Category: Auto

Traffic Violation Cameras and Your Auto Insurance Premium

Posted on by Steve Hom

With the sudden presence of traffic violation cameras (red light, speeding, aggressive driving) in states across the country, many Americans feel that their privacy is violated.  Others believe that this is a government ploy for fundraising, or to replace the local police department.  Many people are curious as to the effect a red light camera violation will have on their insurance premium.

Since initiating the program a few short years ago, participating cities have seen very promising results from their investments.  Many have seen a 40% decrease in violations since starting the program.  Fines can be anywhere from $35 to $200, depending on the city in which the violation was issued and the speed over the legal limit at the time of the photograph.

If you are found in violation, the cameras take a picture of your car, with a motion-triggered shutter, which captures an image of you in your vehicle in addition to a zoomed-in image of your license plate.  Some cameras even take a few seconds of video.  Once the data is analyzed, you are issued a ticket through mail.

Some drivers have contested that if the vehicle owner is not the driver at the time of the violation, they should not have to pay the fine.  Most cities allow residents to appeal the citation in this situation.  Other states, however, hold the vehicle owner responsible regardless of who was driving.

There have been a few reports that suggested the cameras increase traffic accidents.  This is both true and false.  As the lights change from green to yellow, drivers begin to panic.  To avoid receiving a traffic violation, they are inclined to stop much more suddenly, which could cause minor rear-end collisions, and fender-benders.  However, more serious side-impact and head-on collisions caused by drivers speeding through red lights have significantly decreased.  As these crashes were much more hazardous, and resulted in far more injuries, the cameras are still viewed as a positive implementation.

Since violations are usually issued as a civil penalty, in most cases they do not result in changes to your insurance premium or points on your license, except in extreme cases.  Driving safely, however, will always result in better insurance rates.

When Should You Get Car Insurance for Your Teen?

Posted on by Steve Hom

As soon as they start learning to drive, whether they are starting with a learner’s permit or going straight to the license, you should inform your insurance company to have them added to your policy.  This is usually much more cost-effective than placing them on their own policy, especially if you are a safe driver with a clean record.  They will also be eligible for more coverage under your policy.

Statistics show that teens are more prone to accidents than those in other age groups, so starting out with the right amount of coverage is extremely important.

When your child goes to college, unless they are taking a car with them, you will probably want to switch them to “occasional drivers” under your policy.  Some other considerations:

 

  • You may qualify for a multi-policy discount if your child’s car is covered under your policy.
  • You may also qualify for a discount during the time your child is away at college.
  • Encourage your child to earn good grades, and take a driver training course.  Some insurers discount due to good grades, and for completion of training courses.
  • Serve as a good role model; your child will learn by example, so it is important to demonstrate good driving habits early on (i.e. not talking on the phone, using seatbelt, not drinking and driving.)

 

The Number of Uninsured Drivers Continues to Rise

Posted on by Steve Hom

Here’s a sobering statistic you might not be aware of: nationwide, when a person is injured in a car accident, the odds are about one in seven that the driver that caused the crash is uninsured. According to a recent Insurance Research Council (IRC) study, the estimated percentage of uninsured drivers rose from 12.7% in 1999 to 14.6% in 2004. The IRC studied data provided by eleven insurance carriers, which represents approximately 58% of the private passenger auto insurance market in the United States.

Uninsured Motorists, 2006 Edition looks at trends in the percentage of uninsured drivers by state from 1999 to 2004. In 2004, the five states with the highest uninsured driver estimates were Mississippi with 26%, Alabama with 25%, California with 25%, New Mexico with 24%, and Arizona with 22%. The five states with the lowest uninsured driver estimates were Maine with 4%, Vermont with 6%, Massachusetts with 6%, New York with 7%, and Nebraska with 8%.

The researchers estimated the number of uninsured drivers by using a ratio of insurance claims made by persons who were injured by uninsured drivers to claims made by persons who were injured by insured drivers. The study also includes recent statistics broken down by state on the frequency of claims made by uninsured motorists, the frequency of claims of bodily injury, and the ratio of uninsured motorists to bodily injury claim frequencies.

Given these statistics, it’s a good idea for people to protect themselves in case they are in an accident with someone with either no coverage or not enough coverage. That’s why the insurance industry developed Uninsured Motorist Insurance and Underinsured Motorist Insurance. Requirements for carrying this coverage differ from state to state. However, in general, states that are considered “no fault” auto insurance states mandate both types of coverage.

