Meath: One of the highest growth rates of drivers

Meath Chronicle, Sat, Oct 29 05

THE number of drivers in Meath has increased by a massive 41 per cent since 1998
- one of the highest growth rates in the country, according to a recent survey.

The county’s drivers are paying E66.2 million a year in car insurance and,
of these, more than 10,000 drive cars of 2.0 litre or bigger and almost 13,800
do not have a full no claims bonus, according to the study which was carried out
by a new motor insurance company in association with local insurance brokers,
McKeever and O’Callaghan in Navan.

According to the study, the number of accidents since 1998 is very high and, in
2003, there were over 430 accidents reported on Meath roads. The survey was
carried out in advance of the launch of a new type of insurance policy, which
will benefit these high-premium drivers.

Leo O’Callaghan, of McKeever O’Callaghan, explains that the new insurance
policy from XS Direct has a higher excess than most. Men have to pay the first
E4,000 of any claim and women, the first E2,000.

This policy does away with the no claims bonus and everyone starts with a clean
slate. For drivers of high value cars or those who have lost their no claims
bonus, a high excess can offer significant savings, according to Mr.
O’Callaghan.