Driving dangerously

ROAD SAFETY SURVEY
Drivers with young kids more likely to speed while women more likely to use phone when driving

by Neo Chai Chin

05:55 AM Jun 10, 2009

Drivers with young children in their cars are more likely to speed, switch lanes without signalling, and drive in bus lanes. Women are generally safer drivers than men, but are more likely to text-message or talk without using a hands-free phone kit while driving. And experienced taxi drivers tend to drive more dangerously than their less-seasoned counterparts.

These are some findings from a nationwide road safety survey commissioned by AXA Insurance, which polled 521 drivers, about one in five of whom are cabbies.

The survey, done by marketing research firm Acorn in February and March, also found that six in 10 drivers engaged in at least one instance of dangerous driving, most likely speeding, or accelerating on an amber traffic light.

These two acts, as well as driving in a bus lane during prohibited hours, are also the ones considered by half the drivers to be dangerous only under certain circumstances.

The survey shows that Singaporean drivers are “generally aware of safe driving practices but would at times engage in risky behaviour as they believe that potential road accidents can be averted by the driver, depending on the situation”, said Ms Tan Hwee Leng, Acorn’s senior research manager.

And while it seems counter-intuitive that drivers with young children would be the most dangerous on the roads, chief executive of AXA Insurance Singapore Henri Gurs said: “Sometimes when you have young kids, your attention is attracted to the backseat. You have to take care of them … so it can really have an impact on your driving”.

But Mr Azhan Othman, 37, disagreed with this. He drives more carefully when his nine-day-old baby is in the car, as do his friends who are young fathers, said the flight attendant.

Cabbie Simon Tay explained why seasoned taxi drivers may be more dangerous on the road. Some of the older drivers may have more financial commitments and “are trying to earn more, so there is pressure to find more passengers”, he said.

“And sometimes, it’s not that they want to speed. The passenger might be rushing to catch a flight, for example,” said the 53-year-old who has been driving a taxi for a decade.

AXA’s survey results come at a time when motor insurance claims are rising. Insurers and consumers alike are grappling with how to keep claims - and premiums - in check.

AXA’s claim frequency, for instance, increased to 16 per cent last year from 13 per cent in 2004. And the amounts claimed rose 20 per cent.

AXA declined to comment on the Consumers Association of Singapore’s proposed no-fault claims framework as its discussions with the General Insurance Association are ongoing.

But Mr Gurs believes irresponsible driving is largely a result of an increase in the number of young drivers. Claims at AXA from those aged 27 years and below are 50 per cent higher than those above this age group, he said. Meanwhile, drivers are less careful than before, even with more cars on our roads.

AXA plans to do the survey on a regular basis and tweak its policy offerings here to reflect certain trends.

In France, for example, AXA has been giving taxi vouchers to young policyholders since 2006.

“We identified drinking as having a very bad impact on the claims,” Mr Gurs said.

From TODAY, News – Wednesday, 10-Jun-2009; see the source article here.