This was because figures showed that "17- to 25-year-old boys are ten times more likely to be involved in an accident than a girl of a similar age", he added.

BBC: MPs urge action on cheaper car insurance

While people who regularly speed are three times as likely to be involved in an accident (according to the Police Driver's Handbook), ignoring the speed limit may also be an indicator of a predisposition for other "anti-social" activities.

BBC: Traffic

"If you are a cyclist and you are involved in an accident and you are at fault for causing it you could be sued for damages, " he says.

BBC: Cyclists 'urged to get insurance'

In others, such as America, it may be an accident of birth, with no conscious choice involved.

ECONOMIST: Citizenship