Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Caffeine & Heart Health
A dose (or two) of caffeine plays a staring role in the morning routine of many adults, but is our morning cuppa having a negative impact on our heart?
In this week’s healthy tip, we look at caffeine specifically in relation to our cardiovascular health. Does drinking coffee raise our blood pressure? Are energy drinks safe? Read on to find out and pick up some tips on how we can make our caffeine habit heart healthier.
Is caffeine bad for our heart?
You’ll be pleased to know that for healthy individuals, moderate consumption of caffeine (4-5 cups a day) doesn’t have a negative impact on our heart. However, everybody responds to caffeine differently and if you experience any negative side effects such as heart palpitations, it is wise to limit your consumption.
Also, be mindful of drinking caffeine after mid-day as it can remain in your bloodstream for up to 10 hours after consumption and negatively impact your sleep – which could have a negative impact on your heart.
Caffeine & blood pressure
Consuming caffeine has been shown to cause our blood pressure to increase, however this is usually only temporary and in healthy individuals isn’t cause for concern.
It is important we know our blood pressure and put lifestyle changes in place to keep it as healthy as possible, but quitting the coffee isn’t needed for a healthy heart. Instead, focus on eating a healthy diet and taking part in regular exercise.
Energy drinks & dehydration
While consuming a few cups of tea or coffee isn’t cause for concern, consuming multiple energy drinks could be more problematic. This is due to the volume in which they are consumed and the sugar that usually accompanies them.
If you do drink energy drinks, don’t drink them as you would other soft drinks to avoid consuming high amounts of caffeine. It is also worth keeping mind that consuming too much caffeine can cause dehydration, so make sure you sip water or other healthy drinks between your caffeinated beverages.
For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for weekly healthy tips at:
On a visit to Kinwegar Recycling Centre on 19th October to coincide with Recycle Week 2023 Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has said that the Scottish Government’s proposed Circular Economy Bill must support councils, not ask them to do more with less.
Following discussions earlier in the year with councillors across Scotland Ms Boyack was concerned at the lack and uncertainty of support the Scottish Government is providing councils in planning for and implementing changes to household waste recycling currently indicated in the Bill.
Commenting, Ms Boyack said: “Our visit to Kinwegar Recycling Centre showed first hand the brilliant work many local councils are doing in helping increase recycling and reuse.
“However, it is clear that SNP/Green Scottish Government’s failure to fund our local services properly will jeopardise our goal of reducing waste.
“First we had Lorna Slater’s disastrous handling of the Deposit Return Scheme followed by a UK Tory Government’s abdication of climate responsibility, now councillors are again worried about being asked to do more with less.
“Scottish Labour will take a proactive approach to the Bill to ensure it truly boosts recycling and reuse and delivers a circular economy in our communities.”
Labour councillor for local Preston Seton Gosford ward, Brooke Ritchie said, “East Lothian Council was rightly named in the top ten for waste recycling rates in Scotland, but without additional funding the SNP/Green Scottish Government are putting that at risk.
“It’s time the SNP/Green Scottish Government matched the funding with the rhetoric and funded councils properly.”
“Our message is clear: this is simply not welcome or tolerated in Scotland.”
Police Scotland targeted drugs dealers who exploit vulnerable young people during a national County Lines Intensification Week of activity – between Monday, 9 October and Friday, 15 October 2023.
Proactive action by officers across the country saw a number of vulnerable people being identified and safeguarded and addresses used for cuckooing being visited.
Illegal drugs and offensive weapons, including a firearm, were also recovered.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: “The harm caused by illegal drugs across Scotland is well-documented and County Lines drug dealers bring nothing but misery to our communities. They exploit vulnerable people and groom and threaten young people to become involved in their nefarious activities.
“Over the week we have worked in partnership with a wide range of national organisations, including the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, to crack down on those involved in County Lines activity.
“Our message is clear: this is simply not welcome or tolerated in Scotland.”
During the UK-wide initiative – co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) – officers in Scotland safeguarded 17 vulnerable people and engaged with another 650.
373 addresses believed to be used for the purposes of cuckooing were also visited
25 people were arrested for a variety of offences including; being in possession of a firearm and ammunition, attempted murder and the supply of illegal drugs. In addition 18 warrants were executed.
Cocaine with a street value of over £250,000, heroin with a street value of £33,000 and crack cocaine with a street value of almost £30,000, was seized. Cannabis, a quantity of tablets and over £220,000 in cash were also recovered.
