Belted Car Insurance

Bandied about in the National Press early in September was a story about car insurance that caused a considerable amount of heart fluttering in the insurance world—flutters, not of pleasure but of consternation. It seemed that a new insurance system was about to be launched that would throw to the winds such hitherto traditional imperatives as knock-for-knock and cancellation of blameless driver’s no-claims bonus.

The dailies didn’t quite have the whole picture, so we went along to an informal meeting to see what it was all about.

The whole thing is hinged on a new safety belt made by Wingard of Chichester. Now as far as any kind of restrictive harness is concerned, this magazine prefers to sit back and watch, [I prefer to sit back, without a belt, and drive.—Ed], but, as belts go, this seems to be a good one. Release is by a simple push-button, and the anchor points are protected by p.v.c. sleeves.

Fitting such a belt to a car entitles its owner to apply for insurance under the scheme which Wingard has arranged with a Lloyd’s broker. Basically, the scheme relies upon driver record, rather than type of car, to calculate premiums, and promises never to invoke the knock-for-knock agreement, which should be of immense benefit to those whose cars are mysteriously creased when parked. Windscreen damage up to £25 is also covered with no reduction in no-claims bonus. N.C.B. never goes down to zero in the case of a blameless driver, but reduces only to 25%

Since few drivers have similar records, we are not quoting figures, but we feel sure (in fact we’re positive) that a quotation would be simple to arrange.—G. P.

[I am all for insurance based on the driver’s record and not on the sort of car he proposes to drive but to assume that the timid who appear to hang by their necks from harnesses are a better risk than beltless tickers who know how to drive and therefore do not forever anticipate accidents is going rather too far. – Ed]