Uninsured Motorist insurance protects you when the other driver has no coverage. In order for your Uninsured Motorist coverage to help, the uninsured driver must be the person responsible for causing the accident. The types of coverage provided under this policy include:

 

  • Uninsured Property Damage: Covers you when the insured vehicle sustains property damage, but the at-fault driver has no insurance.
  • Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury: Covers you, the insured members of your household and your passengers for bodily/personal injuries, damages or death caused by an uninsured at-fault driver. If you get into an accident in which the at-fault driver has no insurance, your policy will pay your medical expenses, up to the stated limits of your policy.
  • Underinsured Motorist insurance protects you when you are in an accident with a driver who does not have enough liability coverage. Again, this coverage only helps if the underinsured driver caused the accident. The types of coverage provided under this policy include:
  • Underinsured Motorist Property Damage: Covers you when the insured vehicle sustains property damage, but the at-fault driver is covered by a policy with a liability limit insufficient to cover all the damages.
  • Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury: Covers you, the insured members of your household and your passengers for injuries, damages or death caused by an at-fault driver whose insurance is insufficient to cover the entire expense. If you have an accident with a driver whose policy limits are too low to pay all your damages, your policy will pay the difference up to the stated limits of your policy.

 

If you haven’t reviewed your insurance coverage recently, talk to your insurance agent to review any gaps in your coverage. You may be putting yourself and your family in greater risk than you realize.

Sport Utility Vehicles Improving Rollover Safety Record

Posted on by Steve Hom

According to Newsweek, one in four automobiles sold in the United States is a sports utility vehicle. Every SUV purchase nets an average of $15,000, according to Forbes magazine, in profit for the vehicle’s maker. Because of this high demand and lucrative sales potential, the makers of SUVs have been accused of ignoring safety when it comes to the design and production of their products. The biggest safety complaint about the SUV is its high rollover record.

This lax attitude toward safety, however, is an item of the past. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released new rollover results for 2006 and 39 SUVs earned four-star ratings, which was the highest rating earned by the vehicles tested. No SUV earned the top ranking of five-stars. Under this ratings system, a vehicle rated at five-stars has a rollover risk of less than 10%. A four-star vehicle has a 10% to 20% risk, and a three-star vehicle has a 20% to 30% risk.

Newly tested SUVs that received four stars included: the Chevrolet HHR, Honda Pilot, Toyota RAV4, Subaru B9 Tribeca, Hyundai Tucson, Mercedes-Benz ML Class, Suzuki Grand Vitara and four-wheel drive versions of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer.

Among top-scoring SUVs, the HHR had a 14% chance of rollover and four-wheel drive versions of the Pilot had a 15% chance.

The four-wheel drive version of the Nissan XTerra had a 25% percent chance of rollover, the highest percentage among the new SUVs tested. The two-wheel drive version of the XTerra, the two-wheel drive Chevrolet Tahoe and Hummer H3 each had a 24% chance of rollover, and all received three stars.

The new statistics also reveal that SUVs have shown consistent improvements in the area of safety. Only two-dozen SUVs received four stars last year, and just one SUV earned the ranking in 2001. In addition, the agency noted that 7 in 10 new SUVs are equipped with electronic stability control. This feature is an anti-rollover system that automatically applies the brakes if the vehicle begins to skid, which helps to stabilize the vehicle. Government studies have found stability control reduces single-vehicle sport utility crashes by 67% compared with the same models sold in previous years without the feature.

Since 2004, NHTSA has asked auto manufacturers to voluntarily install electronic stability control because of its proven potential for saving lives.  As a result, nearly all automakers now offer electronic stability control as standard equipment on a total of 57 SUV models, and on 6 SUVs as an available option. This is up from 20 standard and 14 optional in 2003. NHTSA is expected to issue a new proposal later this year specifying a performance criterion for stability control.

Safety Tips for SUV Drivers

Posted on by Steve Hom

Considering the increase in fuel costs and environmental awareness, it is surprising that the most popular vehicle in America is still the sport utility vehicle.  With a higher rollover occurrence, higher center of gravity, and increased difficulty of handling, driving a SUV can be dangerous. 

SUVs are completely different from lower-bodied sedans.  They need much more braking distance between themselves and the car in front of them.  They also are much more prone to slip, skid, or flip in hazardous road conditions; according to research done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 10,000 people each year die in SUV rollovers.. By following these basic tips, you will be better informed of how to safely maneuver in a SUV.