A number offensive weapons such as machetes, a meat cleaver, a knife and a baseball bat were recovered. An electric bike, two Audi cars and several mobiles phones were seized.
County Lines is a terms used to describe activity by criminals from larger cities who expand their operations into smaller towns. They exploit young and vulnerable people to sell drugs, carry cash and weapons – bringing violence, coercion and abuse. They may also take over a vulnerable person’s house, known as cuckooing.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I welcome the County Lines intensification activity by Police Scotland, which has helped to safeguard a number of individuals. It is essential that we protect our most vulnerable citizens from being exploited by ruthless criminals whose only focus is on increasing their wealth.
“This year, Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce published practitioner guidance on the criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults. The guidance aims to help those who come into contact with children and vulnerable adults on a regular basis to identify the signs of possible exploitation and what measures should be put in place to protect them.”
Assistant Chief Constable Freeburn added: “These hugely positive results during the intensification week are an example of our continuing work in support of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.
“I would urge anyone who has concerns about County Lines activity or knowledge of who may be involved to contact Police Scotland or alternatively to Crimestoppers anonymously.”
Notable activity in Scotland included:
An investigation is ongoing after a vehicle was stopped as it travelled between England and Scotland and £200,000 in Scottish notes was recovered.
Officers in Inverness safely traced a 17-year-old male youth, who is believed to be involved in County Lines activity and had been reported missing from Birmingham,
West Midlands Police arrested a man wanted in Aberdeen on behalf of Police Scotland.
Humza Yousaf addressed the Scottish National Party Conference for the first time as First Minister, in a speech that contained a few new proposals. We’ll take you through some of the main consequences of what was announced (writes MAIRI SPOWAGE, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute).
Council tax frozen, but at what cost?
The centrepiece announcement was that 2024-25 council tax rates across Scotland would remain the same as in 2023-24. This was a surprise to many – including COSLA – although the Scottish Government has said it “will fully fund the freeze to ensure councils can maintain their services.”
What does that mean in practice? Councils will already have been in the process of deciding what council tax policy will be for the 2024-25 financial year – many of us will have seen consultations and discussions in our local area about this. As they are constrained to fund current spending out of current sources of revenue – of which council tax is a significant component – decisions on spending going forward may have already been taken on the basis of future income from council tax. The First Minister’s announcement changes that prospective revenue.
Whether or not the promise of “fully funding” the freeze in council tax will depend on what the Scottish Government assesses as the counterfactual for what increases in rates would have been – and how that will be put into practice.
Our calculations indicate that accounting for growth in the number of properties expected in 2024-25, total net revenue from council tax will be £2,865m.
But it we assume councils would have applied the same increases as they did last year (which averaged 5%), revenues would have been £3,013m. And if the proposal for increasing multipliers for the higher bands in the recent council tax consultation had been taken forward revenues would have been higher still, at £3,196m.
In summary then, the freeze in council tax – assuming that councils would have followed the increases from the previous year – will cost £148m. In addition, the decision not to increase the multipliers as has been consulted on will cost £183m.
The true size of the shortfall will depend on what councils were actually budgeting for. If we assumed an 8% increase was being planned – which is lower than some councils implemented last year, and would still not bring much in terms of real increases in funding for local authorities – the total shortfall would be £417m (£229m from the freeze plus £188m from not increasing the multipliers).
How much of the shortfall is covered by the First Minister’s funding pledge will be the subject of a negotiation process with COSLA, and we’ll need to wait to see how it plays out. But ultimately it could lead to councils having less spending power than was expected if the definition of “fully funded” is in dispute.
The Scottish Government was already facing challenges on its budgetary position, given the gap it set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy in May, of an estimated £1 billion gap between its commitments and likely resources.
Despite a better outturn on income tax than expected, and an increase in borrowing powers, prior to the Programme for Government this was still likely to be around £600m. It is not clear where the extra funding will come from to pay for the council tax freeze – and indeed the announcement on health below.
An “additional” £100m a year to cut NHS waiting lists – but within the fixed envelope
The First Minister also outlined a proposal to spend an extra £100m a year on reducing the NHS waiting lists. The goal is to reduce waiting list by 100,000 by 2026.
As with so many of these proposals, the devil is in the detail, and in this case, the additionality of the pledge is questionable. While the First Minister has announced that more money will be spent on this particular issue, there was no detail where the money was coming from.
