Younger drivers are now being offered significant savings on their car insurance premium, simply by avoiding dangerous driving times.

XS Direct has just launched XS Direct 'Pumpkin', a high excess policy it claims will save younger drivers hundreds on their premiums, if they avoid driving between 10pm and 6am on Friday and Saturday nights, the most dangerous driving times.

Many younger drivers use their car mostly to commute and could avoid driving on weekend nights, so the XS Direct 'Pumpkin' policy rewards and incentivises these safer driving patterns.

"Each year, hundreds of younger drivers are involved in accidents that 'Pumpkin' will eliminate," said Chris McCann of XS Direct.

In 2006, drivers under 25 accounted for 37 per cent of fatalities and 25 per cent of injuries but represented only nine per cent of all policyholders. "Friday and Saturday nights account for almost 20 per cent of these accidents; the real point however is the serious nature of these weekend night tragedies. It is these night time accidents that drive up the premiums paid by all younger drivers, regardless of their driving habits or when they drive."

XS Direct 'Pumpkin' aims to reward safer driving amongst younger drivers. While the policy is intended to reduce driving on weekend nights, the driver can, if absolutely necessary, use the car on these nights, but will be charged an additional fee for doing so.

In the event of the vehicle being driven more than 100 metres between 10pm and 6am on Friday and Saturday, a charge of €50 applies. To track time of usage, XS Direct 'Pumpkin' utilises an unobtrusive device fitted to the car, which records time of driving.

Drivers interested in 'Pumpkin' can get a quote in seconds through the www.xsdirect.ie website. The concept is being rolled out in Dublin first, but is expected to be extended to the rest of the country over the coming months.

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