Seat Belts Make Auto Safety a Snap

Seat Belts Make Auto Safety a Snap

What auto device is simple to use, takes just a second to snap into place, and saves thousands of lives each year? Seat belts of course – probably the single most important tool you have to keep safe while driving.
Seat belt stats at a glanceAccidents do happen, and chances are you`ll be involved with one or more in your lifetime. In fact, according to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 15,000 passenger vehicle occupants died in evening traffic crashes during 2005, and 59% of those occupants were not wearing seat belts at the time of the fatal crash. This is compared to the 44% of occupants who were not wearing seat belts and were killed during daytime hours in `05.
Sobering statistics, no doubt. The good news is the NHTSA reports 77% of passenger vehicle occupants who were in a serious crash and were wearing seat belts survived. Wearing seat belts has been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45% for front seat passenger car occupants and by 60% for those in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans.
More good news: According to an `06 NHTSA report, seat belt use across the nation is pretty solid. The average rate was 81%, with seat belt use ranging from 63.5% in New Hampshire and Wyoming to 96.3% in Washington. And 11 states and territories have rates 90% or higher – including Washington, Michigan, Oregon, California, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Nevada, Maryland, Texas, Georgia and New Jersey.
While these rates are high, the only truly acceptable seat belt usage rate is 100%, 24/7, for all drivers.
Seat belts save more than livesInterestingly, there`s a huge economic impact related to wearing seat belts. According to an '02 report by the NHTSA, between 1976 and 2002 seatbelts prevented 135,000 fatalities and 3.8 million injuries – saving an amazing $585 billion in medical and related costs. Their report states if everyone had used seat belts during this period, nearly 315,000 deaths and 5.2 million injuries could have been prevented, saving roughly $913 billion.
That's an incredible amount of savings and potential for more savings during a time when many driving-related costs can be high – from gasoline to insurance premiums.
Click It or Ticket in actionThis year from May 21 until Memorial Day (May 28), the NHTSA is encouraging law enforcement agencies nationwide to take part in the Click It or Ticket campaign, aimed at enforcing seat belt use. Jurisdictions with stronger seat belt laws generally show higher seat belt usage rates than those with weaker laws. A good example is Mississippi, where the seat belt law was changed to a "primary" enforcement law in 2006 and seat belt use jumped from 60.8% to 73.6%.
The NHTSA hopes the Click It or Ticket campaign encourages drivers to consider the legal consequences of not wearing a seat belt, in addition to being aware of the enormous safety benefits seat belt use brings.
Quick tips on proper seat belt use and safetyJust a few quick reminders about the right way to wear your seat belt: First, the belt should be low and snug across the pelvis or lap, and never across the stomach.
The shoulder belt should be across the chest and collarbone, and be snug. It should never be in front of the face or behind the back. Remember, you still need to wear seat belts even if your car has air bags – in fact, air bags only work properly if you are belted in and they are not designed to replace seat belts.
All children under 12 should be buckled into an appropriate seat, such as a child safety seat in the back. To find out the best child safety seat for your child's weight and age, check with your local children's hospital. Newborns should be placed in rear-facing car seats in the back.
Wearing seat belts is a snap, saves lives daily, and saves billions of dollars. So keep in mind the link between car accidents and seat belts when you take to the roads. We'll all be safer for it.
For more information on seat belt safety tips, statistics and use, or for more information on the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit the NHTSA's website
If you are in the market for auto insurance or would like to get an auto insurance quote, visit Insurance.com's auto insurance comparison application. Here, you can evaluate multiple rates from best-in-class car insurance providers, saving you time and money on your car insurance.

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California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Program

