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Crackdown on bogus claims helps insurance costs fall by 12%

CAR INSURANCE premiums have plunged at a record rate of 12% year-on-year amid a tougher clampdown to combat bogus motor accident claims which add to the costs of everyone's policies. The typical quote for annual comprehensive car insurance cover was £568 in October, marking a 4.5% drop on July and a 12.4% fall on a year ago, according to the latest AA Insurance premium index, which takes the average of the five cheapest quotes on the market. This is the biggest annual slide that the AA has on its records, which go back to 1994, and marks a sharp turnaround for motorists following a period of strong increases, with premiums rising by more than 40% just two years ago.

Runaway ostrich causes traffic chaos

Rush hour in the town of Tunbridge Wells took a humorous turn yesterday when a runaway ostrich shot past cars at speeds of over 40mph, with a clear disregard for road conditions, traffic and speed limits. Alarmingly, the rogue bird is still on the run from police and there are fears it could cause carnage in the town centre, as the RSCPA warns fully-grown ostriches max out at around 60mph. On Bing: see pictures of runaway ostriches Cars named after animals If the ostrich were to collide with an individual, its lack of crumple zones means the pedestrian could be badly injured and, as far we’re aware, ostriches are yet to be put through strict Euro NCAP crash tests.

Aston Martin Rapide storms the desert

If you asked last month what the greatest invention in the history of the world was, we would not have said fire or the wheel or the Wright brothers' airplane. We'd have told you it was air conditioning. Because last month, we were in Kuwait, a place so hot that even the Kuwaitis--who probably have the best air conditioners on the planet--get the hell out of Kuwait in the summertime.