IF YOU are a motorist who spends an hour driving to and from work every day, it’s a fair bet that you will pass a dozen speed cameras on the way.

The growing number of these devices in recent years has triggered an equally rapid rise in the number of motorists receiving penalty points on their licences.

The rapid roll-out of these cameras — up from 100 in 1996 to more than 6,000 today — means that it is not just would-be Michael Schumachers who are being caught on camera. An estimated one in four motorists now has a speeding conviction and the roll call of those who have been flashed includes everyone from mums doing the school run to normally law-abiding senior citizens.

This has had a knock-on effect in the world of motor insurance, with many more drivers learning the hard way that points don’t mean prizes, they mean sharply increased premiums.

Worst off are drivers who have totted up 12 points or more and are now disqualified. They will have a real problem obtaining any cover at all when their ban ends, says James Harrison, chief executive of Insurancewide.com, a price comparison website. Their best bet would probably be to try specialist companies such as Direct Choice and Quoteline Direct. But they are likely to have to pay two or three times the standard premium for the first year.

A 30-year-old man driving a medium-sized car in London would normally pay £350 for comprehensive insurance. But after a disqualification this is likely to rise to £650.

Those with nine points, or three camera flashes, should be able to obtain some quotes, but their pool of insurers will be considerably restricted and they, too, will pay a price for their misdemeanours. Mr Harrison says that they could face an increase in premiums of as much as 60 per cent. They could try shopping around but they are more likely to secure a quote from their existing insurer than a new one.

However, you may not have a choice in the matter. Some insurers, such as Barclays Car Insurance, refuse to continue providing cover for anyone with as few as six points, or two convictions, under their belt.

If you have been caught on camera just once and are carrying only a three-point penalty, your premiums are not likely to rise very much. Richard Mason, director of insuresupermarket.com, the price comparison website, says: “Ninety per cent of drivers should see no change in their premiums. Most insurers accept that a significant minority have got points. The cost of your cover should stay the same. At most you would be paying an extra 10 per cent to 15 per cent.”

A number of insurers are now offering cover against the possibility of motorists being disqualified for too many speeding convictions. Among them are Adrian Flux Insurance Brokers and Isle of Man Assurance (IOMA).

IOMA’s FlashGuard policy pays up to £1,000 a month for alternative transport costs, such as train and taxi fares, if a policyholder is unable to drive because of a speeding conviction. It does not cover more serious offences, such as dangerous or drink-driving, and it does not come cheap. The annual premium is up to £75.

A spokeswoman for IOMA rejected the accusation that it offered tacit encouragement to law breakers. “Even responsible drivers can be caught out by a momentary lapse or perhaps by being intimidated to speed away from a tailgater.”

IOMA also offers a broader DriverGuard policy, which pays up to £1,300 a month if a policyholder cannot drive because of a speeding conviction, a newly diagnosed illness, a sports injury or theft and vandalism to a car. The annual premium is £226. One drawback, however, is that those over 65 are not eligible for the illness cover.

Peter Gerrard, senior researcher at Insuresupermarket.com, says: “The illness cover sounds attractive but people should examine carefully what they will and will not be covered for. The best protection against losing your licence for speeding is to drive more slowly.”

Drivers should also be aware that while IOMA is authorised to conduct business with the UK, they will not have the protection of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Ian Smith learnt to his cost how much he relied on his car. The 39-year-old from Brentwood, Essex, runs Elite Financial Services, a firm that provides independent financial advice. He has had his driving licence revoked for a year after suffering an epileptic fit in September.

Mr Smith says: “The effect on my life has been dramatic.

I live in a village that has no public transport and I have had to employ a member of staff for an extra two hours a day to pick me up and drive me home from work.

“As a financial adviser I need to visit clients in their homes and I can no longer do this without running up huge taxi bills. I reckon that I now spend an extra £200 a week on transport costs. If I had known that this type of cover was available I would have taken it out.”

For more on insurance visit www.timesonline.co.uk/insure

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