SMMT slams arrogant insurers

Insurance industry accused of being out of step with Europe and failing to encourage fitting of anti-theft kits.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has blasted the insurance industry for being out of step with the rest of Europe and for not giving premium discounts to trucking companies or manufacturers fitting anti-theft kits.

It said the anti-theft standards for trucks set by the insurance industry-funded Thatcham Centre are out of step with the rest of Europe and are needlessly expensive for manufacturers to meet. The centre charges truck makers large fees to test their systems against its own standards, claimed the SMMT, which they are forced to pass on to customers.

Robin Dickerson, manager of commercial affairs for the SMMT, said this would be acceptable if the insurance companies gave discounts for trucks meeting Thatcham’s standards, but this is not happening.

“Neither the SMMT nor its members know of any truck insurance outfit that offers incentives for its customers to fit anti-theft kit,” said Dickerson.

“Thatcham hides behind comments that ‘insurance rates are a complex issue best left to individual insurance firms’ – this looks like a cop out,” said Dickerson.

“The truck industry perception of Thatcham is that it is irrelevant, avaricious and arrogant.”

If Thatcham is not flexible, the SMMT is threatening to advise its members to ignore “its expensive and seemingly superfluous test programmes and standards”.

[Contract Journal, 25 October 2006, p 21]