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| Government targets motoring costs and whiplash claims | Government targets motoring costs and whiplash claims |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Plans to pilot fuel price comparison signs on major roads and freeze the cost of the MoT test have been announced by the government. | Plans to pilot fuel price comparison signs on major roads and freeze the cost of the MoT test have been announced by the government. |
| Ministers have also pledged to crack down on the "compensation culture" on claims for whiplash injuries. | Ministers have also pledged to crack down on the "compensation culture" on claims for whiplash injuries. |
| The steps are part of a package of measures from next year aimed bringing down costs for motorists. | The steps are part of a package of measures from next year aimed bringing down costs for motorists. |
| The statutory maximum price of the MoT test for a car would remain at £54.85 until 2015. | The statutory maximum price of the MoT test for a car would remain at £54.85 until 2015. |
| Medical report | Medical report |
| The inflated cost of fuel on major roads is among the most common complaints among drivers. | The inflated cost of fuel on major roads is among the most common complaints among drivers. |
| In some areas petrol and diesel can cost 10p per litre more at motorway service stations. | In some areas petrol and diesel can cost 10p per litre more at motorway service stations. |
| The government wants to install a series of price comparison signs which will show the cost of fuel at all petrol stations along any given route. | The government wants to install a series of price comparison signs which will show the cost of fuel at all petrol stations along any given route. |
| Ministers are also promising to save motorists money by tackling what they call the compensation culture. | Ministers are also promising to save motorists money by tackling what they call the compensation culture. |
| Independent medical panels will be set up to identify exaggerated or fraudulent claims for whiplash. | Independent medical panels will be set up to identify exaggerated or fraudulent claims for whiplash. |
| Currently insurers can make an offer to claimants without a medical report. | Currently insurers can make an offer to claimants without a medical report. |
| Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "We are turning the tide on the compensation culture and helping hard-working people by tackling high insurance premiums and other motoring costs. | Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "We are turning the tide on the compensation culture and helping hard-working people by tackling high insurance premiums and other motoring costs. |
| "It's not right that people who cheat the insurance system get away with it while forcing up the price for everyone else - so we are now going after whiplash fraudsters and will keep on driving premiums down." | "It's not right that people who cheat the insurance system get away with it while forcing up the price for everyone else - so we are now going after whiplash fraudsters and will keep on driving premiums down." |
| 'Shake off reputation' | 'Shake off reputation' |
| GP Dr Rosemary Leonard told BBC Breakfast that the UK has a rate of whiplash that is "way higher" than the rest of Europe and "it is thought an awful lot of them are bogus". | |
| "If you had a genuinely nasty shunt in your car and you went to your doctor and you said 'well my neck's aching a bit' and the doctor just said 'well actually I don't believe you', you would quite rightly be very annoyed. | |
| "So as GPs we're in this position where we have to go along with what the patient says, because if we don't and it's a genuine case we could be sued." | |
| Roads minister Robert Goodwill said: "The costs of owning and running a car are felt by millions of households and businesses across the nation. The government is determined to help keep those costs down." | |
| Statistics from the AA show that motor insurance premiums are falling at the fastest rate since 1994 - 12.3% for an average comprehensive policy in the year to October. | Statistics from the AA show that motor insurance premiums are falling at the fastest rate since 1994 - 12.3% for an average comprehensive policy in the year to October. |
| James Dalton, Association of British Insurers head of motor and liability, said: "We have long called for more robust medical assessment of whiplash claimants. | James Dalton, Association of British Insurers head of motor and liability, said: "We have long called for more robust medical assessment of whiplash claimants. |
| "Setting up independent panels of accredited experts will help the UK shake off its reputation as the whiplash capital of Europe." | "Setting up independent panels of accredited experts will help the UK shake off its reputation as the whiplash capital of Europe." |
| The moves have been welcomed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and motoring organisations the RAC and the AA. | The moves have been welcomed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and motoring organisations the RAC and the AA. |