 

  • Slow down. Driving too fast is dangerous; driving too fast in an SUV is even more so.  The longer you have to react, the less likely you are to cause or be involved in an accident.
  • Avoid sudden or sharp steering.  An SUV is not designed to make fast, sharp turns as a smaller, lower, car can.  Allowing yourself more time to react will allow you to make smoother steering transitions.
  • Learn to brake in an SUV. While driving your vehicle, you should be considerate of those around you.  Those behind and beside you will not be able to see around you, so the more warning you can give before you brake, the better. 
  • Check blind spots frequently.  The biggest mistake most SUV drivers make is feeling invincible.  You are in the largest car, but that doesn’t mean you are in the safest.  Many SUV drivers do not use turn signals, or check blind spots, before pulling out or changing lanes, making a collision with a smaller vehicle all the more likely.
  • Avoid overloads. Carrying a great deal of cargo, or even passengers, can throw off the center of gravity even further, making the car more likely to flip over. This also wears on tires and brakes, overheats tires, and can result in a blowout.

 

Simple Tips to Prevent Auto Theft

Posted on by Steve Hom

Every thirty seconds, a vehicle is stolen in the United States.  That means over 1 million vehicle owners each year find themselves victims of auto theft.  In the event your car is stolen, contact the police with the following information immediately: make, model, year, color, license plate number, VIN, approximate time of theft, location, and witnesses, if any. You should know this information, or have it available at all times.  Then, contact your insurance company.  Preventative measures, however, could prevent this tragedy from ever happening.

Some tips to consider:

 

  • Install an anti-theft device.
  • Never leave the keys in the vehicle, or the vehicle running, while unattended.
  • Keep doors locked at all times, and windows up.
  • Never store valuables or packages in plain sight.
  • Have your VIN etched into windows and other parts of your car, making resell on the black market more difficult.
  • When parking on the street, turn your wheels, use your emergency brake, and park between other cars (making it harder for a thief to tow).
  • Avoid parking in long-term lots if at all possible.
  • Park in a safe, well-lit, or well-traveled area at night.

 

Research Shows Side Air Bags Can Save Lives

Posted on by Steve Hom

In a recent study, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimated that side air bags offering head protection could save the lives of about 2,000 drivers a year if every vehicle were properly equipped. The study was based on federal crash data involving 1997-2004 model year cars involved in crashes from 1999-2004 and 2001-2004 SUVs involved in crashes from 2000-2004.

The agency’s conclusion is based on insurance industry research that shows driver deaths in side-impact collisions dropped by more than 50 percent in SUVs equipped with head-protecting side air bags. The study also found that the risk of death dropped 30 percent in side collisions involving SUVs with side air bags that only offer protection to the chest and abdomen.

In passenger cars struck on the driver’s side, the risk of the driver being killed dropped 37 percent in autos with side air bags that have head protection. The risk of driver death fell 26 percent for cars with side air bags providing just chest and abdomen protection. The researchers discovered that fatality risks were lower across the board in vehicles with side air bags, whether the crash involved older or younger drivers, male or female drivers, and drivers of compact cars or larger passenger vehicles.

The side air bag was introduced in the mid-1990s, and has been credited for allowing motorists to escape serious injuries and death when struck in the side. In a head-on crash, the vehicle’s front-end absorbs most of the impact. However, a motorist struck in the side has very little protection without the side air bags.

Side-impact crashes are a major concern. In 2004, the government estimated that 9,270 people were killed in these types of crashes, which amounted to almost 30 percent of traffic deaths reported that year.

Although federal regulations don’t require side airbags in passenger vehicles, more and more manufacturers are installing them as standard equipment. This is due primarily to a 2003 voluntary agreement among automakers to improve occupant protection in side impacts for SUVs and pickups. The agreement is supposed to result in all cars, SUVs, and pickups having side airbags with head protection by 2010.

The auto industry has been keeping pace, and almost four of every five new car and SUV models already have standard or optional side airbags that include head protection. This is a significant increase since side airbags were introduced in the mid-1990s. If you would like model-by-model information on side airbag availability in 1996-2006 models, log on to iihs.org/ratings/ side_airbags/side_airbags.aspx.

Your Driving Record and How It Effects Your Premium

Posted on by Steve Hom

Your insurance company has the right to review your driving record at any time.  Typically, they’ll review your record when you apply for coverage, request changes to your policy, add a vehicle, or renew your policy.  This is to evaluate your risk potential, or determine if you are insurable at all.

Generally, what the insurance company will analyze is the number of points on your license.  When found guilty of a traffic violation (moving violations, parking tickets, at-fault accidents, etc.) you are assigned a certain number of points on your license. The more points you accumulate, the worse your record. The points on your driving record may or may not affect your insurance rate since each company has their own way of evaluating violations.

Insurers typically evaluate your points using their own system to determine the amount of your rate increase (if your rates increase at all).  Most companies, however, use the Safe Driver Insurance Plan, which lists the different types of violations and assigns a points value to each one, based on the severity of the incident.  Under this plan, as you accumulate points, your rates are subject to increase.