With the Scottish spending envelope through the Block Grant largely fixed, spending commitments well ahead of funding sources (as discussed above) for 2024-25, and limited options in terms of yield from tax rises, this announcement seems like it will lead to a reallocation of funding, either from other areas of the health service or from other areas of government spending rather than actual additional spending.
Scottish bonds for capital investments announced – how and why?
The FM announced plans to issue the first-ever government bonds for Scotland to finance infrastructure.
In theory, the power to issue government bonds was devolved as part of the Scotland Act 2012, with the power given full effect in April 2015.
So what would be the process for this? One of the key steps is likely to be establishing a credit rating from major rating agencies. This would provide potential investors with a professional evaluation of Scotland’s creditworthiness.
This process is likely to be fairly involved, consisting of a detailed assessment of Scotland’s economic, fiscal and political environment.
Two questions we’ve been asked already are (i) what will this rating (and therefore the likely interest rate that would have to be paid) be compared to UK government bonds and (ii) to what extent does this tell us about the likely cost of borrowing for an independent Scotland?
The answer to the first question is that there is likely to be a premium to be paid by Scotland compared to UK Government bonds (i.e. it will be more expensive), as a new entrant to the bond market. However, given that ultimately the borrowing is underwritten by the UK Government, it may be that the premium is fairly small. But it will of course depend on the rating and then investors’ reaction to that.
The answer to the second is much more unknown. Given this is underwritten by the UK Government, it is likely that this tells us little about the interest rate that may need to be paid by an independent Scotland.
It is worth underlining that this plan does not increase the borrowing available to the Scottish Government. The annual limit (of £450m in 2023-24 prices) and total cap (of £3bn in 2023-24 prices) will still apply. Rather, it is an alternative to borrowing from the National Loans Fund (essentially from the UKG).
It’s unlikely that the terms of borrowing through issuing bonds will be more favourable than borrowing from the National Loans Fund, which tends to be very close to Bank Rate plus a minimal spread.
Another point to note is that the Scottish Government in recent years has used its capital borrowing powers extensively. In the current year, its debt stock sits at 73% of the debt cap already – forecast to rise to around 80% by the end of the parliament. Therefore the borrowing that will be possible may be more limited by the end of the parliament, particularly as borrowing costs are rising.
The FM set out why they may wish to do this in his speech – focussing on the enhanced profile it could give Scotland internationally, and the additional investment it could attract from international investors. It may be that the process of establishing and issuing the bonds is seen as strengthening the Scottish state in advance of a future independent Scotland.
But in a constrained fiscal environment, it will be fair to ask whether borrowing in a more expensive way makes sense.
Two-thirds say the condition of local roads has deteriorated, a huge jump on last year
A third of drivers (35%) have had to swerve quickly to avoid hitting potholes
Anger with the poor state of Britain’s local roads has reached its highest point in nine years with half of drivers (49%) surveyed for the RAC’s annual Report on Motoring* listing it as a top motoring concern, making it the single biggest issue by a considerable distance this year.
Concern among drivers is now at a record level since the RAC first started asking drivers for their views on the condition and maintenance of local roads in 2015. The previous high – 46% – was recorded in 2021. The next biggest worry after local roads was the cost of fuel which was cited by 42% of drivers.
The condition and maintenance of local roads is a particularly significant problem for older drivers with 55% of those aged between 45 and 64 saying it is their top concern. This rises to 59% among those aged 65 and older.
The RAC study also reveals that two-thirds of drivers (67%) say that the condition of the local roads they regularly drive on has deteriorated in the past 12 months, up from 60% in the 2022 report, making for the biggest increase since 2017. This year only 4% think local road conditions have improved over the last 12 months. While problems with road surfaces are overwhelmingly to blame (cited by 97% of drivers), there are several other factors contributing to this decline, including faded road markings (61%), litter (35%) and poor signage visibility (34%).
The desperate state of roads has also led to most drivers having to take sudden, sometimes even shocking evasive action, with a third (35%) reporting they have been forced to swerve quickly to avoid a pothole and ended up completely crossing into another lane or going on to the other side of the road.
Seven in 10 (69%) say they have been forced to slow sharply to drive over a pothole and 37% have tried to maintain a greater distance from the car in front to give themselves more time to react to road-surface problems.
Drivers had more positive views about the condition of Britain’s motorways and high-speed dual carriageways in comparison to local roads, but many are still frustrated by the level of deterioration they have witnessed.
