Diamond reveals women risking lives with daily in-car make-up routine

Diamond has revealed that more than three and half million female drivers could be putting themselves and other road users at risk by using their morning drive to apply make-up and do other routine tasks, a new poll has revealed.

Women's car insurance specialist, Diamond quizzed more than 2,000 female motorists on their driving habits and discovered a quarter (23%) of women admit to applying make-up whilst driving, with 16% of those having crashed or had a near miss as a result.

And it's not just applying make-up; women are using their drive to work to complete routine morning tasks that are equally as dangerous. Almost half (47%) have checked text messages, nearly a third (30%) have brushed their hair behind the wheel, while a similar number have eaten breakfast (34%) and drunk hot drinks (32%). As well, almost a fifth (18%) have checked their emails on a smart phone and nearly one in ten (9%) have read the newspaper.

Diamond managing director, Elwyn Gedrych said: "It's shocking that quite so many women admit to doing these tasks while driving. We all have busy lives but applying your make-up, or checking emails when you’re driving is dangerous as it means your full attention is not on the road ahead.

"Even if you’re lucky enough to arrive at your destination safely, you could be charged with careless driving if spotted by the police."

Although the majority (60%) of the women who admitted to applying their make-up behind the wheel, did it when stopped in traffic or at traffic lights, shockingly one in ten (12%) admitted to applying make-up while the car is moving and 7% take their hands off the wheel completely to do it.

In fact, despite four-fifths (84%) of women who apply make-up whilst driving admitting they think it's dangerous, more than two-thirds (41%) have done it with passengers in the car, and almost a third (30%) when children have been travelling with them.

When asked why they take such risks, six out of ten (64%) women said they're applying make-up behind the wheel because it saves them time, while one in ten (10%) said it was because they couldn't be bothered to do before they left home.

Elwyn Gedrych continued: "It's really not worth trying to save a few minutes in the morning by doing your make-up, or anything other than driving, when you’re behind the wheel.

"And so women never have to do their make-up in their car again, we've teamed up with celebrity make-up artist, Caroline Frazer to give women all the tools they need for a quicker, more efficient make-up routine before they leave the house."

The video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvxEc-JnQBw.

About Diamond:
Diamond launched in 1997, when it was clear that there was a place for a woman only car insurance specialist, and has led the way for similar companies to follow. Diamond has been able to offer women cheaper car insurance for 14 years because on the whole women’s car insurance claims, cost less than men’s. We understand what women motorists want from their insurance, and meet their needs by offering great service and a great price. We do not refuse to give insurance quotes to men and are more than happy to provide a quote if requested.

Diamond offers its customers up to £300 of Handbag Cover and £300 of Child Seat Cover free as part of their comprehensive policy.

Diamond’s sales line is 0800 36 24 36. Its website address is diamond.co.uk.

Diamond is a trading name of EUI Limited, and is part of the Admiral Group. Diamond writes its motor insurance business to a consortium of insurers, these being:
- Admiral Insurance Company Limited,
- Admiral Insurance (Gibraltar) Limited, and
- Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) plc.

PR Contact:
Natalie Grimshare
Diamond
Capital Tower
Greyfriars Road
Cardiff
CF10 3AZ
029 2043 4231
www.diamond.co.uk