17 September 2001: MIJAG, the Motor Insurance Justice Action Group, have written to the National Safety Council asking for a meeting to discuss recent comments by the Council's Chairman Eddie Shaw arguing that young drivers' insurance should not be lowered.

"The NSC have a very important role to play in solving the problem of over priced motor insurance for young drivers, and clearly there is an opportunity while this debate is raging to have some safety initiatives brought forward," said Mick Murphy, National Organiser of MIJAG. "However. a combination of ad campaigns on drink driving that features only YOUNG DRIVERS, seat belt wearing that features only YOUNG DRIVERS and speeding that features only YOUNG DRIVERS plus some other SHOCK tactics by the NSC have alienated the very group that they are trying to influence."

Mr Murphy went on to say that Mr Shaw is correct when he says that lack of experience is the single biggest problem. “Inexperienced drivers the world over, regardless of age, cause more road accidents. Many countries have found affective solutions to this problem, including having driving as part of the School Curriculum in Sweden or in many parts of the US allowing drivers only very restricted use of a car during the first six months while they learn to drive. The Irish solution of pricing people off the road is just simply avoiding the problem and discriminates against the Young Driver.”

MIJAG has argued that first-time drivers be charged the average premium when starting to drive and treated as being safe drivers until they prove otherwise.