Insurance policy aims to keep drivers mobile

Press, 20 May 1987, Page 9

Insurance policy aims to keep drivers mobile

By

JANE ENGLAND

An insurance policy which aims to keep people mobile after they lose their driver’s licence through disqualification is raising a few eyebrows in Christchurch. A brochure advertising the Chaufferplan insurance policy says that the loss of a driver’s licence can have disastrous consequences on a businessman and his company. The policy offers reimbursement of expenses for a chauffeur service or taxi hire after disqualification and can extend to cover legal fees incurred when the case comes to court Annual premiums range from $297 to $693 for policies from $10,400 to $26,000. The secretary-manager of the New Zealand Harness Horse Association, the firm acting as the South Island agent for Chaufferplan, Mr Peter Cook, said there had been some controversy about Chaufferplan’s introduction in New Zealand. “Our main aim is to try

to get over the stigma that we are flaunting the law because that is not what we are about at all,” he said. Similar schemes that had been established in the United Kingdom in 1971 also faced “a few hiccups” when they were first introduced, he said. “But when people weighed up the pros and cons they realised the benefits.” The policy is not open to abuse by people who

continuously drink and drive because people are only eligible for cover if they have not previously violated any transport acts or regulations, he said. Mr Cook said the policy might encourage a few people to drive carelessly, “but I think in general people will look at it in the right vein.” This attitude was not echoed by the Traffic Superintendent of the Christchurch , Regional office of the Ministry of Transport, Mr lan McLauchlan. “It can be likened to shutting the gate after the horse has escaped,” he said. “I would not be impressed with anything that can be seen as circumventing disqualification of a driver’s licence — if the court deems an offence serious enough for disqualification I think that decision is paramount. “I would rather see people driving in a way that would lead them to avoid disqualification — that is the best insurance.”