Category: Personal

The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association reports that more than 231 million people are currently subscribed to wireless communication devices, namely cell phones, compared to roughly 4.3 million in 1990. This increase in cell phone usage has resulted in a rise in the number of people using the devices while driving.

Since 2001, when the first law banning hand-held cell-phone use while driving was passed in New York State, the subject has been a hotly contested issue. There has been sharp disagreement as to  exactly how much of a hazard talking on a cell phone while driving actually creates. The results of several recent studies indicate that cell phone use while driving isn’t the most dangerous distraction. However, because it is so widespread, it is the most common cause of crashes and near crashes resulting from the driver being distracted.

An August 2006 survey conducted by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety studied teenagers use of text messaging while driving. The research showed that teens considered sending text messages to be their biggest distraction. Of those polled, 37 percent said that text messaging was extremely or very distracting.

An April 2006 study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that approximately 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near crashes resulted from some kind of driver distraction within three seconds of the event. The study also found that the most common distraction is the use of cell phones. However, the researchers went on to note that cell phone use is far less likely to be the cause of a crash or near crash than other distractions. They found that reaching for a moving object such as a falling cup increased the risk of a crash or near crash by 9 times, while talking on a hand-held cell phone only increased the risk by 1.3 times.

The results of the Virginia Tech study confirm an August 2003 report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety which concluded that drivers are decidedly less distracted by their cell phones than by other activities, such as reaching for items on the seat or in the glove compartment or talking to passengers. The AAA study was based on an analysis of videotapes from cameras installed in the cars of 70 drivers in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Research conducted in July 2005 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety discovered that motorists who use cell phones while driving are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to cause injury to themselves. The results also showed that banning hand-held phone use and mandating that drivers switch to hand-free phones doesn’t improve safety. The study found that injury crash risk didn’t vary with the type of phone, because the driver was still distracted by the conversation.

A new study conducted at Purdue University demonstrates there are statistical differences in traffic-accident injuries depending on the gender and age of drivers. The Purdue researchers found significant differences in the severity of injuries suffered in accidents involving men and women drivers and drivers within three age groups: young drivers, 16-24; middle-aged drivers, 25-64; and older drivers, 65 and above. The researchers’ findings corroborated national statistics, which indicated that fatalities rose by 7 percent for drivers 75 and older from 1981 to 2000, remained steady for drivers from 65-74, but dropped for younger drivers.

The study also included the following findings:

·   Accidents involving an overturned vehicle increased the likelihood of a fatality by 220 percent for older men, but only 154 percent for young men. Rollover accidents increased the likelihood of fatality by 523 percent for older women, but only 116 percent for young women.

·   Vehicles carrying one or more passengers increased the likelihood of driver fatality by 114 percent for young men and 70 percent for middle-aged men, but had no significant effect on the injury levels of older male drivers.

·   Vehicles less than five years old increased the likelihood of fatality for older men by 216 percent and for young men by 71 percent, but did not have a significant effect on the likelihood of a fatality for middle-aged men.

·   Not using safety belts increased the likelihood of injury by 119 percent for young women, 164 percent for middle-aged women and 187 percent for older women.

·   Accidents occurring in rural areas increased the likelihood of fatalities by 208 percent for young women but had no significant effect on the injury levels of other female age categories.

·   Vehicles six years old and older increased the likelihood of injury for middle-aged female drivers by more than 200 percent but had no significant impact on the injury levels of other female age categories.

·   Fatalities were more likely for middle-aged men who fell asleep at the wheel, exceeded the speed limit, got into an accident at an intersection or had an accident after midnight on Friday or Saturday, while the same factors had no significant effect on the injury levels of middle-aged female drivers.

·   Injuries were shown to be more likely for middle-aged women who drive during daytime hours, drive while under the influence of alcohol or drive while ill, while the same factors did not significantly influence the injury levels of middle-aged male drivers.

·   Driving on curvy roads and driving vehicles six years old and older increased the likelihood of injury for middle-aged female drivers but were found to have no significant effect on the injury levels of middle-aged male drivers.

The researchers went on to note that in many cases, alcohol consumption might have had an indirect effect on the outcomes because it increased the probability of not wearing a safety belt and speeding. However, once you take this into account, the effect of alcohol on injury severity isn’t significant because the level of injury is a function of the type of accident not of sobriety. Whether or not the accident occurred because the driver was drunk was beyond the scope of the study. The researchers developed their statistical models based on the accident having occurred regardless of the reason.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in a December 2006 survey that many parents are confused about the correct way to install child safety seats in their cars.

In 2002, NHTSA mandated that all new cars and child seats be built with locking attachments. The system, called Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), was designed to make safety seats fit snugly and provide a method of attaching the seats without having to use a seat belt. LATCH was intended to simplify child safety seat installation, but the survey results prove otherwise.

According to the study results, approximately 40 percent of parents still use seat belts when installing a car seat. Safety advocates say that using seat belts to attach a car seat can lead to a loose fit. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that just 55 percent of parents use the top tether built into the vehicle’s back seat to help secure their children. Using upper tethers for child safety seats reduces the tilting or rotation of the seat during a frontal crash.

Although the 55 percent usage rate of the top tether represents a significant improvement compared with earlier surveys, many parents still are not properly protecting their children. The researchers also found that over half of the parents not using the upper or lower tethers said they did not know how.

Other key findings of the survey include:

·   Thirteen percent of respondents said their vehicle was not equipped with lower tethers so a seat belt had to be used to anchor the safety seat.

·   Among the 87 percent that use a child safety seat on a car seat with lower tethers, only 60 percent use them to secure the safety seat.

·   Eighty-one percent of upper tether users and 74 percent of lower tether users said the tethers weren’t easy to use.

