Posted by Benji Riggins on February 3, 2012 under Insurance News | 
Rates won’t rise, but some could pay more if they’re below maximum allowed.
Drivers are getting a little good news: Auto insurance rates are not going up this year.
This is the second year in a row that the state’s auto insurers have not sought a rate increase.
The claims data just didn’t support an increase, said Ray Evans, general manager of the N.C. Rate Bureau, which represents 142 insurance companies that write auto policies in North Carolina
Evans said the frequency and severity of accidents has been stable over the past few years. He credited people driving less frequently, improved car safety and more active law enforcement – particularly the ticketing of people who text while driving.
“Those things have an impact, and we’re seeing the graduated driver license training continue to have an effect. … The fatality rate has dropped dramatically,” he said. “The end result is that with things stable there does not appear to be any need for an increase.”
That doesn’t mean some people won’t see an increase. Some companies may not be charging the maximum allowed and will be able to raise rates.
The average annual premium in North Carolina was $595 in 2008, the most recent data available from the Insurance Information Institute.
The Rate Bureau does not get the last word. That belongs to Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. And no state insurance commissioner has approved an auto insurance rate increase in 15 years, according to the Department of Insurance.
The DOI staff will review the Rate Bureau’s filing and could conclude that a rate decrease is needed. If that happens, the two sides will negotiate to reach a settlement.
That happened in 2009. Insurers had requested a 1.4 percent increase. But Goodwin ordered a rate decrease of one-half percent. Insurers appealed that decision, and in the meantime, as they are allowed to do, implemented a rate increase. After the settlement, insurers had to refund more than $50 million.
By Mary Cornatzer
mcornatzer@newsobserver.com
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/03/2980841/auto-insurers-seek-no-increase.html#storylink=cpy
Posted by Benji Riggins on January 30, 2012 under Interesting Info |
NEW YORK (AP) — The Cadillac Escalade, a top pick of the rich and famous ranging from Hollywood celebrities to Wall Street executives, is also the favorite choice of thieves.
The luxury SUV, which starts at more than $63,000, is the most likely vehicle to be targeted by crooks, according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute.
The study, based on insurance claims made for model year 2008 through 2010 vehicles, showed that the Escalade is six times more likely to be hit by thieves than the average vehicle, and its overall theft losses are more than 10 times as large.
The rankings are based on vehicles that were stolen, had parts such as stereo systems taken, or had other property inside the car snatched.
Matt Moore, a vice president at the institute, says the Escalade gets hit more often because “It’s so wildly popular as far as pop culture goes. Watching the TV you see professional athletes coming in and out of them and other celebrities too. It’s a status symbol.”
HLDI, which is part of the Arlington, Va.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, calculated the rankings based on the number of thefts per insured vehicle on the road.
The data doesn’t include uninsured vehicles or those covered by the 20 percent of insurance companies that don’t report their numbers to the institute.
A total of 10.8 claims were filed for every 1,000 insured Escalades, resulting in average loss payments of $10,555 per claim by insurance companies to the affected drivers, the study said.
The Escalade’s ranking isn’t anything new. When combined, the four versions of the SUV have ranked at the top of the list for several years, the group says.
Pickup trucks are also a favorite of thieves, taking the next four spots in the rankings, including the Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel drive, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab, the Ford F-450 crew cab four-wheel drive and the GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab. Crew cabs are pickups with a second row of seats.
Moore thinks that many of the pickup theft claims resulted from equipment or other items being stolen from truck beds while the vehicles were parked at work sites.
The Chrysler 300 sedan was the sixth most likely vehicle to be targeted and the only car on the list, with 7.1 claims filed for every 1,000 insured cars and an average loss payment of $5,509, the group said.
The vehicle least likely to be hit by thieves was the Audi A6 four-wheel drive, a luxury sedan. But its average loss payment per claim was $16,882. That’s 60 percent higher than that of the Escalade, according to the study.
The A6 was followed by the Mercury Mariner, a small SUV, and the Chevrolet Equinox, a midsize SUV.
The average vehicle in the study had 1.7 claims reported per 1,000 insured vehicles and an average loss payment per claim of $6,767, the study said.
