22 August 2001: The idea of insurance company AXA sponsoring a trial of a Satellite Tracking System for young drivers has been slammed as 'a propaganda stunt' by MIJAG, the Motor Insurance Justice Action Group.

"AXA/PMPA have sponsored Ad Campaigns on Drink Driving that only features YOUNG DRIVERS, a seat belt Ad Campaign that features only
YOUNG DRIVERS a slow down Campaign that features only YOUNG DRIVERS and now this," national organiser of MIJAG Mick Murphy said this week. "The bottom line is AXA/PMPA earn over half of all of their annual profits from the very lucrative Young Drivers and they will stop at nothing to keep it that way. While the figures are not made public it is accepted in the Industry that AXA/PMPA insure more young drivers than any other company."

Mr Murphy says the Motor Insurance Advisory Boards interim reports shows that insurance companies make at least £211 profit on each young driver policy as opposed to £60 for older driver policies. "The MIABs final report is due out in the next few weeks and AXA/PMPA are doing all they can to prepare the ground for the inevitable fall out," he concludes.

Mr Murphy says that 83% of all accidents are caused by driver behaviour and that there is a lot that can be done to affect this 'starting with enforcement of some of the basic rules of the road'.

"The fact that anyone might seriously considering paying £1,500 for a system that would subjecting them to this level of surveillance is an indication of the desperate situation that young drivers in Ireland find themselves in," He says. "This system is only potentially viable on the basis that it might save up to half of a typical £4,000 insurance premium. What we really need to do is end the rip-off."