California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Program

In an effort to make sure everyone has and can afford car insurance, law officials in California have launched a new Low Cost Auto Insurance program for low income residents. This program will help eliminate the amount of uninsured drivers on the road, while reducing the financial burden many auto insurance companies and insured drivers have been feeling due to the large amount of uninsured motorists on the road.
"By law, California residents are required to carry a minimum of $15,000 per person for bodily injury liability coverage, $30,000 per incident and $5,000 for property damage. Reasonable insurance limits, but ones that are often accompanied with higher auto insurance rates - causing a financial strain upon many residents that do not have the means to pay for auto insurance," stated David Roush, CEO of Insurance.com. "By rolling out this plan, California is helping to make auto insurance affordable and obtainable for all drivers, no matter what their income level is." Currently, California's new Low Cost Auto Insurance program offers a slimmed down version of their current plan, allowing qualified drivers to carry $10,000 per person for bodily injury liability coverage, $20,000 per incident and $3,000 for property damage.
Who is eligible for this plan?In order to qualify for this reduced cost car insurance plan, the resident must be a driver in good standing, reside in one of the approved counties, their household's gross annual income must be 250% or less than the federal poverty level and the value of their automobile cannot exceed $20,000. To view a detailed listing of the federal poverty income levels and the qualifying income levels visit the AIPSO's website.
What exactly is a driver in "good standing"?In order to qualify as a "good standing driver", motorists must meet the following criteria:
Be at least 19 years old and have been driving for at least three consecutive years
Have no vehicle code felony or misdemeanor convictions on their driving record
Have no record of a fault accident involving bodily injury or death in the past three years
Have no more than one property-damage-only insurance claim in which they were at fault or one point for a moving violation within the last three years
Is not a college student claimed as a dependent for federal or state income tax purposes
Cannot have an in-force liability insurance policy for another vehicle
Must demonstrate they have been continuously licensed for 18 months in the U.S. or Canada, if previously licensed in another country
Eligible countiesIn order to take advantage of California's car insurance program, qualifying residents must reside in the following counties:
Alameda FresnoLos AngelesOrangeRiversideSan BernardinoSan FranciscoSan Diego
CostThe cost of the program varies from driver to driver depending on where they live and if the driver elects to add Medical Payments Coverage and Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage to their policy. To get a rough estimate of how much you would have to pay under this new plan, see the AIPSO's chart below.
RATE PER VEHICLE - ANNUAL PREMIUM

Liability
Medical (optional)
Uninsured Motorist BI (optional)
Alameda County
$322.00
$18.00
$32.00
Contra Costa County
$317.00
$17.00
$28.00
Fresno County
$299.00
$34.00
$51.00
Imperial County
$210.00
$18.00
$32.00
Kern County
$239.00
$19.00
$30.00
Los Angeles County
$355.00
$29.00
$65.00
Orange County
$312.00
$24.00
$37.00
Riverside County
$246.00
$14.00
$32.00
Sacramento County
$383.00
$23.00
$49.00
San Bernardino County
$283.00
$18.00
$40.00
San Diego County
$268.00
$15.00
$26.00
San Francisco County
$322.00
$26.00
$39.00
San Joaquin County
$295.00
$23.00
$35.00
San Mateo County
$307.00
$17.00
$25.00
Santa Clara County
$290.00
$14.00
$24.00
Stanislaus County
$359.00
$35.00
$44.00
In addition to these rates posted above, there is also a 25 percent surcharge for unmarried males between the ages of 19 and 24, due to the fact that this age group statistically has the most accidents of any other group.
How to registerIf you are interested in signing up for this low cost auto insurance program and you live in one of the qualifying counties, contact the California Auto Assigned Risk Program at 1-800-622-0954.
If you are not eligible for California's auto insurance program, but would like to see how you can lower your auto insurance rate, visit Insurance.com's auto insurance comparison application. Here, you will be able to evaluate multiple rates from best-in-class insurance providers - helping you find the best auto insurance rate for your limited budget.

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Insuring a Teen Driver in Single-Parent Home

