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Proposals by the European Commission to introduce a single
pricing policy for car insurance regardless of gender, is bad news for
women drivers.
Diamond, a direct insurer specialising in car insurance
for women, is concerned that the EU Directive's plan to rule out the use
of statistical evidence on differences between men and women's driving
records, will mean women are likely to pay more for their car insurance.
Diamond is actively encouraging its female customers to
contact Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry,
Minister for Women. Diamond wants to convince MPs that amending the Directive
to allow gender to remain a factor when calculating insurance premiums
will ensure women continue to pay a fair price.
Diamond's extensive research shows that women have a different
driving pattern to men. In motor insurance terms, women, and particularly
young women, are better drivers than men because they have fewer expensive
accidents. This is currently reflected in the difference in premiums that
men and women pay.
Sian Lewis, managing director at Diamond, said, "
I strongly believe that young women's better driving should be reflected
in lower premiums. If the EU Directive is not amended to allow gender
to be used for pricing insurance, women are the ones who will lose out."
Issue date: 12-03-04
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