Your driving record isn’t the only information your insurer can use to underwrite your policy.  Insurers also use credit scores to determine rates. If you have a good credit score, your rates are likely to be lower than someone with a bad credit score. Insurance underwriters perceive a direct relationship between your credit score and the chances of you filing a claim. Someone with a history of being late on bill payments and who often opens and closes savings or credit accounts wouldn’t be viewed as a good insurance risk.

Trucks and Minivans Provide Greatest Threat of Back-Over Injuries to Children

Posted on by Steve Hom

The University of Utah completed a study that revealed some startling results about the likelihood of children being struck by a truck or minivan backing out of a driveway. Researchers found that children are 2.4 times more likely to be struck by a van and 53% more likely to be hit by a truck than by a car. The study also found that children hit by trucks or minivans are more likely to require hospitalization, surgery, and treatment in an intensive care unit than children backed over by cars.

The research was conducted using medical records and police reports that provided back-over injury data for Utah children under age 10 from 1998 to 2003. The number of state-registered vehicles was used to determine if injuries were more common among certain types of vehicles. The researchers further discovered that driveway back-over injuries represent an incidence of 7.09 per 100,000 children younger than 10 years old annually. Passenger cars account for only 1.62 injuries per 100,000 registered vehicles.  Previous reports have suggested that trucks and minivans produce a large rear blind spot, which makes them especially susceptible to this type of accident. However, this is the first study in the United States that has attempted to document the rate of injury by these vehicles.

The researchers emphasized the importance of educating parents and young children about the rules for safe play in driveways. They commented on the availability of rear cameras and sensors to warn a driver that a child or other obstacle is behind a vehicle. However, the study noted that there is no substitute for walking behind, or at least looking behind your vehicle before putting the car in reverse.

The federal government has also been working on this problem. Legislation pending in Congress would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set a standard for rear visibility that all vehicles must meet. Larger rear-view mirrors, rear sensors that sound a warning beep or cameras are among the options.

NHTSA expects to complete work on a study on the various types of back-over technology within a couple of months. The purpose of the study is to examine how effective the systems are and how they are used by drivers. The information will then be used to establish a standard.

Is Your Car a Thief Magnet?

Posted on by Steve Hom

Everybody loves driving a nice car; but not everybody is willing to pay for one.  It is possible that a potential thief may be coveting your car even as you read these words. However, you don’t have to be left vulnerable. The savvy car owner knows that taking a proactive approach can lessen the likelihood of a vehicle being stolen.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to fight insurance fraud and vehicle theft for the benefit of its member insurance companies, their policyholders, and the general public. As part of their public awareness campaign, they compile an annual list of the top ten most stolen cars. The list for 2003 by make, model, and model year included:

1.                  2000 Honda Civic

2.                  1989 Toyota Camry

3.                  1991 Honda Accord

4.                  1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup

5.                  1994 Dodge Caravan

6.                  1997 Ford F150 Series

7.                  1986 Toyota Pickup

8.                  1995 Acura Integra

9.                  1987 Nissan Sentra

10.              1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass

The NCIB also discovered through its research that in 2003, 1,260,471 motor vehicles were reported stolen at an estimated value of over $8 billion. Since recovery rates are only about 65%, that means a tremendous number of vehicles are either cut up for parts, exported to other countries, or reappear as clones, the latest trend in an ever-growing list of fraudulent car schemes.

But the organization doesn’t stop at compiling statistics. It has formulated what it calls its “layered approach” to auto theft protection by putting together some suggestions to make vehicles less attractive to thieves. NICB’s four layers are:

  1. Use common senseand take advantage of what’s already available to you.  The first line of defense is to use the anti-theft devices that are standard on all vehicles  – the locks. Always lock your car and take your keys.
  2. Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can abort a potential robbery before it happens.
  3. “Kill” switches, fuel cut-offs, and smart keys are examples of how technology can be extremely effective in stopping a thief in his tracks. Chances are, if your car won’t start, it won’t get stolen.
  4. The more expensive high tech tracking devices can alert you and law enforcement the moment an unauthorized driver decides to take your vehicle. Using one of these items will ensure that the local police will apprehend the car thief.

One final thing to remember about auto theft is that it doesn’t always happen when your car is use. It can happen when you take it to the garage for repair. Always be sure that when your vehicle is damaged, that you take it to a reputable repair shop. It is an unfortunate fact of life that some less than ethical garage owners can see your car as supplemental income by having it “stolen” and cut up for parts.  It is important to know whom you are entrusting your car to so that you don’t end up in the market for a new automobile.