Commenting on the government’s statement on a post-implementation review of the Whiplash Reform Programme, Matthew Maxwell Scott, Executive Director of ACSO, said:
“While the Ministry of Justice's appetite to make any meaningful improvements to the whiplash programme, for example through improving the governance of the Official Injury Claim portal, may be limited, we all need to take the opportunity to provide feedback, raise concerns and remind the government of its policy aims.
"Not least of these was that the reforms were meant to reduce claims numbers and therefore save motorists money. There, the report card is mixed, in that claims have indeed fallen precipitously but few of the savings have been passed on by insurers. The promised £35 per year, per premium reduction turns out to be only £31 over three years, less than 30 per cent of the target.
"With the Motor Insurance Taskforce report looming, we should be wary of any further promises that prove to be built on sand and instead ask officials to focus on making what already is in place work much better."