By Bree Fowler, AP Auto Writer
Posted by Benji Riggins on January 28, 2012 under Interesting Info |
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, a Canadian auto insurer, released last week a list of top excuses from local motorists when they were caught using handheld cellphones while driving.
The insurer compiled the information with help from the local police department, which went on a month-long crackdown in September on distracted driving. Police estimate they issued more than 3,500 tickets.
Motorists getting distracted by holding a cellphone in one hand and making or receiving calls while driving is also a common problem in the United States.
Since the first law was passed in New York in 2001 banning handheld cellphone use while driving, there has been debate as to the degree of hazard, according to the New York-based Insurance Information Institute.
A survey conducted by State Farm in November 2010 found that 74 percent reported making or receiving calls at least once a week while driving.
Here are the top 10 excuses the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia compiled of local drivers who were caught using handheld phone devices while driving:
1. This is a bogus law.
2. It was my boss on the phone – I had to answer it.
3. I wasn’t using it – I just like to hold it.
4. Sorry officer, I didn’t see you trying to pull me over because I was on my phone.
5. But it was an emergency call to my wedding planner.
6. My Bluetooth died.
7. Driver: I’m using my speakerphone. Police officer: No, you’re holding your phone in one hand and steering with the other.
8. I’m not driving; I was stopped at a red light.
9. I wasn’t talking, I was checking my messages.
10. I was just checking the time.
Posted by Benji Riggins on January 25, 2012 under Interesting Info |
Nearly six in 10 Americans favor a federal law that would impose driving restrictions on teen drivers and institute a graduated driving license system.
A recent national survey from Allstate Insurance shows that support for a national graduated driver licensing (GDL) law corresponds with low opinions about teen driving skills, which received the lowest ranking among all ages surveyed.
Currently, the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act is pending in Congress as part of a broader bill known as Mariah’s Law, named after an Arkansas teen killed in a crash involving texting.
STANDUP would restrict nighttime driving, limit the number of passengers in a teen’s car, prohibit the use of cell phones while driving, and issuance of permits and licenses with specific age requirements through a gradual, multi-phased process.
When asked about the specific provisions included in the STANDUP Act, Americans said they favor the policies. Findings include:
Seventy-six percent back a minimum age of 16 to receive a learner’s permit, and 69 percent favor requiring three stages of licensing.
Seven in 10 Americans favor restricting unsupervised nighttime driving for those under age 18, and 65 percent support restricting the number of non-family passengers for drivers under 18.
When asked about the prohibition of cell phones or texting while driving for younger drivers, 81 percent are in favor.
Support for STANDUP and its individual provisions crosses all age groups, geographic regions, and political affiliation.
American drivers are highly critical of teenage drivers, giving them the lowest rating of all age groups. Eighty-one percent rate teenagers as “average” or “poor” drivers.
“Results from this survey show that Americans clearly understand that GDL laws can help save lives, and that a majority of them support a legislative solution that safely introduces teen drivers to the road,” said Bill Vainisi, senior vice president and deputy general counsel, Allstate. “What’s needed now is national leadership in the form of uniform standards for those GDL laws.”
The survey of 1,000 American adults was conducted July 13, 14, 16 and 17 via landline and cell phone and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. Of the 1,000 adults, the survey identified 848 drivers who hold a license and drive at least occasionally.
Posted by Benji Riggins on January 17, 2012 under Interesting Info |
New federal safety data shows texting while driving increased 50 percent last year, despite a rush by states to ban the practice.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does an annual survey that watches drivers’ behavior at selected intersections. The latest study caught less than 1 percent texting or manipulating hand-held devices. But it shows that activity increased to 0.9 percent last year, up from 0.6 percent the year before.
The share of drivers speaking in headsets also increased, although hand-held cellphone use remained flat.
The increase in texting while driving came despite bans on the practice in many states. Last month, Pennsylvania became the 35th state to impose a ban.
Tags: auto ins, car ins, driver safety, home ins, homeowner ins, homeowners ins, insurance agency, insurance agent, text, texting, vehicle ins
Posted by Benji Riggins on January 4, 2012 under Safety |
Brake Failure Investigations
Many drivers can recall a near miss saved by the quick application of brakes, while a smaller number remembers pounding the brake pedal too late and crashing. What does this subset have in common? Significant numbers of them will blame their accidents on brake failure. Most of them will be wrong.
