AXA Insurance Northern Ireland Blog

Drivers hoping to save money on their running costs often consider purchasing a diesel vehicle in order to reduce the amount they spend on fuel bills and servicing.

Those who buy new models from the showroom may also find that they can attract a higher price later when they come to sell them on, as research from British Car Auctions (BCA) has revealed that diesel autos will attract a premium.

According to the body, an average diesel-powered vehicle will sell for around £1,600 more than one that runs on petrol, despite the fact they tend to have a higher mileage when they come up for sale.

Communications director at the BCA Tony Gannon said high prices at the pump may be one factor in influencing people’s choice of car, but it is not the only one.

“Our research for the Used Car Market Report shows that they also value diesel’s perceived relative economy in terms of miles per gallon and lower servicing costs,” he stated.

Recently, it was noted by the AA that people are favouring lower value vehicles when they make a purchase.

 Northern Ireland drivers according to the AAA are concerned about the condition of the roads in the country, and the damage to vehicles caused by problems such as potholes.

According to a poll conducted by the AA, 76 per cent of respondents stated that the quality of surfaces has deteriorated in the past three years, with almost half saying the amount of degradation is significant.

However, Northern Ireland’s roads did perform better than many other parts of the UK in the survey, which found Scotland has the worst highway network, with over nine out of ten people saying that it is a growing problem.

Commenting on the findings, president of the AA Edmund King stated: “We have to keep up the battle against this blight which damages cars and risks road safety.”

He also called for an improved long-term maintenance strategy and extra money to tackle the issue.

People in the UK consider car insurance to be their number one driving concern, a new poll has found.

Visitors to honestjohn.co.uk cited the cost of running a car as their top priority during the last three months of 2010, the company stated, with insurance being followed in the poll by smaller cars, as individuals look for vehicles that are cheaper to operate.

Editor of the website Dan Harrison said it is “unsurprising” that in a period when costs are rising, ways to make driving a less expensive activity are foremost in people’s minds.

The extreme weather that was experienced across the UK at the time of the survey was also reflected, as winter tyres were an issue which was on the minds of many of the site’s visitors.

Other concerns for drivers in the last quarter of 2010 included dealers, warranties and the effect of snow on the roads, the survey revealed.

Recently, a poll conducted by the AA revealed many people are also worried about the condition of the highways, with three-quarters of respondents saying the state of surfaces in their area has worsened in the last three years.

Of course another way to cut your motoring costs would be to insure with AXA. Recent independent online research showed that insuring with AXA saved an average of £139 compared to other Northern Ireland insurers.  (The average saving was achieved in a whopping 35% of cases).

 Ever feel that you are literally being taken for a ride when you go to fill up your car at the forecourt?

The AA stated that if a two pence drop in the market cost of a litre of petrol had reached consumers, it would have compensated for January’s VAT increase, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

Prices for fuel in Northern Ireland are something of a “postcode lottery”, the organisation added, with average costs being four pence per litre higher than some other parts of the UK.

Edmund King, president of the AA, called for information on wholesale prices to be made publicly available in order to encourage transparency in the market.

AXA’s top tip to reducing fuel costs – use an online comparison tool like the one at www.petrolprices.com. It works well right across Northern Ireland, for example, my search today listed 5 different garages in the Omagh area, showing and where to get the cheapest fuel. This search highlighted a 5p difference in the cost per litre for diesel which means you could save up to £3 on filling an average 60 litre tank.

Of course another way to cut your motoring costs would be to insure with AXA. Recent independent online research showed that insuring with AXA saved an average of £139 compared to other Northern Ireland insurers.  (The average saving was achieved in a whopping 35% of cases).

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced the continuation of his department’s road safety seatbelt campaign with sponsorship from leading local insurer, AXA Insurance.

Over the last decade there has been a major drive to improve seatbelt wearing rates, particularly amongst children and young adults.  The seatbelt advertising campaigns and the introduction of tougher new penalties for not wearing seatbelts have played vital roles in bringing about huge improvements.

The Minister said: “The AXA-sponsored seatbelt campaigns have had a significant influence on seatbelt wearing rates and saving lives.

“Prior to the campaigns starting in 2001 Northern Ireland had the worst seatbelt wearing rate in the UK. Now it is the highest – with all-time highs for drivers at 98%, front seats at 97%, and overall wearing at 97%.

“It is estimated that approximately 8 lives would be saved each year, 73 serious injuries and 269 slight injuries prevented if a 100% wearing rate was achieved.”

According to the World Health Organisation increasing seatbelt wearing is one of the fastest ways of reducing death and serious injury on the roads.

The minister continued: “I would especially urge parents to take responsibility for ensuring their children are safely secured while travelling – no matter how short the journey.  This simple action will massively increase a child’s chance of survival in a collision.  There is absolutely no excuse for not doing so.  My message today and every day is clear – NO SEATBELT, NO EXCUSE.”

Director of Road Safety in the Department of the Environment, Deirdre Kenny, said: “The urgent challenge in Northern Ireland is to improve backseat wearing where parents and drivers in charge of children and young people are breaking the law and putting lives at risk by not enforcing the wearing of seatbelts. The wearing rates of 5-9 year olds at 91% and of 10-13 year olds at 92% are most worrying and a reflection on the irresponsibility of a small minority of drivers, including parents, who are breaking the law and putting lives of children at risk.”

Marketing Manager for AXA Insurance, Kieran McCullagh said “There is no room for complacency on the issue of seatbelt usage. Drivers have a legal and a moral obligation to ensure their passengers are protected by a seatbelt. AXA insurance are delighted to support the DOE through sponsorship of the latest campaign and we are confident that this campaign will help to save lives and prevent serious injuries to our customers and drivers at large in Northern Ireland”

Brought to you by AXA Car Insurance Northern Ireland