Estate agents are twice as likely to have a car accident as farmers

 

10/02/2006


Estate Agents come top of the list of motorists with the worst accident records - closely followed by Community Nurses, Chefs and Doctors, according to new research. 

Churchill Car Insurance has analysed its claims data and found a significant difference between certain professions and the likelihood of having a car accident.

 

In contrast with Estate Agents, Farmers make the least number of car insurance claims.  In Churchill's experience, this is because they live and work in rural areas with less congestion, which are more tranquil to work in than the stressful office environment.  Churchill's data also shows that Ambulance Drivers make fewer claims - they drive frequently and are therefore used to all types of road conditions, so are more confident drivers.

 

Darren McCauley, Head of Car Insurance at Churchill said, "The poorer claims experience associated with Doctors and Community Nurses most likely reflects the long hours they work in a very stressful job.  As a result, they are more likely to be tired when driving and possibly distracted.   Conversely, those who have jobs which involve working outdoors or drive for a living tend to have fewer accidents."

 

"Estate Agents make lots of journeys in their cars during the day –– dashing to see clients in urban areas and often parking wherever they can when they arrive."

 

Churchill’s top ten most frequently claiming occupations are:

  1. Estate Agent
  2. Restaurant Owner
  3. Community Nurse
  4. Property Developer
  5. Chef
  6. Doctor
  7. Aircraft cabin crew
  8. Social Worker
  9. Care Worker
  10. Shop Owner

 

and the least frequently claiming occupations are:

  1. Farmer
  2. Aircraft Fitter
  3. Horticulturalist
  4. Ambulance Driver
  5. Laboratory Technician
  6. Pilot
  7. Insurance Underwriter
  8. Agricultural Engineer
  9. Green keeper
  10. Mechanical Engineer

 

"People's occupations provide a useful lifestyle indicator, which we use to calculate our premiums.  It helps us to ensure that customers with good claims records do not subsidise those who make frequent claims. The data also suggests that people who have a job which allows them to work outside and are not confined to a desk make fewer claims." concluded McCauley.

 

Notes for editors:

 

The information was based on Churchill's claims experience for 2005

Journalists were slightly better than average - having a fairly good claims record

 

For more information please contact:


Frances Browning
Churchill Insurance
020 8313 5965
pressoffice@churchill.com