Swap four wheels for two and save money
Motorists looking to cut their insurance premiums have been given some innovative advice this week - swap four wheels for two.
Motorists looking to cut their insurance premiums have been given some innovative advice this week - swap four wheels for two.
Don't worry, this doesn't mean tackling a 60-mile commute by pushbike, which could be rather time consuming, but rather hopping onto a fuel-efficient motorbike.
Ian Crowder, public relations manager at AA Insurance, recommends that motorists driving around inner city areas in particular take heed of this advice.
He says: "[Motorbikes] don't attract the congestion charge so that makes them doubly attractive as a means of getting into and out of London.
"They're easier to park, they're economical and they do tend to be somewhat cheaper to insure as well."
Mr Crowder added that people have also been motivated by their environmental consciences (he says a motorist could get 70 or 80 miles per gallon out of a bike, compared to 30 or 40 out of a car) and a desire to reduce their carbon footprints.
However, there are still some mental barriers to overcome before some people feel comfortable making this change.
This may be due to a set of statistics released by the Department for Transport, which show that 16,360 motorcyclists were injured during 2006, with those aged between 16 and 34 most likely to be involved in a crash.
For those who are concerned about safety but would still like to reduce the cost of their insurance policy, a solution may have already been invented.
AA Insurance recommends taking a motorcycle awareness course, as this could help reduce the cost of insuring the vehicle as well as make the driver more alert of the road and less likely to have an accident.
Mr Crowder added: "You can reduce the risk of having an accident by taking a motorcycle awareness course and taking such courses can reduce your insurance premiums.
"A bit of caution about the dangers of motorcycling is no bad thing because it enhances your awareness on the road and it will help you to be a little more alert.
"Provided you take proper precautions and you are observant then there is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy motorcycling."
Official statistics released by the Department for Transport seem to suggest that motorists are beginning to take Mr Crowder's advice on board.
According to the government department, in 2006 there were around 1.22 million licensed motorcyclists in Great Britain.
Furthermore, this year women took 10,630 motorcycle tests (54 per cent passed) and men took 66.363 (67 per cent passed) showing that maybe it is the females who have worked out that less wheels means a lower premium.