Insuring a Teen Driver in Single-Parent Home

If your teen is away at school, living part-time with an ex-spouse, or spending a significant amount of time away from your single-parent home, you may be wondering if you are still required to keep them on your car insurance policy. Insuring a teenage driver can be an expensive endeavor, but depending on the circumstance and practices of your car insurance company, you may not be required to keep them on your auto insurance policy.
Divorced parentsThe first thing single parents should do when deciding on which policy to claim their teen driver on, is to check the language in their car insurance policy or contact their auto insurance company for details. Some car insurance companies suggest that the parent who has custody of the teen while they are in school is responsible for having that teen driver on their auto insurance policy, while others say it is the parent who has custody of the child more than the other.
In some instances, if both parents have the same auto insurance company, the child will automatically be covered on both policies. The reason behind this is that some companies define "an insured" as "a person related to you by blood, marriage or adoption who is a resident of your household."
Honesty is the best policyIf you don't list your teen driver on your car insurance policy, you are risking more than you may know. For instance, if you neglect to list your teen driver during your application process or failed to add your teenager once they have received their driver's license; your auto insurance company could cancel your auto insurance policy for misrepresentation. Worse yet, if your teenager is involved in an accident or traffic violation and you don't have them on your auto insurance policy, you could risk having your car insurance policy become nonrenewable.
However, all auto insurance companies handle insuring teen drivers and single-parent homes differently. Some companies require that all drivers be named on both parents' car insurance policies, regardless of how much time they spend between households.
Worst case scenarioIf your state permits auto insurance companies to void policies for misrepresentation, and your teen is in an accident and you file a claim, YOUR policy could be voided because you failed to tell them about your teen driver. So play it safe and contact your car insurance agent or company immediately once your teen has received his or her driver's license.
High risk teen driversRecently, The National Highway Safety Administration released the statistic below showing just how much of a risk teen drivers are to themselves and to others on the road.
In 2004, 5,896 teenage drivers were killed in traffic accidents. Teens accounted for 28% of all the drivers involved in motor vehicle fatalities
Teen drivers pose a higher risk of accidents than other groups of drivers, which is why the car insurance rates for this age group are so high. "On average, parents can expect to see a 50-100% increase in their car insurance rates once their teen has been added to their auto insurance policy," stated David Roush, CEO of Insurance.com. "However, many companies do offer parents discounts to help reduce the cost of insuring their teenager, such as 'Good Student Discounts' which are available to teen drivers who have a grade point average of 3.0 or above."

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An Overseas Traveler's Guide For What Insurance They Need

An Overseas Traveler's Guide For What Insurance They Need

There's nothing like the feeling of excitement when you're going on an overseas vacation. The red X's on the calendar boldly show the countdown to your trip. Your bags are packed, your tickets are ready, your passport is ready for its stamp, and before you know it, you'll be on your way! But what happens when you get to your destination and the unthinkable happens? What if weather makes your trip too treacherous to chance? You end up getting sick? You get pulled over or your baggage is lost? Insurance.com has a few suggestions as to what you can do to make your trip as smooth as possible, even when the unthinkable happens.
What to check before you leave:Health Insurance: In most cases, health insurance plans do not extend outside of the United States, so it is a good idea to check with your insurance provider and see exactly what your coverage entails.
Car Insurance: If you are going to be renting a car and driving when you go overseas, it is a smart idea to apply for an international driver's license. Be sure to read up on the rules for driving in the country you are going to, because they may differ from the driving laws here in the United States. Lastly, be sure you have adequate car insurance before you leave. Because unless you have a true umbrella policy which covers you worldwide, your personal car insurance policy will not cover you if you are out of the United States. You can do this by contacting your auto insurance company or agent before you leave. If you'd like to learn more about driving overseas or to get information on an international driver's license or traveler's insurance, log on to the AAA website, which offers answers and insights on what you may need when traveling overseas.
Lost Luggage Insurance: Lost luggage insurance is something that would be a good idea to check up on before you leave on your overseas vacation. Though homeowners insurance policies cover theft or destruction of personal property, they only cover the items that are listed in the actual policy. With lost luggage insurance, you get the added protection of knowing that if your bags are lost during your vacation, their contents will be covered.
Trip Interruption Insurance: There's nothing worse than being excited and ready to go on a trip, then it being canceled due to conditions that are out of your control. A newer kind of insurance called "trip interruption insurance" is now available that may help cover all, or part of the expenses you paid in the event the trip is canceled. Examples include if a cruise line you booked on goes out of business before your departure date, or if inclement weather causes a cancellation you will be reimbursed. Another perk of trip interruption insurance is that in some cases, if you must cancel the trip due to sickness or death in the family, you may be covered for the flight and hotel costs.
What's in an overseas insurance pack?Many insurance companies offer full-overseas insurance packs for the overseas travelers, beginning with a possible seven-day coverage that costs less than $50 per person. Age, number of people in your party, and how long you plan on staying at your destination determines the reimbursement price. Packages generally include:
Emergency medical evacuation
Emergency medical and dental
Accidental death and dismemberment
Repatriation of remains
Visitor to bedside and return of dependent children
Pre-existing condition waiver
Lost/damaged baggage
Rental car protection
Trip cancellation/delay/interruption/default
Insurance.com overseas travel tips
Do not leave your money in bags you check. Be sure to keep cash, travelers checks, travel documents, valuables and jewelry in your carry-on
Add something to your suitcase that makes it easily identifiable-tie a brightly colored ribbon to the handle or mark an "X" on it with duct tape. This will make it easier to identify in the event your luggage is lost
Choose a rental car that has a trunk-hatchbacks are a homing beacon for thieves
Drink bottled water instead of tap. Though many places have filtered water now, it may still make you ill, which can potentially ruin your vacation
Phrase books definitely come in handy when going to a country where the predominant language is one you aren't familiar with. The book may also save you a lot of time and headaches when someone actually knows what you're trying to ask for
Travel in the off-season. To save the most money and find the best deals, it's a good idea to plan ahead and look to traveling to your destination at a time that not everyone and their mother is going.
Whether you're preparing for that romantic getaway, an action-packed adventure, or just a trip to new overseas destination, Insurance.com is here to help. If you are interested in receiving a travel insurance quote, log on to Insurance.com. Here you will be able to evaluate multiple rates from best-in-class travel insurance providers - helping you find the best travel insurance coverage to protect you in your overseas travels.

