Is the ECJ Gender Directive failing male motorists?

It’s getting on for 2 years since the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) Gender Directive kicked in.

This ruling, which took effect on December 21, 2012, bans insurers from charging men and women different prices purely on the basis of their gender.

But we’ve found that the ambition of creating a level playing field between male and female insurance buyers has not been fulfilled, at least as far as car insurance is concerned.

And it’s young male motorists who are still being hit hardest when it comes to premiums.

Pain in the pocket

The latest analysis from MoneySuperMarket’s number-crunchers has found male drivers aged 17 to 19 are paying 26% more for cover than their female contemporaries.

The figures reveal that, while female motorists in this age group pay an average of £893 a year for car insurance, male drivers in the same demographic pay £1,129 – that’s £236 more!

And although it’s young male motorists who are being hit hardest in the pocket hit, it seems this is part of an overall trend that sees men paying more for cover, no matter what their age.

Gender on the agenda

Women historically paid less for car insurance than men because, as a demographic, they made fewer claims – and those they made were generally of a lower value.

The gender ruling sought to put an end to insurers making gender-based assumptions on all kinds of insurance, including car, life and health insurance plans, as well as annuities.

You can see why this was controversial. The stats proved that women deserved to pay less. And there’s no evidence that anything has changed in recent months as far as women’s driving habits and capabilities are concerned. So they still deserve to pay less.

Shift to neutral?

Now we’ve found that, despite the introduction of gender-neutral price-setting, men are still paying 22% more for their car insurance than women, having seen premiums rise by 3.2% to an average of £439 over the last 12 months.

Women, on the other hand, have seen premiums rise by just 1.8% over the same period and now pay an average of £360 for a year’s cover.

Underwriting under scrutiny

But how can this be? Why isn’t the ECJ crashing down on motor insurers like a ton (sorry, tonne) of bricks in pursuit of its beloved level playing field?

That’s a tough one to answer. There’s no suggestion that insurers are sneakily using gender (they know if from the application form) to determine how much they’ll charge. And yet the price differentials are pretty much what you’d expect if they did.

Spooky, non?

Insurance underwriting – the process of determining how risky something is and charging a certain premium as a result – is a complex science. Motor insurance underwriters take all manner of things into account, including the type of car, the driver’s occupation, driving record, where s/he lives and his or her age.

So all we can assume is that insurers are relying on whatever information comes to hand about claims and charging more for the sorts of cars and drivers that are involved. And the net effect – you could even call it an unintended consequence – is that things have stayed pretty much as they were, at least as far as gender differentials are concerned.

All round bad news

That’s not to say car insurance premiums generally aren’t on the move. After a couple of years of falling premiums, the bad news for all motorists is that car insurance prices are up right across the board in recent weeks, with overall premiums rising to an average of £401 – the first price increase of 2014.

Although this is still considerably lower than this time 3 years ago, when annual premiums hit a high of £512, it highlights the need to shop around and compare quotes when renewal time rolls around.

Premium inflation

Kevin Pratt, Car Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket said: “Premium prices do fluctuate, and while we’ve been in a deflationary market for car cover for the last few years, costs are now creeping back up.

“What is surprising is that despite the fact that gender neutral pricing has been in place in the car insurance market for several years now, the battle of the sexes is still raging on. It seems men are still falling foul of car insurer’s risk profiling systems – but a raft of factors will influence this, including postcode, profession, make of vehicle and points on a licence.

“For car insurance, the bottom line is always to keep an eye on your renewal premium, to always shop around and therefore seek out the best possible deal for your circumstances – keep calm and compare.

“With premium prices currently trending upwards, it is even more important to make sure you aren’t paying over the odds on your renewal.”

Is the ECJ Gender Directive failing male motorists?

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

How many times have you spotted another motorist chatting or texting on a hand-held mobile phone while at the wheel?

What about tailgating, hogging the middle lane of the motorway, or simply ignoring the speed limit?

