The Department for Transport announced today:
Fraud is one of the main factors driving up the cost of motor insurance, says the cross party transport committee at the House of Commons. Wider access to justice should not provide a licence to make false personal injury claims under car insurance policies. A dedicated police unit – paid for by the insurance industry – should be established to tackle this escalating problem.
Launching a report about ‘The cost of motor insurance’ (Fourth Report of Session 2010–11), Louise Ellman, Chair of Transport Committee said:
“Wider access to justice is to be welcomed, but it has come at a significant cost, with far more personal injury claims being made than in the past.
The police made plain to the committee that ‘staged accidents’ are on the increase and that, so far, we have been lucky there have been no fatalities resulting from such incidents. That luck may run out unless the insurance industry acts rapidly to help the police target this kind of insurance fraud.”
MPs call on the Government to do more as a matter of urgency to bring down the “appalling” casualty rate amongst young drivers, including by making the driving test more rigorous.
“If we are to curb the casualty rate, especially amongst young drivers, then it’s essential that the driving test properly prepares drivers for motoring. We welcome the Minister’s commitment to make the driving test more rigorous but proposals for change have been around for years. What matters now is that the Government publishes for consultation the changes it wants to make, with a timetable for implementing them before the next election,” adds Louise Ellman.
Read the full press release and the report at http://bit.ly/en6ouI
