Axa warns of danger posed by infrequent drivers

Mon, 21 Mar 2011

Drivers who pass their test but then only occasionally get behind the wheel pose a risk to car insurance holders, it has been warned.

According to car insurance provider Axa, there are some 1.5 million young drivers it dubs 'start stop drivers'.

These are aged 17-29 who, having passed their tests, rarely get behind the wheel.

This lack of practice means that when they do drive a car they are far more likely to have an accident than other drivers.

Asked to re-sit their tests, only one in five stop start drivers drove to a standard that would have passed, says Axa.

Sarah Vaughan, Axa's motor director, said: "Stop start driving appears to be an increasing trend and difficult to address as an insurer .

"Among the under 30s you have some very good drivers but there are clearly issues with those who rarely drive. Our research shows that experience really does count at all ages."

The Institute of Advanced Motorists recently advised that young drivers pick the right car to help keep insurance costs down - preferably one that is small as well as being as new as possible as it will be more likely to have better safety features.
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