Aaron Donohoe

As you may have gathered I’m a new driver, although I have experience it’s still near impossible to get on the road with my own set of wheels! I’ve been driving my Dads car as of late - actually haven’t driven it since beginning of August, but still I hate driving it as I’m afraid of damaging it! I’m more so afraid of my Mam as it’s mostly her run about car and if I so much as get a minuet scratch on it I won’t be fed for a month (although of course it’s okay for her to reverse into gates, and walls!).

So there during the week my Dad received the renewal notice from his insurance provider, with a quote for €1600 for the year! soared from €342 last year with just him and my Mam on it (fully comp & open drive) to well over 5 times that! Needless to say he wasn’t happy considering he has been with them for 15 years with a Full No Claims Bonus and has a number of vehicles insured with them also! Allianz really appreciate customer loyalty!

So basically we’ve decided to book a few driving lessons for me to get some practice in - I’ve already established I can drive but all I need is practice to better my road confidence - which is what I was doing with my Dads car! So I’ve to get upto test standard before October 3rd which is when my first driving test takes place (I moved it from 28th August). He’s considering getting a quote from a friend of his in a leading insurance company for me on my own policy building my own NCB from scratch, on my own car. But it doesn’t look like we’ll be paying under the €1000 mark at least for Third Party

Insurance companies have the prejudice and vision of all young drivers as maniacs who take stupid risks and endanger others and themselves. Although it’s not the case! I feel I’m a safe driver, who’s courteous, vigilant, and tries to make good progress. I’m not swift but I’m not slow, I’m not cocky but I’m not afraid neither. And most young drivers like me who own their car will generally look after it and not thrash it - unless your a boy racer! Although I got my car for free (from my uncle who bought it for my cousin who in the end didn’t want to learn to drive) I have spent a great deal of time and money in getting it road worthy and ready for an NCT. I have no plans to modify or rally it, I just want to get from A-B without have to get public transport, walk or ask for a lift!

I know we’re considered a high risk, understandably their has to be some excess premium. But for a car that’s not worth half of the premium, and will do under 10,000 miles per year and is being driven by an accompanied driver is there much of a risk? I may like in Dublin which would be a high risk area also - but Fiat Puntos are renowned for being difficult to steal with the keys and are not top of the list for desirable cars by car thieves!

Something will have to be done, as most young drivers like me can’t afford these premiums and yet need a car as a necessity - are safe and competent drivers who do limited millage per year. With the recession looming no young drivers will be able to take out policies as most of us are rapped for cash! Road tax, petrol, and maintenance costs are surging! Pretty soon it will be a choice of fuel the car or eat!

I just had to rant about it, most of you are saying it’s good that young drivers can’t get on the road or some will agree. Either way you have to admit the insurance companies are taking the piss! I think I might invest in a mule…

It is with great relief that I can say that I’m a free man for three months! I finished up for the last time on Thursday with Business - both History & Business exams went very well in my opinion, came out of both of them after an hour and a bit really happy with what I submitted.

Of course, here I am whining about a few summer assessment exams, while there are Leaving Cert students nationwide who are pulling their hair out and cramming those last bits in! I have a few friends who are doing the Leaving Cert this year, although they are grand on the facade, they are pretty stressed and worried. I’ve only done my Junior Cert a few years ago, and found you calm down after the first exam - although it could be a different story with the Leaving Cert, as unlike the Junior Cert you’ve to study for it!

As soon as I was finished, I was ushered into work by ‘the boss‘. He had bought two new coaches and had no one to help move them, although I haven’t a license for a bus, I have got one for a car. So my job was to drop him to the dealer to pick up the first bus, and follow him to our depot, then do the same for the second one. I felt very honoured, as not everyone is allowed to drive Steve’s classic S-Class Merc!

I’m presently waiting for a few call backs on job applications, I’ve put a few fingers in some pies, as I want to make some money this summer. I now own more vehicles then I did last summer, so that means more expense. I also have the burden of Car Insurance, increases in Petrol prices (although I’m considering getting a Diesel) and I’ve to pay more for my hosting as I’m presently moving all my websites onto a new hosting account - a master reseller account.

Also, you may note I’m somewhat getting into this Twitter thing. I’m presently experimenting on some services and plugins for Twitter, such as Twitterfone and Twitterfox. There are more, but I’ve either dumped them or haven’t yet tried them, I have intentions on doing a review on them shortly.