Released on: October 28, 2008, 9:25 am

Press Release Author: Samantha Lafferty

Industry: Management

Press Release Summary: Almost three-quarters of UK drivers admit to regularly
speeding, confident that they won't be detected by the current network of fixed
speed cameras, according to a survey by The Co-operative Insurance.

Press Release Body: October 2008 - Almost three-quarters of UK drivers admit to
regularly speeding, confident that they won't be detected by the current network of
fixed speed cameras, according to a survey by The Co-operative Insurance

Some 19 per cent of drivers confessed to speeding at least once a day. A further 23
per cent said that they speed a couple of times a week. Only 27 per cent of those
questioned said they never break the limit.

Speeding is one of the biggest problems on the roads in the UK. In the year to the
end of March, 244,770 people were killed or injured on the roads, almost 10 per cent
of them children, Government figures show*. Surprisingly, about three-quarters of
those questioned by The Co-operative Insurance said they worry about the dangers of
others driving too fast - the same number who themselves admit to speeding.

David Neave, Director of General Insurance at The Co-operative Insurance, said: "The
frenetic pace of life today means that speeding has become endemic in British
society. People often don't think about the dangers of driving a few miles an hour
over the limit. But that can mean the difference between having a safe journey or a
collision, and whether you survive or not."

Playing Cat and Mouse:

The Co-operative Insurance found that many drivers speed because they feel that the
current system of fixed cameras will not catch them. Often, drivers play a game of
'cat and mouse' with the cameras. Some 43 per cent of drivers said they slow down as
they approach cameras and immediately speed-up again once past the detection zone.
More than two fifths of those polled even said they believe speed cameras encourage
reckless driving.

Last week, the Government said it plans to introduce new digital speed cameras that
work in clusters to monitor drivers' average speed across a much broader area than
traditional cameras. The new cameras, which will be introduced next summer, work in
a network making it impossible to evade detection, as they cover every entry and
exit point along a route.

That is likely to increase the number of drivers who are caught speeding and
consequently, reduce the frequency that they flout the limit. Currently, just a
quarter of those questioned by The Co-operative Insurance had been caught speeding,
despite the higher number who admitted to the offence.

Mr. Neave added: "Like drink driving, speeding reduces a driver's ability to judge
hazards and to react to them. There needs to be a shift in people's attitudes to
speeding, so it becomes as socially unacceptable as drink driving."

- Ends-

Notes to editors:

1) *Figures refer to Department for Transport's 'Transport Statistics Bulletin' Q1 2008
2) For more information about The Co-operative Insurance's products and services,
please visit the website at www.cis.co.uk or call
08457 46 46 46.
3) ISDN facilities are available for broadcast media interviews.
4) The Co-operative Financial Services is part of The Co-operative Group, which is
the world's largest consumer co-operative with over 3 million members. CFS currently
has 5.5m customers and employs over 8,000 staff. It has 116 retail and corporate
branches/centres and over 1,000 face to face financial advisers. It has GBP38bn of
assets under management across its retail and corporate business areas.

The Co-operative Insurance services are leading providers of car
insurance, house insurance and buildings and contents insurance.

In 2008, The Co-operative Financial Services was awarded the prestigious title of
Company of the Year in the Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence.

The awards identify and celebrate companies having a positive impact on the
community, environment, marketplace and workplace. Peer-assessed and independently
assured the Big Tick award is the most respected endorsement of responsible business
practice. Now in their eleventh year, they are the UK's leading Awards for
responsible business practice.

The Co-operative Financial Services 1st Floor,
1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP
0161 236 1352
07854 523 924
e-mail: samanthal@mcmc.co.uk
website: www.co-operativeinsurance.co.uk

Web Site: http://www.co-operativeinsurance.co.uk

Contact Details: The Co-operative Financial Services 1st Floor,
1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP
0161 236 1352
07854 523 924
e-mail: samanthal@mcmc.co.uk
website: www.co-operativeinsurance.co.uk