This year, 11% of drivers say the condition of these major roads is a top concern, up from 8% in the 2022 report. Among those who use motorways and other high-speed roads, 44% say their condition has worsened in the past 12 months, up significantly from 38% in 2022.
This deterioration is mainly due to worsening road surfaces (cited by 81%), but faded lane markings (46%), roadside litter (39%) and poor signage visibility (28%) are also to blame.
Where repairs are being carried out to roads of all types, drivers are wholly unimpressed with the quality of the work done: 81% say they do not think roads are resurfaced to a high enough standard, while the same proportion (81%) do not believe roads are resurfaced as often as they should be.
The disruption caused by maintenance work is another source of dissatisfaction, with 74% of drivers saying they are frustrated by roadworks taking place on the same road in quick succession and 72% complaining that works frequently overrun.
The 2023 edition of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA)’s annual report indicates that local councils in England and Wales continue to face significant shortfalls in the funding required to keep road surfaces in a reasonable condition.
The latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) report**, published in March 2023, says that the total amount of money now needed to address the backlog in road maintenance works has increased to more than £14 billion, up 11% from a year ago.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Many drivers will be wondering why so many potholes appeared on the country’s local roads in the absence of a particularly cold winter.
“Sadly, a long-term lack of funding for maintenance and repair work means our roads are in a such a fragile state that it only takes a little rainwater getting into existing flaws followed by some sub-zero temperatures for them to break down further.
“We have to bring the ongoing deterioration of our local roads to an end by giving councils the certainty of funding they need to be able to plan proper maintenance programmes which include resurfacing roads that have gone beyond point where they can be patched up.
“This is why we continue to call on the Government to ringfence 2p from every litre of existing fuel revenues over a five-year period which will give councils the funds they need to be able to plan proper maintenance programmes.
“We have raised this issue with the Secretary of State for Transport and urged the Chancellor in our Autumn Statement submission to shake up his road funding policy, because as it stands the £26bn collected from drivers is currently just another form of general taxation.
“We believe a change in funding strategy is long overdue, not least because England’s major roads receive seven times what local roads are given, despite the fact there are seven times more miles of minor roads.
“It is plain wrong that drivers who contribute billions in tax every year have to put up with roads that are so far from being fit for purpose.”
Would you know what to do if you were accused of being a witch in the 17th century? How would you cope if your castle came under siege in the Scottish Wars of Independence? Wouldn’t life be easier if it came with an instruction manual?
Thankfully, Gillian Paterson and Nicola Wright have found just such a book for their show at this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival, A Girl’s Own Guide to Surviving History.
Told in the style of a Boy’s Own adventure book, A Girl’s Own Guide to Surviving History is filled with hot tips about surviving life as a pirate, fighting the system, and being a master (or mistress) of disguise. Told using silly songs, and a ridiculous amount of props this show presents a light-hearted look at the serious subject of the challenges faced by women through the centuries.
Gillian Paterson originally from Arbroath has worked as a costumed historical storyteller at museums and events around the country. She has a knack for finding the funny side of history, taking irreverent approaches to subjects and bringing them to life through her passion for history and storytelling.
Nicola is equally passionate about history and delivers entertaining and engaging workshops to primary and secondary schools on subjects ranging from castle life and the cursed Stewarts to Jacobites and WW1.
Gillian Paterson said: “I love history and entertaining audiences with stories of derring-do, fighting the system and life across the ages.
“It’s a chance to tell all the best bits and I really hope that this new show about women’s history, particularly all those great feisty women that have been buried in the history books over the years, will be as fun to listen to, as it is to tell.”
The Girl’s Own Survival Guide to History with Gillian Paterson and Nicola Wright is on TODAY Sat 21 Oct at 4pm at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR,
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs until Sunday 29 October. Tickets to each event in this year’s programme cost a maximum of £10, with family events costing just £5 per ticket. For those planning on attending multiple events, the Festival Pass (£20/£10) offers discounted tickets to many live festival events, online and at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, as well as a discount at the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s bookshop and Haggis Box Café.
Significant storm impacts to continue this weekend
The Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) met last night as more exceptional levels of rain were expected to hit parts of the country this weekend, causing further disruption and challenging conditions.
The meeting was chaired by the First Minister after a further high level Red Warning was issued by the Met Office for parts of Angus and Aberdeenshire from 00:01 to 23:59 Saturday.