The reality is drivers judge distances poorly, especially when traveling at freeway speeds. Typically, they have no idea how their brakes behave in critical situations and consequently believe crashes result from mechanical malfunction, when in truth their brakes performed as designed, but their following distances were too short for their speeds. The standardization of electronically controlled antilock braking systems (ABS), which prevent wheel lockup and skidding during heavy braking, has compounded the problem because ABS can make strange grinding noises when it activates, leading untutored drivers to suspect braking issues. When coupled with a human tendency to avoid blame, brake failure becomes the commonplace excuse for many crashes.
As a result, a significant percentage of the workload for forensic automotive investigators is brake-failure examinations. Despite the frequency of the claims, actual malfunctions in these complex systems are rare, although they can happen. Investigation requires the input of a trained automotive specialist who knows where to look for problems in braking components to find the telltale evidence of failure. Often issues associated with neglectful maintenance by owners impede brake function, especially when optimal performance is required.
Brake Physiology
In a typical automotive disc-brake system, when the driver depresses the brake pedal, that pressure is transferred to a system of fluid-filled brake lines. The fluid then transmits the pressure to the calipers, clamping the brake pads against the brake rotors, which are attached to the wheels. The friction generated between the pad and the rotor provides the force that stops the vehicle. Loud squeaking from the brakes when applied usually signals brake pads that are reaching the end of expected use.
Wear and Tear
Pad or shoe wear from normal usage is the most common brake maintenance issue, and examining the parts of the braking system is typically the first step for a forensic investigator. He or she will look for unusual wear in the pads or shoes. That effort entails removing the vehicle’s wheels to access the brake pads and may require removing the pads for more precise measurement.
When an investigator removes the brake pads, he can also inspect the pad surface. A smooth, reflective quality may indicate “glazing” caused by overheating, which decreases stopping power. Overheating may also result in brake rotor discoloration, and is usually caused by excessive brake “riding” by the driver.
Less commonly, brake failures may be caused by excessive rotor or drum wear. With the wheels removed for the pad inspection, the brake rotors or drums can then be checked for thickness, diameter, and warping to ensure that they are within manufacturer specifications. Rotors and drums need replacement less frequently than pads and shoes, but excessive wear can contribute to brake failure, especially if the pads or shoes are similarly worn.
Examining Fluid Issues
In a typical hydraulic brake system, a brake fluid leak can result in complete brake failure if the fluid level drops too low. Such leaks can develop from excessive wear because of vibration or age, or from collision or roadway hazard damage. For example, an investigation of a suspected brake failure in a medium-duty truck that sustained significant crash damage in a freeway accident revealed that the truck had a brake-line design that allowed the primary fluid lines to rub against one another. The constant friction of the rubbing lines culminated in a sudden fluid leak and a complete loss of braking power.
Inspection for fluid leaks is simple and should be done by mechanics as part of routine maintenance. A forensic investigator examining a crashed vehicle will have little trouble spotting a leak, but determining its cause may be more complex, sometimes requiring laboratory examination with advanced equipment.
Another fluid-related cause of brake failure is the introduction of small air bubbles into the brake lines. Air bubbles occur when overheating brake fluid reaches the boiling point (brake fluid ages and has a limited usage life) or a slow leak allows air into the system. (A boiling point or other chemical test can determine if the vehicle’s brake fluid has exceeded its useful life.) The resulting bubbles interfere with the brake system’s ability to transmit braking force to the wheels, causing the brake pedal to feel softer than normal and making it very difficult to apply maximum braking effort.
Such a condition can contribute to an accident if a driver does not have sufficient stopping distance when facing a hazard. Once again, the way to avoid failures because of tainted or deficient fluid brake failures is proper preventative maintenance practices by the vehicle owner. This may include changing the brake fluid in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and regular brake bleeding to eliminate any air introduced into the system.
Potential Mechanical Problems
The most unexpected cause of brake failure that investigators may encounter is a mechanical failure in the brake pedal assembly. In rare cases it is possible for the master cylinder (the component that distributes the brake pedal force to the wheels) to become detached from the pedal linkage. This condition is immediately obvious to an inspecting investigator, so the real item of interest will be pinpointing the cause of the linkage failure, whether it is rust, tampering, or metal fatigue.