·   Seventy-five percent of the respondents who have used both seat belts and lower tethers to secure a safety seat preferred the lower tethers.

The government recommends car safety seats be used for children up to 40 pounds. Children over 40 pounds should use booster seats until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. All children should ride in the back seat until age 13.

Your car’s performance relies on a program of regularly scheduled maintenance, and so should your car insurance. In the same way that your car needs to be tuned up for it to operate safely and efficiently, your car insurance needs to be periodically reviewed to ensure it continues to provide the coverage you need.

When you review your car insurance, you should pay careful attention to the following:

·   The Declaration Page – This is usually the first page of the policy. It shows the insured’s name and address, policy dates, and a summary of the policy terms, the coverage limits and what is covered. You need to review and update the information on this page because it affects your coverage needs and the cost of your premiums. Never overlook any updates that need to be made, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

·   The Insuring Agreement – This specifies what the insurance company has agreed to cover in exchange for the premium. An insurance policy begins by declaring what it covers and then proceeds to restrict, limit and exclude coverages. You can’t just read the insuring agreement to understand the coverage your insurer is providing. You must read the entire policy and refer back to the insuring agreement. This will help you identify coverage gaps.

·   The Types of Coverage – The types of required coverage and minimums vary from state to state. The level of coverage is also affected by the age and value of your car. However, there are four types of common coverage that you should include in your insurance assessment.

The first is liability coverage. This protects you if you hurt someone or damage property while you are driving. As you accumulate more personal wealth, it is imperative that you increase your liability coverage. Without sufficient liability coverage, you could have your hard earned assets seized to cover a judgment against you.

The second type that needs to be reviewed and updated is your medical payments coverage. This covers you if medical expenses are incurred by anyone involved in the accident regardless of who was at fault.

The third type is your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage. You will be extremely glad you upgraded this coverage if you are ever involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance, has minimal insurance or is unidentified, as in the case of a “hit and run.”

The last type to be reviewed is your collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision covers damage to your car caused by an accident. Comprehensive covers damage caused by anything other than collision.  Both coverages are optional.  However, if you have a car loan or you are leasing a car, you will be required to carry both collision and comprehensive coverage. If you own your car outright, the decision whether to carry this coverage will depend on the age and value of the vehicle. 

The Insurance Research Council estimates that 81 percent of all crashes occur in urban areas of which the most dangerous locations are busy intersections. Nearly 43 percent of all auto accidents that happen in a city are intersection-related.

Even though intersections can be hazardous, that doesn’t mean you have to be a victim. Just remember these common sense rules for intersection driving:

·   Never wait until the last minute to get into the lane you need for your next turn. Always change lanes well in advance of reaching the intersection. Put your turn signal on before making any turn.

·   Avoid speeding through an intersection. You need time to react if a motorist fails to stop for a red light or stop sign. You also want to be sure you have plenty of time to brake if pedestrians cross against the light.

·   Be aware of other vehicles changing lanes. Keep out of other
drivers’ “blind spots” where they cannot see you in their rear and side
mirrors.

·   Stop behind the marked crosswalk. This will allow other drivers to see across the entire intersection. It will also prevent you from hitting pedestrians.

·   Don’t enter an intersection when the traffic is backed up on the
other side. You could wind up getting stuck in the middle of the
intersection if the traffic doesn’t move.

·   Watch for cars speeding through intersections after a red light. If you are waiting at a red light, don’t floor the gas pedal the moment the light turns green. Instead, quickly look both ways before proceeding through the intersection. If a motorist coming from one of the opposite directions is trying to speed through before the light turns red, you could be hit if you rush into the intersection at the instant the light turns green without looking for oncoming cars.

·   Check for cars twice before pulling into an intersection at a stop sign. It is a common occurrence to stop at a stop sign to make a left-hand turn, look both ways, and see no cars coming. Only to find that once you have begun the turn, a car has come out of nowhere and is headed straight for you. If you check twice before proceeding, you will allow enough time for the car that was hidden from your view to clearly emerge.

There is no mystery about buying auto insurance. If you want to save money, you need to understand what factors influence your premiums. Once you understand these factors, you can put your new knowledge to work and find the best coverage at the lowest rate.

Here are some guidelines to follow when shopping for car insurance:

·   When you file a claim, the deductible is the amount of money you pay toward the loss before your insurance company pays the claim. If you accept a higher deductible, your premiums will be proportionally lower. It is important to be sure you can afford the out-of-pocket expense of the deductible you select.

·   If your car has a Kelley Blue Book value of less than $2,000, you’ll probably pay more for collision/comprehensive coverage than you would collect on a claim. Insurance companies use their own criteria to determine fair market value for vehicles; however, the Blue Book can serve as a good indicator of whether you should maintain your collision/comprehensive insurance. You can find these values at www.kbb.com.

·   If you own a car that suffers from a high theft rate, or is expensive to repair, you’ll face higher premiums. Buy a car that’s not a thief magnet and/or doesn’t require expensive replacement parts and your rates will be significantly lower.

·   “Sunday Drivers,” meaning drivers who use less than the predetermined number of miles on their vehicles each year, may be eligible for a discount.

·   Where you live impacts the car insurance rates you pay. Premiums in rural communities are generally lower than in urban areas. The increased traffic and higher incidence of crime that are hallmarks of city life, increases the risk that you will eventually file a claim.

·   Most insurers give discounts for air bags and other safety features.

·   Some states require insurers to offer discounts for cars equipped with antilock brakes. There are also insurance companies that offer standard discounts for antilock brakes regardless of the geographic location in which you live.

·   Additional discounts you may be eligible for include: insuring more than one car, insuring your home with the same carrier, having no accidents in three years, being a driver over age 50, taking driver training courses, and using antitheft devices.