Insurers to be asked to drop policy clauses that stop motorists going green

Motor insurers are to be asked to drop policy clauses that discourage drivers from making greener ­transport choices.

Transport officials say penalties such as removing the no-claims bonus makes households reluctant to get rid of their second car.

They want insurers to allow people become a named driver on a shared car and still retain their no-claims record in case they choose to get a car of their own again in future.

They say other clauses can also lock people into car ownership.

Novice drivers have difficulty getting insurance to drive vehicles that are part of car-sharing rental schemes.

Drivers have also reported problems when trying to run regular car-pooling with work colleagues.

If they ask for contribution to fuel costs that may be considered a commercial arrangement which changes the category of their insurance.

The issues are referenced in a long-awaited national plan for reducing car-dependency.

‘Moving Together – a Strategic Approach to Improving the Efficiency of Ireland’s Transport System’ aims to stem and reduce the country’s fast-growing transport emissions, tackle congestion and improve air quality.

The strategy is not prescriptive or binding, however. It focuses on setting policies and providing legislative backing for local authorities to use if they deem appropriate.

“It provides a firm policy direction and suite of options – such as road space reallocation, progressive taxation, freight efficiency, or behavioural incentives – that can be taken at national, regional and local levels to bring about the systems changed needed,” the Department of Transport explained.

It has not been finalised yet as a public consultation process has to be gone through so it will be the end of the year before the final strategy is approved.

Local authorities will then have two full years to devise their own local versions of the strategy setting out how they plan to achieve its objectives.

The draft strategy, approved by Cabinet yesterday, had a difficult path even getting to that point, with senior government members fearful of upsetting motorists.

The document is prefaced with the assurance: “This strategy is not about eliminating the car as a mode of transport or curtailing travel.”

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan added: “For many people, particularly in rural or isolated areas, they [cars] will continue to be critical.

“However, what this strategy is about is finding new approaches to making travel, by whatever means, more efficient and pleasant for ­everybody.”

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