Car insurance help (blind in one eye after operation)

olly300

vaio wrote: »

that seems counter intuitive to me in that it seems it would be lawful to load the premium of the OP who is half blind for a month but unlawful to load the premium of my dads mate Jim who has a glass eye

You obviously haven't meet people in real life with glass eyes or only decent vision in one eye as if you had you would have found those who have had their impairment since childhood have adapted to it and have no problem judging distances, looking into blind spots etc, but those who have started having problems as adults are accident prone or unduly hesitant.

BTW OP I'm surprised that the hospital didn't mention that you were not safe to drive. If they didn't say anything then the only issue is how safe you feel driving.

vaio

yep, but I don't really see why adapting to loss of vision in one eye is is restricted to those who suffered in childhood.

Certainly, my dads mate Jim who lost his eye in an industrial accident seemed to manage ok.

The point I was making that if I was unfortunate enough to lose an eye today is seems perverse that the insurance companies couldn't load my premium because my loss is permanent but they could load the OP because his loss of vision is only going to last a month

forgotmyname

A mate had an accident which caused blindness in one eye, He couldnt driver after that.
But he did have strong glasses before the incident.

Said your perception of distance is greatly reduced. Also obviously having a blindspot.

Not a good link but a bit of info.... http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/travelandshopping/travel/drivingsightloss/Pages/drivingsightloss.aspx

direct gov uk.. Bit rubbish also..

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022529


Seems you should inform them and obtain written permission from a doctor but nothing to say no you cannot.

Hope you recover well.


I watched a how do they do it show on TV the other night where they made glass eye's. Very interesting.

olly300

vaio wrote: »

The point I was making that if I was unfortunate enough to lose an eye today is seems perverse that the insurance companies couldn't load my premium because my loss is permanent but they could load the OP because his loss of vision is only going to last a month

You forget that insurers use statistical and actuarial data.

So their data is telling them that those with a long term impairment where they can only use one eye aren't going to make loads more claims.

There as according that data those who have a temporary impairment do make more claims.

This doesn't mean that you as an adult who has recently lost their eye isn't a bigger risk as an individual, but it just means the group of people with one eye as a whole aren't a higher risk of having accidents.

BTW While it's true that an insurer can't discriminate against you due to a disability, there is nothing stopping them raising a premium or refusing to insure you at all as long as they have a good reason to i.e. statistical and actuarial data, medical research information.

vaio

Does statistical/actuarial data override the requirement not to discriminate on grounds of disability?

Then replace "disability" with "gender". Same answer?

dacouch

olly300 wrote: »

You forget that insurers use statistical and actuarial data.

So their data is telling them that those with a long term impairment where they can only use one eye aren't going to make loads more claims.

I remember before the DDA some insurers would have different loadings / acceptance depending which eye

olly300

vaio wrote: »

Does statistical/actuarial data override the requirement not to discriminate on grounds of disability?

Yes as it depends on the disability

Some disabilities you cannot drive with - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/MedicalA-Z/index.htm

There as others don't affect your ability to drive.

vaio wrote: »

Then replace "disability" with "gender". Same answer?

You aren't comparing like with like.

Gender doesn't affect your ability to drive while having a disability may.

Plus insurers discriminating on "gender" grounds has now been ruled illegal.

vaio

Yep, any discrimination based on gender is, as you say, illegal but that is also what the DDA is for, it makes discrimination on grounds of disability illegal and I don't see why insurers should be exempt from this.

Once the DVLC medical/vision standards are met and a licence issued then that driver is judged as safe as any other and loading premiums based or gender or disability is wrong, just as it is to load on the basis of race or religion

vaio

yep, I think all that has now been subsumed into the 2010 Equalities Act and http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/3/paragraph/21 has the equivalent to what you quoted

21. (1) It is not a contravention of section 29, so far as relating to disability discrimination, to do anything in connection with insurance business if......

(a) that thing is done by reference to information that is both relevant to the assessment of the risk to be insured and from a source on which it is reasonable to rely and

(b)it is reasonable to do that thing.........

interestingly the next section contains almost identical wording but referenced to sex...

22. (1)It is not a contravention of section 29, so far as relating to relevant discrimination, to do anything in relation to an annuity, life insurance policy, accident insurance policy or similar matter involving the assessment of risk if.........

(a)that thing is done by reference to actuarial or other data from a source on which it is reasonable to rely, and

(b)it is reasonable to do that thing.

(3)In the case of a contract of insurance, or a contract for related financial services, entered into on or after 6 April 2008, sub-paragraph (1) applies only in relation to differences in premiums and benefits if—

(a)the use of sex as a factor in the assessment of risk is based on relevant and accurate actuarial and statistical data.....

The sex discrimination exceptions didn't survive contact with the European Courts and I struggle to see why the disability exceptions would fare any better

Wyndham

I can't see "properly" out of my left eye, and have never done so. When I first applied for a licence I told the DVLA about it, and they then contacted my doctor. The result is that I have a full licence with no restrictions.

However, I know that I am more clumsy than average, and do misjudge distances sometimes - not enough to cause a crash, but it's not unknown for me to knock over cups of water etc. This is something that will always be part of me. But as the DVLA are happy, then I'm going to continue to drive - and just hope that if things get worse, I'd have the sense to realise and stop.