Press Release - 22/August/2001 Satellite Tracking of Young Drivers - "A Propaganda Stunt" The idea of the insurance company AXA sponsoring a trial of a satellite tracking system for young drivers has been slammed as "a propaganda stunt" by Mick Murphy the National Organiser of 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. 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" said Mick Murphy. "While the figures are not made public it is accepted in the industry that AXA/PMPA insure more young drivers than any other company. The Motor Insurance Advisory Board's interim reports shows that insurance companies make at least £211 profit on each young driver policy as opposed to £60 for older driver policies" said Mr Murphy. "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" Mr Murphy added. "83% of all accidents are caused by driver behaviour. 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 be subjecting them to this level of surveillance is an indication of the desperate situation that young drivers in Ireland find themselves. 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" Mr Murphy added. Back to Press Release Index