A former head of the Road Safety Council is concerned that insurance companies may be collaborating to get more money from traffic offenders.

Charles Jeffers, a long-time advocate for road safety spoke out following Tuesday's Police press conference, in which BF&M stated their penalties for offenders.

Mr. Jeffers said that while he was "certainly in agreement that something should be done", he pondered whether raising premiums was the appropriate action for speeders.

He said: "The Police have now said that they will be ticketing anyone driving over 35 km/h. If someone is caught - at say 37 km/h - and insurance companies than raise their rates ten percent, that's getting ridiculous."

Mr. Jeffers then asked: "Is there an agreement between these companies? If they've gotten together, then its unfair to the public. This is a red flag. We need to keep our eyes open. If they have gotten together, this could affect everybody.

Ross Hillen of BF&M said in reply: "We don't collaborate. This is free enterprise we're talking about here. We would have all gone to the same school and professional studies so to speak. So we're all reading from the same book, but not necessarily the same page.

"These options have been utilised in the local market since motor vehicles came to our shores in the 1940s. This is nothing new. This is not a new standard. This is not rocket science," he said.

BF&M's policy towards offenders was released at the press conference. For driving while impaired, the first offence will receive a loading of the premium by 100 percent, and will decline coverage for a second time.

The premium will be loaded 50 percent for dangerous driving, and repeat offenders will find a doubling of the loading. The first time a person is found driving without due care, there will be a 25 percent loading and again, the loading will double for a second time. Finally, there are a variety of loadings depending on the speed of a speeding offence.

Mr. Hillen also reported that records of offences will last for a "reasonable period of time". The policy reads "a period of rehabilitation would apply in each instance where the premium had been loaded. In most cases it will be reduced one quarter each subsequent year".

Jennifer Murdoch, Assistant General Manager of Colonial Insurance, the Island's other large vehicle insurer, said of the policy: "Colonial does not have a blanket policy that every man who walks through our door with x, y and z will be hit with x, y, and z.

"We look at each application individually. Any conviction and accidents are definitely considered in that process and will impact someone's premium."

Ms Murdoch denied any acts of collaboration, saying: "Certainly not. When we have penalties inflicted, that is through underwriting. That's what underwriting is looking at, the risks that are involved."

Mr. Jeffers said: "Going 35 km/h is not realistic. Who travels at 35 km/h? Have you ever even seen an off-duty Police officer travelling at that speed? I would defy anyone, except perhaps some senior citizens, who claim they drive at that speed. How can insurance companies hit us for that?

"I don't belive that accidents are caused by speeding. Speeding is a contributing factor, but is not actually the cause."

In his Letter to the Editor, Mr. Jeffers asked: "Where are the Police `crack-downs' on those who break the law by wearing questionable safety helmets with either unfastened or loosely fastened straps?

"Where are the Police `crack-downs' on those who run red lights or jump the amber light just before they turn green? Where are the warnings about vehicle seat belts and child safety belts?"