Tapping Accident Data
Increasingly, crash data retrieved from a damaged vehicle’s event data recorder (EDR) is providing useful insight to accident investigators. If the module is accessible in a brake failure examination and has collected the crash event data, then the forensic investigator can gain insight about driver actions in the seconds that preceded and followed impact. A brake failure allegation could wither away if that data reveals that the driver never engaged the brakes prior to a collision. More likely, the data will deliver the context that will guide the further investigation of a brake failure allegation.
Perhaps the record will show that the driver was not speeding and applied the brakes suitably, but did not stop quickly enough to avert disaster. That could open the possibility of a brake problem that should be identified in the claims resolution process.
A brake failure from a maintenance issue could implicate a repair shop, thus identifying a subrogation opportunity, whereas an original equipment failure could result in a product liability action.
Managing Brake Failure Claims
While brake failure is probably the most common excuse for a crash, cumulative experience shows that driver error probably trumps actual brake malfunctions as the primary cause of accidents because of braking issues. Although it is easy to be swayed by a dramatic recitation of the crash story, if there is any doubt about the logic or sense of the event sequence, consult an automotive expert.
By Ryan L. Devine, Gregory J. Quan
December 16, 2011
Tags: auto ins, auto safety, brake failure, brakes, car ins, car safety, driving safety, insurance agency, insurance agent, Safety, stopping power, vehicle ins
Posted by Benji Riggins on December 29, 2011 under Safety |
If you’ve ever turned a corner without a signal only to be blasted by a honking horn – and maybe an obscene gesture from the driver behind you – you’ve set off a driver for whom not signaling is a pet peeve. That’s most drivers. When surveyed on their pet peeves, many drivers first mention others who don’t use turn signals when turning or making lane changes.
While signaling a lane change on a deserted stretch of highway at 3 a.m. may seem unnecessary, that’s a situation that few people find themselves in regularly. Most people drive where their actions on the road have a direct effect on the other drivers sharing that same stretch of highway as well as on pedestrians.
The safe, thoughtful driver always signals lane changes and builds that habit. When other drivers can predict your behavior, everyone on the road is safer.
Think before you signal: You’re planning to turn right into the bank that’s on the opposite corner of the intersection. So when should you signal your right turn? Don’t confuse the drivers coming at you by putting your signal on too soon. They might just make a left turn in front of you. But do get that signal on before you turn. Some drivers deliberately don’t signal a lane change because they fear that the drivers in that lane will speed up and close the gap, shutting out their move. That might happen occasionally, but usually if you do signal other drivers are courteous and let you in. Not signaling is dangerous and could cause an accident.
The danger at intersections: Dangers abound at intersections. An estimated 80 percent of fatal city collisions happen at intersections that have stoplights. Why are they so deadly? Because many motorists travel at speeds approaching 50 miles per hour at intersections and crashes are often t-bone hits where one car is hit either on the driver or passenger door. As you enter an intersection on a green light, look left, then right, then left again. Make sure it’s visually clear before you enter it.
Yellow means slow down, not speed up to beat the red light: Red means stop whether it’s a sign or a signal. If it’s a signal, yellow means slow down and stop! It’s pretty simple. Running stop signs and lights cause many fatalities every year. And remember, a rolling stop is not a stop in the eyes of the law. Would you rather spend your hard earned cash on a ticket or on something enjoyable?
Backing up: Many people back up without looking and that causes many accidents each year. If you don’t believe it, next time you’re walking through a parking lot (don’t do this when driving, it will distract you) check out the back ends of the cars for damage that comes from accidents caused by backing up without looking. Sadly, each year children are run over at home when cars are backed over them. Backing down a roadway is never a good idea either and on limited access highways it’s illegal. Even if it was, it wouldn’t be safe.
Freeway and expressway driving: Freeways and expressways have their own set of driving rules. Closed access highways forbid many things: stopping unless for an emergency, backing up and staying out of emergency vehicle crossover lanes are typical. Because limited access highways usually have higher speed limits, it’s critical that drivers pay attention and follow the rules of the road. One of the most important things to learn as a driver is to properly use the acceleration and deceleration lanes for entering and exiting a freeway.
