Weblog

A poll by price comparison site Esure suggesting that popular online social networking websites such as Twitter are provoking motorists to “tweet” while behind the wheel, made for interesting reading across the web.

Telegraph.co.uk reported that as many as 9% of drivers are now using internet services on their mobiles, despite 92% knowing it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile while driving. Insurers are no doubt worried at the prospect of Twitter-related claims.

Esure’s head of risk and underwriting Mike Pickard said: “There is a time and a place for social networking and it certainly isn’t when driving a car. Messages being posted on Twitter from behind the wheel are a real cause for concern for the safety of other motorists and pedestrians.”

Meanwhile, over at insurancetimes.co.uk, the news came thick and fast as always and our exclusive story regarding AA-Saga-owned firm Direct Choice was the most popular with visitors. The business is being relocated from two offices in Suffolk to a new home in Folkestone, Kent, with 220 staff having to choose between redundancy or a new life on the south coast.

Visitors to the site will have done a double take when they saw the headline “Spiderman climbs Lloyd’s building”. No, not the real Spiderman, but French impersonator Alain Robert, famous for scaling skyscrapers, protesting against climate change.

Returning to social networking, don’t forget to get up to date with Backchat Insider on Facebook, as well as the dedicated Insurance Times fans page.

Online Top 5:

• 220 staff offered redundancy as AA-Saga relocates offices
• Bluefin rebrands LBBS
• Culver to quit stock exchange
• Spiderman climbs Lloyd’s building
• Mike Butler takes the reins at Ignition