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'Big Brother' tactics to secure the cheapest car insurance rates

The advance of political correctness knows no bounds - now it seems the cheapest car insurance could soar in price if a motorist is caught laughing while driving.

How so? Well, the media tells us that the city of Manchester has introduced 'spy cars' to take photographs of people committing the said motoring crime - or similar other offences - while driving.

'Crimes' they face legal action for include eating a banana or an apple at the wheel, sipping a bottle of water - or maybe a coffee or tea, changing radio stations and inserting a CD or music cassette.

Lucky (guilty) drivers receive a fine in the post without even knowing they have been snapped. Britain's 'Big Brother' society, it seems, is becoming an ever-present reality.

The motoring charge that offending motorists maybe convicted of is called 'distracted behaviour'. Leading insurers are apparently cracking down on offenders by ramping up premiums for anyone convicted of this most serious offences (I think not!).

It's got me worried though, I can tell you. I have children and have decided they will have to be bound and gagged in the car because they are a frequent distraction.

And I'd better rip out the car stereo system because when it's on I'm often to be found, heaven forbid, singing along to some cool tunes, or giggling at BBC Radio 4's comedy shows.

Apparently, anyone with a distracted behaviour conviction - known as a CD10 offence - is likely to see motor cover quotes and premiums rise by between 17 and 40 per cent, which could be as much as £188 on a £470 premium.

Just because everyone has done it or is doing it doesn't make it right, seems to be the rule being applied here by the authorities and the insurance industry.

I was wondering what the worst case of distracted behaviour might be. There have been some terrible deaths and injuries caused by people using mobile phones at the wheel.

Surely there is room for some sensible compromise. Laughing at the wheel cannot reasonably be a crime really, can it? If so, almost everyone will have to end up in the dock at some point - except for the most miserable people (but, hey, if you cry at the wheel, won't you be convicted too?).

'The law is an ass' is an expression often used to convey the emotions and frustrations caused by stupid legal rules. Giving someone a criminal record for laughing must surely fall into that category.

In one 'distracted' driving case, police used a helicopter and patrol car to track down and convict a nursery nurse of a heinous offence - holding an apple at the wheel! How much did that cost the taxpayer for goodness sake?

A spokesman for the AA described the move to increase insurance premiums for CD10s as a financial incentive to encourage motorists to be more careful while driving, although he admitted it could be seen as a money-making scheme.

But he said, "There is a direct correlation between those convicted of driving without due care and attention and fatal accidents. Insurance is a very black-and-white issue and the job of insurers is identifying customers who pose possible risks."

I did find one voice of common sense in this whole sorry saga. The Association of British Drivers (ABD) said charging motorists more for CD10 offences was the thin end of the wedge (hear, hear!).

Nigel Humphries, from the ABD, said, "It's completely wrong. They started upping the premiums for speeding but clearly this is not enough.

"Insurance firms need to produce evidence which shows these drivers are more risky before they hike up the premiums."

But it seems the voice of sensible people like Nigel will be lost in the crowd. Only recently I spotted that UK MPs are considering allowing police to stop offending drivers and dole out fines of £60 on the spot.

And the Manchester 'spy car' scheme is set to be expanded. Smart cars fitted with spy cameras will be used to identify 'distracted' motorists with the scheme due to roll out in other areas such as Brentwood in Essex and Havering in East London.

God help us. Is all this worth suffering just to enjoy the cheapest car insurance rates? Chances are we'll only save a tenner, maybe only a quid!

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