People are urged not to travel and to stay at home in the affected areas, unless advised to relocate to a rest centre, with ‘exceptional’ levels of rain likely to result in significant disruption and danger to life.
Amber warnings for rain will be in place for Easter Ross, Caithness and Sutherland on Saturday. In these Amber areas it is being advised people should avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has reported that record water levels have now been recorded at a number of its gaugeing stations, and that five Severe Flood Warnings are currently in place, as well as 11 regional Flood Alerts, and 16 local Flood Warning.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Storm Babet has now, tragically, claimed lives, and my deepest condolences go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances.
“I want to pay tribute to everyone across the multi-agency response to Storm Babet who continue to operate, often in incredibly difficult conditions to keep the people of Scotland safe.
“Unfortunately, it is clear we have not seen the last of this storm. Around half the average monthly rainfall for October is expected to fall through tonight and tomorrow in areas that have already been severely affected by exceptional levels of rainfall.
“It was always expected that the impacts of the storm would continue even once the most severe aspects of the storm itself had subsided, but a new Red Weather alert makes the ongoing severity of this situation clear. My very clear message to those covered by the Red Warning remains: please stay at home and do not travel, unless advised to relocate to a rest centre.
“A number of Amber and Yellow Weather Warnings meanwhile remain in place throughout many parts of the rest of the country. I urge everyone, however difficult this might feel over the weekend – particularly sports fans – to keep following the latest advice in order to keep you, and your families, safe.”
Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland Stuart Houston said: “We are dealing with exceptional weather conditions which have been extremely challenging for all involved.
“With the red warning being extended until midnight Saturday, this remains a dangerous situation which poses a threat to life.
“We are working hard with a range of multi-agency partners to support communities and those who need our help. Communities in Tayside are dealing with some of the most difficult conditions they have faced, with a number of road closures in place due to hazardous conditions and evacuations continuing of those affected by flooding.
“I would like to thank the public for their co-operation and for sticking to the travel advice in place to keep people safe and would again urge people to continue to follow the advice and listen to media broadcast, including radio, for updates. Follow your local authority for the latest updates in your area as well as police, the Met Office website and Traffic Scotland.
“Our advice is to avoid any form of travel in areas covered by the red weather warning – we are dealing with significant flooding issues, which pose a threat to life.”
Pascal Lardet, SEPA Flood Duty Manager, said: “These are very difficult days for communities in Scotland who are experiencing flooding, in some cases for the second time in a month. There is more rain to come, and SEPA staff are working around the clock to provide vital information to partners and the public.
“We started issuing Regional Flood Alerts on Tuesday to provide early awareness and help people prepare, and these are being updated as required. We continue to monitor river levels and issue localised Flood Warnings as required.
“However, it is important to stress that not all areas that could be affected have Flood Warning schemes, so please do take a Flood Alert in your area as advance notice that you could be affected.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issues regional flood alerts and local flood warnings for Scotland. View the latest updates on their website.
Following steep increases, drivers are now paying a record-breaking £738, on average
It’s not just over the past year that we’ve seen the biggest increase. Prices have also increased by £114 (18%), on average, in the past 3 months alone.
All of Scotland is seeing the highest prices ever recorded, but it’s drivers in Central Scotland who are likely to be paying the most. Following a £315 (62%) annual increase, prices are now £820, on average. The Scottish Borders is the cheapest, despite increasing by £211 (54%) in just 12 months. Prices are now £602, on average.
Glasgow is the most expensive area in Scotland overall, with prices now £908, on average. That’s as prices increased by £344 (61%) in 12 months. And despite prices rising by £187 (51%) in 12 months, Hebrides is the cheapest, with average prices now £555.
It’s a similar picture across the UK as all regions are seeing the highest prices ever recorded on the Confused.com car insurance price index. And with financially challenging times ahead, there millions of drivers risk becoming priced off the road.
Although prices are becoming more expensive, drivers who recently shopped around were able to save £88(1), on average. Motor expert, Louise Thomas at Confused.com car insurance explains why prices are increasing and offers ways drivers can save money.
The cost of car insurance in Scotland is up £275 (59%) in just 12 months.That means drivers in Scotland are now paying a record-breaking £738, on average, for their car insurance. That’s according to the latest (Q3 2023) Confused.com car insurance price index, powered by WTW.