They are all illegal acts but, according to the latest RAC Report on Motoring, few of us actually expect the lawbreakers to be prosecuted or even caught because of a lack of police to enforce the regulations.

So I guess that means I’ll have to content myself with shaking my head and muttering dark oaths when I witness such transgressions. And their name is legion, especially on the school run.

Road rage

Well over half of motorists (60%) believe there aren’t enough police officers on the roads.

What’s more, 40% reckon anyone committing an offence, such as aggressive driving, will more than likely escape conviction. No wonder law-abiding motorists are frustrated.

David Bizley, RAC technical director, says: “Motorists are tired of constantly seeing other drivers breaking the law and getting away with it, so it is hardly surprising that they want to see a greater police presence on our roads to enforce motoring legislation more effectively, which would also act as a genuine deterrent.”

Smart moves

Mobile phones are a particular bugbear: the research found that 3 quarters (75%) of motorists regularly spot other drivers talking on mobile phones.

A bit odd then that only 8% of drivers admit to using a hand-held phone on most journeys.

Still, there’s no doubting the growing concern about the perceived lack of comeuppance for the lawbreakers and the risk they pose to responsible drivers.

It’s also ironic, given a recent government crackdown on careless driving.

Ton of trouble

Last summer, the police were given the power to issue on-the-spot fines of £100, plus 3 penalty points, to drivers who commit careless driving offences such as tailgating or hogging the middle lane.

The fixed penalty for most other offences, including using a mobile phone at the wheel, also went up from £60 to £100.

Candid camera

Of course, it’s one thing giving the police extra powers, it’s quite another giving the police extra resources. But at least there’s the trusty camera to monitor the road menace.

In fact, the only offences that motorists believe are effectively enforced are traffic lights and speeding violations, where you are more likely to be caught by a camera than a police officer.

In the survey, half the motorists with speeding points were trapped by a speed camera, but only a quarter (24%) by a police officer.

Fast and loose

Speeding is definitely the nation’s weak spot, with 40% of motorists admitting to breaking the limit on country, urban and 20mph roads.

Drivers find it even harder to stick to the speed limit on motorways, where 67% admit to driving faster than the law allows, which could perhaps explain why 70% of drivers think the speed limit on motorways should be raised to 80mph or above.

Could our need for speed have anything to do with the fact that fixed speed cameras are not used to enforce 70mph on motorways?

Whatever the reason, it’s obviously one law more motorists are prepared to break – at least while there’s little hope of getting caught.

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

How many times have you spotted another motorist chatting or texting on a hand-held mobile phone while at the wheel?

What about tailgating, hogging the middle lane of the motorway, or just ignoring the speed limit?

They are all illegal acts but, according to the most current RAC Report on Motoring, handful of of us actually anticipate the lawbreakers to be prosecuted or even caught since of a lack of police to enforce the regulations.

So I guess that means I’ll have to content material myself with shaking my head and muttering dark oaths when I witness such transgressions. And their name is legion, particularly on the college run.

Road rage

Effectively more than half of motorists (60%) think there aren’t sufficient police officers on the roads.

What’s a lot more, 40% reckon anybody committing an offence, such as aggressive driving, will a lot more than likely escape conviction. No wonder law-abiding motorists are frustrated.

David Bizley, RAC technical director, says: “Motorists are tired of continually seeing other drivers breaking the law and receiving away with it, so it is hardly surprising that they want to see a higher police presence on our roads to enforce motoring legislation a lot more successfully, which would also act as a genuine deterrent.”

Wise moves

Mobile phones are a certain bugbear: the study found that 3 quarters (75%) of motorists routinely spot other drivers talking on mobile phones.

A bit odd then that only 8% of drivers admit to making use of a hand-held phone on most journeys.

Nevertheless, there’s no doubting the expanding concern about the perceived lack of comeuppance for the lawbreakers and the threat they pose to responsible drivers.

It is also ironic, offered a current government crackdown on careless driving.

