscated by Police but the companies involved simply don’t seem to care.

Fine to have black boxes as a choice for people but not mandated for just one group of drivers when bad drivers are present in any group you can dream up.

I think, like it or not, mandatory black box type tech is a lot more likely to happen than more police on the road!

 

[dubber36]

I’m not in favour of them for several reasons…
the fact they don’t solve myriad other issues - phone use while driving or even just poor awareness

Some do link to phone apps, so they know if the phone is being used. They won't solve poor awareness as one wouldn't have stopped the 70odd year old fella that knocked me flying off my bike last Friday.

 

[Drive Wayne]

Some do link to phone apps, so they know if the phone is being used. They won't solve poor awareness as one wouldn't have stopped the 70odd year old fella that knocked me flying off my bike last Friday.

Are you damaged @dubber36 ?

 

[dubber36]

Are you damaged @dubber36 ?

Yes... oh wait, you mean after the incident. Surprisingly no.

A scuffed elbow and knee and cracked helmet. The bike suffered a bent chainset, buckled front wheel and scuffed bar tape. Just over £1200 in damage which the bloke has already paid for.

I'm off to ride in Majorca on Thursday, so when I was on the floor I thought it would bugger that up, but luckily I wasn't on the bike I am taking.

 

[Drive Wayne]

Yes... oh wait, you mean after the incident. Surprisingly no.

A scuffed elbow and knee and cracked helmet. The bike suffered a bent chainset, buckled front wheel and scuffed bar tape. Just over £1200 in damage which the bloke has already paid for.

I'm off to ride in Majorca on Thursday, so when I was on the floor I thought it would bugger that up, but luckily I wasn't on the bike I am taking.

At least he was a genuine, honourable, partially sighted gentleman, well done on a swift resolution! Not jealous about Majorca at all............. much.....

 

[Lubrown]

I think, like it or not, mandatory black box type tech is a lot more likely to happen than more police on the road!

Sadly very true

 

[Lubrown]

And that's before we mention a smart phone so there is no escape unless you live in the wilderness View attachment 303414

Of course, but as long as it’s a choice - that’s my stance, rather than just saying ‘this group must all have a black box’.

We have a choice to use a smart phone, what apps to install, what permissions we give said apps etc. Life is whole scale of grey, not just black or white.