Based on more than 6 million quotes over the quarter, it’s the most comprehensive car insurance price index for comprehensive policies. And it’s not just annual figures that have seen the biggest increase. In the past 3 months alone, prices in Scotland have grown £114 (18%), on average. That’s the second consecutive quarter prices have increased so substantially, meaning prices are the highest recorded since the index began in 2006.
Prices are on the rise across the whole of Scotland, but Central Scotland is the most expensive region overall. Prices have increased by £315 (62%) compared to this time last year, making the average price of car insurance now £820.
In the East and North East, average prices are now £675 following an annual increase of £244 (57%). And in the Highlands and Islands, prices are £654, on average, following an increase of £234 (56%) in 12 months. But the Scottish Borders is the cheapest region, despite an annual increase of £211 (54%). That means prices are now around £602.
When looking at specific areas that could impact drivers the most, Glasgow has the most expensive car insurance prices in the whole country. Following an annual increase of £344 (61%), drivers could now expect to pay £908, on average.
And for the cheapest car insurance prices, it’s drivers in the Hebrides who will benefit the most. Despite an annual increase of £187 (51%), prices are still the cheapest in all of Scotland. Prices in this area are now around £555, on average.
Here’s a full overview of how prices currently stand in Scotland:
Borders:
Postcode area
Avg £
YOY %
YOY £
Q %
Q £
Dumfries
£597
+52%
+£205
+17%
+£87
Galashiels
£608
+56%
+£218
+18%
+£94
Central :
Postcode area
Avg £
YOY %
YOY £
Q %
Q £
Edinburgh
£733
+63%
+£284
+17%
+£107
Glasgow
£908
+61%
+£344
+20%
+£151
Kilmarnock
£714
+63%
+£277
+16%
+£101
Motherwell
£833
+65%
+£328
+19%
+£134
East and North East:
Postcode area
Avg £
YOY %
YOY £
Q %
Q £
Aberdeen
£675
+56%
+£241
+18%
+£104
Dundee
£701
+59%
+£259
+19%
+£114
Kirkcaldy
£658
+57%
+£239
+18%
+£101
Highlands and Islands:
Postcode area
Avg £
YOY %
YOY £
Q %
Q £
Falkirk
£667
+59%
+£247
+16%
+£94
Hebrides
£555
+51%
+£187
+19%
+£91
Inverness
£591
+50%
+£196
+14%
+£72
Kirkwall
£565
+54%
+£197
+23%
+£104
Paisley
£737
+58%
+£270
+18%
+£112
Perth
£616
+55%
+£218
+18%
+£92
Shetland
£702
+64%
+£275
+10%
+£61
And it’s not just in Scotland where drivers can expect to pay the highest prices on record. Across the UK, all regions are seeing prices soar, proving just how volatile the car insurance market currently is.
And with a cost-of-living crisis still at the forefront of conversation, the rate of inflation for car insurance prices could be damaging for many. The latest data shows how millions of drivers risk being priced off the road if prices continue to rise as quickly as they currently are.
Why are prices increasing?
There are many reasons why car insurance prices are increasing so rapidly and drivers may feel they’re being penalised unfairly. Especially as the FCA introduced the General Insurance Pricing Practices (GIPP)(2) to ensure pricing was fairer. But adjusting to life after the pandemic and recent industry changes have both had a huge knock-on effect on how much drivers are paying.
The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow in popularity, especially due to the government’s ambitious Net Zero plans. Some manufacturers have even announced that they’ll only manufacture EVs going forward. But EVs often come with a hefty price tag and not all drivers can afford them. They often come with enhanced technology features as standard, so can cost the insurer more to repair or replace. But the pandemic has impacted its supply chain, meaning there are often backlogs for drivers. EVs also generally have quicker acceleration speed than other vehicles, so could appear riskier to insurers.
And because EVs aren’t affordable for everyone, second-hand vehicles are also keeping their value for longer, especially since the pandemic. But if a driver has an accident and their vehicle is a write off, this now costs insurers more to pay out. There are also lots more drivers returning to normal driving habits since the pandemic, so naturally there are more drivers on the road.
This means claims frequency is increasing, so insurers are paying out more than they have in recent years. All of this plays into the overall risk factor linked with insurance, which is why drivers are likely to see an increase.
How much are UK drivers paying elsewhere?
All regions in the UK are seeing the highest prices on record, but it’s drivers in London that are paying the most expensive rates overall. Inner London is the steepest, with the cost of car insurance now £1,503, on average. That means prices have increased by £567 (61%) in just 12 months.
