TVR Crash near Cambridge

[rthierry]

There was extremely sad news this morning on the tvrcc egroup mailist. Apparently the Cambridge Evening News reported that a Yellow Griffith crashed when the driver lost control whilst overtaking another car. The 2 occupants would be dead.
This type of news always sends a shiver down my spine, and although I don't know the details of the accident I am wondering whether it could have been prevented. The cars we drive can easily bite you - flooring a Griff in third can be easily send the car spinning.

I know that advanced driving instruction (Don Palmer and other courses recommended by the TVRCC) is highly recommended and the reason why I haven't done it yet is because it is rather expensive. Sometimes I am wondering whether attending such course shouldn't be mandatory for people buying such cars. Usually I am not one to call for extra regulation, specially in an area which is ridiculously over-regulated, but what about this: lower insurance premiums for people who bother to further their driving skills and learn how to control their cars?

I just find devastating when what was meant to be fun (like a Sunday mornign blast) turns into a tragedy.

Must get on with some work know - cheers

Roms

[campbell]

It is very sad to here of such accedents that happen rthierry
But as fare as the insurance companies would be concerned, I dont think they would offer lower insurance premiums to people even if people were all qualified to the hilt, but it would be a good insentive for people to get there advanced driving instruction and learn to drive there performance cars better and safer.

Campbell

[castex]

If I know insurance companies they would take any evidence of having embarked on further training, particularly if the course title or description has any mention of "TVR" or "Performance", as evidence that you're not driving such a car to show off to women and generally cruise around, but that you intend to use the car to its full capabilities. As such you're a lunatic, and will pay dearly for the 'Privilege'.

[Simpo One]

'lower insurance premiums for people who bother to further their driving skills and learn how to control their cars?'

Indeed. Regrettably there is absolutely no incentive for people to take such courses. Imagine being stopped for a minor speeding offence, showing Plod your Certificate and being let off with a caution instead. I think there would be no shortage of takers.

Griff 500s do bite - it's not just the torque but the hard suspension which means that under power the car can skitter over cats eyes and bumpy roads, unsettling it and, if near the limit, leading to loss of grip. Fine for the track, but personally I found the 4.0 better and more 'chuckable'for our less-than-perfect roads.

It certainly demands respect and a careful approach to the right pedal. In most 'normal' cars the limiting factor is the car, but with these things it's the driver.

[XPLOD]

With the best will in the world, I think the idea of additional training leading to reduced insurance premiums is a nonsense. After 9 weeks of full time Police driver training, attaing a Class One standard, the firms that offer a discount are never as cheap as the cheapest anyway.

[plotloss]

The only way in which insurance companies would go for it is if they spun off an advanced driver arm of the business to segment it from all other claims.

Insurance is a simple concept from their point of view, work out how many claims you had last year, add a bit and then divide by the number of customers adding weighting here and there for risk.

So if an insurance company can reduce the weighting to very little because all drivers of a certain company are with minimal risk it should lead to reduced premiums.

(This is not to do down the Actuaries who are very clever chaps indeed!)

Matt.

[loudpedal]

quote:

(This is not to do down the Actuaries who are very clever chaps indeed!)

apart from the fact that between them, they've funned up the financing of company pension schemes.

oops, I digress.

[loudpedal]

This subject is a real soberer though. The cars are just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on, but to hear about deaths like this just makes you stop and think. It certainly reigns in some of my exuberance...

[JonRB]

quote:After 9 weeks of full time Police driver training, attaing a Class One standard

Much respect, XPLOD.

quote:the firms that offer a discount are never as cheap as the cheapest anyway.

I found this with the I.A.M. too. Doesn't exactly encourage drivers to take further driver training, even though it makes you a better risk to the insurers.

[Fatboy]

I think it's because the cheapest places seem to ask the least questions And I think they're probably all underwritten by the same group, so there's still the loading on the advanced drivers to cover the accidents of other groups...