Ton of difficulty

Final summer, the police have been provided the power to problem on-the-spot fines of £100, plus 3 penalty points, to drivers who commit careless driving offences such as tailgating or hogging the middle lane.

The fixed penalty for most other offences, which includes using a mobile telephone at the wheel, also went up from £60 to £100.

Candid camera

Of course, it is 1 issue providing the police additional powers, it is really one more giving the police added resources. But at least there’s the trusty camera to monitor the road menace.

In reality, the only offences that motorists believe are properly enforced are targeted traffic lights and speeding violations, exactly where you are more most likely to be caught by a camera than a police officer.

In the survey, half the motorists with speeding points had been trapped by a speed camera, but only a quarter (24%) by a police officer.

Quickly and loose

Speeding is undoubtedly the nation’s weak spot, with 40% of motorists admitting to breaking the limit on nation, urban and 20mph roads.

Drivers discover it even harder to stick to the speed limit on motorways, exactly where 67% admit to driving quicker than the law allows, which could probably clarify why 70% of drivers believe the speed limit on motorways must be raised to 80mph or above.

Could our want for speed have something to do with the truth that fixed speed cameras are not utilised to enforce 70mph on motorways?

What ever the reason, it’s certainly one law far more motorists are ready to break – at least although there’s tiny hope of obtaining caught.

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

Linux Desires Automakers to Quit Failing at Infotainment by Using Frequent Computer software

Whilst it appears Apple and Google rule the world, we usually neglect about that small penguin in the corner, Linux. Certain, it doesn’t have the slick design of one thing with a pre-bitten fruit logo or control more than the world’s world wide web queries, but Linux quietly runs most of the rest of the web and the world’s supercomputers. And now Linux desires to take its brand of open-supply and free operating technique code to in-vehicle infotainment systems—a space exactly where Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto are already gearing up for a battle royale. 

At a current user summit, Linux unveiled the first pictures of what it calls “Automotive Grade Linux,” a brand-new common software program platform that would replace the slow, buggy in-auto touch screens we’ve come to loathe. Linux tells us it desires to hold a vertical, portrait-oriented interface—something only Volvo, Tesla, and McLaren have tried—to keep the experience far more all-natural to smartphone customers. Certainly, the organization’s dark blue–tinted display for climate, music, internet browsing, and a primary menu screen is very the change from what we’ve come to count on from OEMs. Still, considering that Linux is just a backbone and prides itself on supplying endless customization, this is only a single thought.

In addition to dozens of chipset and graphics suppliers swearing Linux allegiance, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, and the automaker that could genuinely advantage from tech help, Jaguar-Land Rover, are signing up, too. Cadillac’s CUE system—including the digital instrument panel discovered on a number of of the brand’s models—is powered by Linux, however the luxury brand is missing on the list. Neither Caddy nor Linux had an answer for the automaker’s absence.

Open-source computer software will not be straightforward for the contained, hugely proprietary automotive business to wrap its engineering brain about, but modify is currently coming. Since final year, Common Motors has allowed third-celebration app developers to go wild with its connected MyLink platform, and Ford has  for a whilst been offering developers cost-free software to construct apps for SYNC.

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“Collaborating within the AGL [Automotive Grade Linux] community helps the business steer clear of fragmentation that can waste time and R&D sources that could be put to greater use innovating on safety and reliability for drivers,” stated Linux director Rudolf Strief in a statement. Hey, after a recent test car routed us to a nearby jail rather of a bus station, we couldn’t agree far more.

Linux Desires Automakers to Quit Failing at Infotainment by Using Frequent Computer software

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

How many times have you spotted an additional motorist chatting or texting on a hand-held mobile phone although at the wheel?

What about tailgating, hogging the middle lane of the motorway, or merely ignoring the speed limit?

They are all illegal acts but, according to the most recent RAC Report on Motoring, couple of of us in fact expect the lawbreakers to be prosecuted or even caught since of a lack of police to enforce the regulations.

So I guess that indicates I’ll have to content material myself with shaking my head and muttering dark oaths when I witness such transgressions. And their name is legion, particularly on the school run.