Outside of London, drivers in Manchester and Merseyside are seeing annual increases of around £417 (57%). That makes average prices £1,154. And in the West Midlands, the cost of car insurance is £1,139, on average, following a £442 (63%) increase.
And once again, younger drivers are taking the brunt of the most expensive prices. But it’s those aged 18 who continue to pay the most, with average prices now £2,995. That’s increased by 89% (£1,414) in the past 12 months and by 25% (£591) in the last 3 months, on average.
But 17-year-olds might have the biggest surprise of all. That’s as their insurance prices have almost doubled in the past 12 months. Their car insurance prices have increased by £1,262 (93%), on average, meaning prices are now £2,613. Data also shows that drivers aged 38 and under aren’t paying less than £1,000, on average, for their car insurance.
And although insurers can’t price by gender, males still see the most expensive prices(3). The average price for men is now £987, following an annual increase of £359 (57%). And for women, prices have increased by £304 (59%). That makes average prices for them £820.
Further research by Confused.com of 2,000 UK drivers(1) also found that the majority were feeling the pinch. Around 3 in 5 (63%) drivers who renewed in the past 3 months (July to September) had a more expensive price of around £87 more. That’s despite 1 in 4 (26%) saying they had a clean licence and almost 1 in 3 (28%) saying they had 1 or more year’s no claims. Almost a third (28%) also said that they weren’t sure why prices were on the rise.
How can drivers keep costs down?
With all of this to factor in, it’s understandable that drivers may feel frustrated. Especially as prices seem to be going up in all areas of everyday life right now. But drivers can still make savings, even if the initial price is more expensive than first anticipated.
Data shows how drivers with a more expensive renewal between July to September 2023 were able to save around £88 when using a price comparison site. And even though 9% of drivers said they had a cheaper renewal quote, they still saved around £64 by switching. So that proves how drivers can still save money when switching at renewal, whether prices are higher or lower than before.
And although one size doesn’t fit all, there are also some tips drivers can try to keep costs down when it comes to renewal.
Use a price comparison site – If you’ve had a higher renewal quote, the best thing you can do is compare prices. That way you can ensure you’re getting the best deal to suit your needs and not paying more than you need to. And it’s likely that you can make a saving.
Pay for your car insurance annually – If you can afford it, paying for your insurance in one go rather than monthly is one way to get cheaper car insurance. That’s because insurance companies often charge interest for spreading the cost of your cover over the year.
Increase your voluntary excess – Increasing your voluntary excess can help you get cheaper car insurance. But you need to make sure you can afford to pay it, if you need to claim.
Be accurate with your mileage – Generally, the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to have an accident and make a claim. This means the higher your mileage, the more you pay for your car insurance. So, driving fewer miles can be a great way to save money on your car insurance policy. But don’t assume that a low mileage always means low prices. If you barely drive at all, your insurance company could see that as a risk as well.
Enhance your car security – The harder it is to steal your car, the less of a risk it is. This usually means cheaper car insurance. There are several ways to improve your car security including:
Installing a Thatcham-approved car alarm or immobiliser, if it doesn’t already have one
Adding secondary levels of security like a steering lock.
Parking overnight in a secure, well-lit car park, or at home in a garage or driveway, if possible.
Louise Thomas, motor expert at Confused.com car insurance comments, “For another consecutive quarter, we’ve seen some of the highest inflation rates when it comes to car insurance. With prices up on average £148 (19%) in just 3 months, and £338 (58%) in 12 months, drivers are likely to be paying more than ever. So those who haven’t yet been affected should be wary of how pricing may affect them at their next renewal.
“But there are deals around and drivers can still save money, even if they’ve noticed their renewal has gone up. And in a time of financial uncertainty, this can be really helpful if you need to watch your money more closely than before. So if you’re due to renew, consider ways in which you can keep costs down. Whether it’s reducing your mileage or improving your car security, these can certainly help. But remember to always be truthful to your insurer, otherwise you risk invalidating your policy.
“Our aim is to keep helping customers save money, especially in the current climate. That’s why switching and saving has never been more crucial, and we guarantee savings can be made. We’re so certain that we offer a guarantee to beat your renewal, or pay you the difference, plus £20(4). In this scenario, you not only get the best price, but you also get more cash. So there’s nothing to lose and lots to be gained.”