When you drive safely and courteously, whether you’re on a country road, a city street or a limited access highway you’ll find that most other drivers will be courteous as well. So drive safely and enjoy your trip and consider talking to Statewide Insurance (704)821-7630 if you’re in the market for auto insurance.
Renee KolzowDecember 6, 2011 11:15 amAuto, Featured Articles, On The Road, Safety on the Road
Tags: auto ins, auto insurance quote, auto safety, car ins, car insurance quote, car safety, driver safety, driving safety, insurance agency, insurance agent, vehicle ins
Posted by Benji Riggins on December 19, 2011 under Interesting Info |
New Year’s Day Still the Busiest
While most Americans take time off from work during the holidays, vehicle thieves are pounding the pavement without so much as a lunch break.
According to analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), New Year’s Day, once again, ranked as the leading holiday for reported vehicle thefts in 2010. Christmas Day repeats as the holiday with the fewest reported vehicle thefts. For the 11 holidays reviewed in 2010, a total of 20,995 vehicles were reported stolen compared with a total of 22,991 reported for those same days in 2009.
The Des Plaines, Ill.-based not-for-profit organization’s annual reports show a decline in vehicle thefts for seven consecutive years. There is, however, always a black market for items obtained by theft, and vehicles remain popular theft targets.
The top five holiday theft states are California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Georgia. California had the highest overall number of holiday vehicle thefts. The majority occurred on President’s Day with 507 thefts. Following the national trend, Texas, Florida, Illinois and Georgia had the highest number of thefts on New Year’s Day and all top five states had the lowest on Christmas Day.
The full report, “2010 National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Holiday Vehicle Theft Analysis,” can be accessed here.
Source: www.nicb.org
By Melissa Stewart
December 8, 2011
Posted by Benji Riggins on November 7, 2011 under Interesting Info |
Those who view their car as an extension of themselves have stronger aggressive driving tendencies, a new study finds.
The study “Aggressive Driving: A Consumption Experience,” by a Temple University Fox School of Business professor, is thought to be the first to comprehensively examine how personality, attitude and values contribute to aggressive driving behaviors.
Driving is one of the most common consumptive behaviors, and aggressive driving causes a third of all accidents that involve personal injuries and two thirds of all fatal accidents in the United States.
“It explains much of the phenomenon we knew existed,” said Ayalla Ruvio, lead author and an assistant professor of marketing at the Philadelphia university. For instance, “we know men tend to be more aggressive drivers and we know men tend to see their cars as an extension of themselves more than women.”
Ruvio’s article, published online in the Journal of Psychology & Marketing, takes a consumer behavior perspective of this phenomenon and features two studies conducted in Israel. One took a holistic look at the influence of personality, attitudes and values gathered from 134 surveys of men and women with an average age of 23.5. The second study, of 298 people, built from the first and added the factors of risk attraction, impulsivity, driving as a hedonistic activity and perceptions about time pressures.
The studies found:
•People who perceive their car as a reflection of their self-identity are more likely to behave aggressively on the road and break the law.
•People with compulsive tendencies are more likely to drive aggressively with disregard for potential consequences.
•Increased materialism, or the importance of one’s possessions, is linked to increased aggressive driving tendencies.
•Young people who are in the early stages of forming their self-identity might feel the need to show off their car and driving skills more than others. They may also be overconfident and underestimate the risks involved in reckless driving.
•Those who admit to aggressive driving also admit to engaging in more incidents of breaking the law.
•A sense of being under time and pressure leads to more aggressive driving.
The study findings “suggest that the perception of the car as an extension of the self leads to more aggressive behavior on the road rather than increased driving cautiousness,” the authors wrote, adding that “individuals may view cars and the road space they occupy as their territory and will seek to maintain control over it and defend it as necessary.”
Ruvio said the implications of this study can be seen in numerous cultural contexts because of the strong link between cars and identity. She points to the “soccer-mom” stigma of minivans, the Thelma and Louise personas, and songs such as Shania Twain’s “You Don’t Impress Me Much,” with its line, “I can’t believe you kiss your car goodnight.”
Source: Temple University, Philadelphia