Road rage

Properly over half of motorists (60%) think there aren’t adequate police officers on the roads.

What’s much more, 40% reckon any person committing an offence, such as aggressive driving, will more than most likely escape conviction. No wonder law-abiding motorists are frustrated.

David Bizley, RAC technical director, says: “Motorists are tired of continuously seeing other drivers breaking the law and receiving away with it, so it is hardly surprising that they want to see a greater police presence on our roads to enforce motoring legislation a lot more efficiently, which would also act as a genuine deterrent.”

Sensible moves

Mobile phones are a specific bugbear: the investigation identified that 3 quarters (75%) of motorists frequently spot other drivers speaking on mobile phones.

A bit odd then that only 8% of drivers admit to employing a hand-held telephone on most journeys.

Still, there’s no doubting the developing concern about the perceived lack of comeuppance for the lawbreakers and the risk they pose to accountable drivers.

It’s also ironic, provided a current government crackdown on careless driving.

Ton of trouble

Last summer time, the police have been offered the energy to problem on-the-spot fines of £100, plus 3 penalty points, to drivers who commit careless driving offences such as tailgating or hogging the middle lane.

The fixed penalty for most other offences, like making use of a mobile telephone at the wheel, also went up from £60 to £100.

Candid camera

Of course, it is 1 thing providing the police further powers, it’s very one more providing the police additional resources. But at least there’s the trusty camera to monitor the road menace.

In fact, the only offences that motorists believe are successfully enforced are visitors lights and speeding violations, where you are a lot more most likely to be caught by a camera than a police officer.

In the survey, half the motorists with speeding points have been trapped by a speed camera, but only a quarter (24%) by a police officer.

Fast and loose

Speeding is absolutely the nation’s weak spot, with 40% of motorists admitting to breaking the limit on nation, urban and 20mph roads.

Drivers locate it even tougher to stick to the speed limit on motorways, exactly where 67% admit to driving more rapidly than the law enables, which could maybe clarify why 70% of drivers believe the speed limit on motorways must be raised to 80mph or above.

Could our require for speed have something to do with the reality that fixed speed cameras are not employed to enforce 70mph on motorways?

Whatever the cause, it’s certainly one particular law much more motorists are prepared to break – at least while there’s small hope of acquiring caught.

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

How a lot of times have you spotted one more motorist chatting or texting on a hand-held mobile phone although at the wheel?

What about tailgating, hogging the middle lane of the motorway, or just ignoring the speed limit?

They are all illegal acts but, according to the newest RAC Report on Motoring, handful of of us actually count on the lawbreakers to be prosecuted or even caught due to the fact of a lack of police to enforce the regulations.

So I guess that indicates I’ll have to content myself with shaking my head and muttering dark oaths when I witness such transgressions. And their name is legion, particularly on the school run.

Road rage

Nicely over half of motorists (60%) think there aren’t sufficient police officers on the roads.

What’s more, 40% reckon anybody committing an offence, such as aggressive driving, will far more than likely escape conviction. No wonder law-abiding motorists are frustrated.

David Bizley, RAC technical director, says: “Motorists are tired of continually seeing other drivers breaking the law and getting away with it, so it is hardly surprising that they want to see a greater police presence on our roads to enforce motoring legislation far more properly, which would also act as a genuine deterrent.”

Sensible moves

Mobile phones are a distinct bugbear: the study found that 3 quarters (75%) of motorists frequently spot other drivers speaking on mobile phones.

A bit odd then that only 8% of drivers admit to utilizing a hand-held phone on most journeys.

Still, there’s no doubting the developing concern about the perceived lack of comeuppance for the lawbreakers and the danger they pose to accountable drivers.

It is also ironic, given a recent government crackdown on careless driving.

Ton of trouble

Last summer time, the police had been given the energy to situation on-the-spot fines of £100, plus 3 penalty points, to drivers who commit careless driving offences such as tailgating or hogging the middle lane.

