Monday 26th February 2007
Drivers should compare car insurance costs for clean licenses with those convicted of using a mobile phone behind the wheel, according to the AA.
The insurer advised that about £180 in additional premium costs is likely to be incurred over the three-year period following an offence.
After one conviction, half of the firms surveyed by the AA increased their premiums by an average of 16 per cent.
Meanwhile, a second crime was associated with an increase of 32 per cent for 87.5 per cent of insurers, while one refused cover completely.
Janet Pell, head of motor insurance at AA, said: "While some insurers may ignore a first offence ... they are likely to significantly increase premiums for a second one."
"Insurers will take account of driving infringements over that [five-year] period, even though endorsements can be removed from your driving license after three years," she added.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) recently found that mobile users are four-times more likely to crash when on the phone while driving.
Rospa also noted that hands-free kits do not significantly reduce the likelihood of an accident as many crashes are caused by the mental distraction of a telephone conversation.
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