The fixed penalty for most other offences, which includes employing a mobile telephone at the wheel, also went up from £60 to £100.

Candid camera

Of course, it’s 1 issue giving the police additional powers, it’s quite an additional providing the police added sources. But at least there’s the trusty camera to monitor the road menace.

In fact, the only offences that motorists believe are successfully enforced are visitors lights and speeding violations, exactly where you are much more probably to be caught by a camera than a police officer.

In the survey, half the motorists with speeding points have been trapped by a speed camera, but only a quarter (24%) by a police officer.

Quick and loose

Speeding is undoubtedly the nation’s weak spot, with 40% of motorists admitting to breaking the limit on nation, urban and 20mph roads.

Drivers uncover it even harder to stick to the speed limit on motorways, exactly where 67% admit to driving more quickly than the law permits, which could probably clarify why 70% of drivers feel the speed limit on motorways must be raised to 80mph or above.

Could our require for speed have something to do with the reality that fixed speed cameras are not utilised to enforce 70mph on motorways?

Whatever the reason, it’s obviously 1 law a lot more motorists are ready to break – at least while there’s small hope of acquiring caught.

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?

How many times have you spotted an additional motorist chatting or texting on a hand-held mobile telephone even though at the wheel?

What about tailgating, hogging the middle lane of the motorway, or merely ignoring the speed limit?

They are all illegal acts but, according to the most current RAC Report on Motoring, couple of of us actually count on the lawbreakers to be prosecuted or even caught since of a lack of police to enforce the regulations.

So I guess that signifies I’ll have to content myself with shaking my head and muttering dark oaths when I witness such transgressions. And their name is legion, especially on the school run.

Road rage

Properly over half of motorists (60%) believe there aren’t sufficient police officers on the roads.

What’s a lot more, 40% reckon any individual committing an offence, such as aggressive driving, will more than probably escape conviction. No wonder law-abiding motorists are frustrated.

David Bizley, RAC technical director, says: “Motorists are tired of consistently seeing other drivers breaking the law and obtaining away with it, so it is hardly surprising that they want to see a higher police presence on our roads to enforce motoring legislation much more efficiently, which would also act as a genuine deterrent.”

Wise moves

Mobile phones are a specific bugbear: the investigation located that 3 quarters (75%) of motorists regularly spot other drivers speaking on mobile phones.

A bit odd then that only 8% of drivers admit to utilizing a hand-held telephone on most journeys.

Still, there’s no doubting the developing concern about the perceived lack of comeuppance for the lawbreakers and the risk they pose to accountable drivers.

It is also ironic, given a recent government crackdown on careless driving.

Ton of problems

Last summer, the police were provided the power to concern on-the-spot fines of £100, plus 3 penalty points, to drivers who commit careless driving offences such as tailgating or hogging the middle lane.

The fixed penalty for most other offences, like employing a mobile phone at the wheel, also went up from £60 to £100.

Candid camera

Of course, it is one particular issue giving the police further powers, it’s quite yet another giving the police extra resources. But at least there’s the trusty camera to monitor the road menace.

In reality, the only offences that motorists believe are efficiently enforced are targeted traffic lights and speeding violations, exactly where you are far more most likely to be caught by a camera than a police officer.

In the survey, half the motorists with speeding points have been trapped by a speed camera, but only a quarter (24%) by a police officer.

Rapidly and loose

Speeding is absolutely the nation’s weak spot, with 40% of motorists admitting to breaking the limit on country, urban and 20mph roads.

Drivers find it even tougher to stick to the speed limit on motorways, where 67% admit to driving more quickly than the law permits, which could perhaps clarify why 70% of drivers think the speed limit on motorways ought to be raised to 80mph or above.

Could our need for speed have something to do with the truth that fixed speed cameras are not used to enforce 70mph on motorways?

What ever the explanation, it’s clearly 1 law much more motorists are ready to break – at least whilst there’s tiny hope of obtaining caught.

Are the police failing law-abiding drivers?