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Acts of Nature Could Cost You If You Rent a Car

Acts of Nature Could Cost You If You Rent a Car

It "Hertz" to tell you this, but major car rental companies like America's largest are passing along the costs of repairing vehicles damaged by "acts of nature or God." (The words in quotes come from text at https://www.hertz.com/.)
Guess again if you think Hertz is inventing the wheel with its policy or traveling a different path than its competitors on this matter. "This is not new for us," points out Richard Broome, Hertz vice president of corporate affairs, in Park Ridge, N.J. "That provision has been in our general contract for about the past year," Broome noted. "Our competitors such as Enterprise have been doing this for quite some time, and now we're implementing this for all our other customers as well," said Broome.
Insurance industry executives Dan Kummer and Janine Gibford weigh in with practical coverage advice. For starters, Kummer issued a cautionary message on the subject of major car rental companies that have changed their contracts to discontinue coverage of damage to vehicles caused by "acts of nature or God" such as earthquakes or floods.
"If you don't check (rental agreements) carefully before signing on the dotted line, you could get burned," said Kummer, director of auto insurance for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), an insurance trade organization based in Des Plaines, Ill.
On the plus side, "acts of God" typically are covered under an auto insurance company's comprehensive coverage, Kummer continued. However, Kummer urges rental car customers "to make sure that you have that protection written into your contract and be sure to ask about that if you have any concerns in that area."
Whether or not you file a claim over damage caused by acts of nature, auto insurance rate increases down the road could occur because of Hurricane Katrina. "That wouldn't surprise me," acknowledged Kummer who said that all sizes and types of insurers "took massive claims hits in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's devastation" in Louisiana and elsewhere in the South. (Katrina in 2005 caused some $38 billion in insured property losses and reportedly produced about $1.8 billion in motor vehicle losses in the South.)
There's no shortcut to reading the rental car agreement, according to Janine Gibford, vice president of state affairs for the American Insurance Association, in Sacramento, Calif. "These contracts are often very long and not written in plain language, so that can make it difficult for the car rental customer to understand all the terms and conditions." says Gibford.
Adds Gibford: "It's a good idea to read through the contracts even though they are not exactly written for a layman's edification. If you have questions, find out from your insurance provider what coverages from your personal auto policy will extend to the rented vehicle and then ask the rental car sales representative what portion of the rental car policy covers exposures that your personal auto policy doesn't address."
Here's one last piece of advice from Gibford. "Ask the rental car company what are the coverage exclusions specified in their contract such as damage caused by acts of nature. Do not be afraid to ask questions when the rental company asks you if you want a 'collision waiver.' A 'collision waiver' is something a customer pays extra for, and you probably won't need that protection from the rental car company because that exposure probably will be covered in your personal auto policy. However, that's something you'll want to check with your insurance provider before agreeing to anything about that with the rental car company."

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How Much Will My Insurance Rate Increase After One Accident?

How Much Will My Insurance Rate Increase After One Accident?

It's no accident that drivers often save money on their auto insurance bills if they haven`t been in a fender-bender or any other roadway accident. On the other hand, if you have been in at least one vehicular accident, chances are you`re going to pay more for car insurance when your policy comes up for renewal. Insurance industry experts such as Carolyn Gorman point out that this increase can "vary" for several reasons.
The amount is "going to vary from state to state and from one insurer to another," says Gorman, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute, which is based in New York. "But a lot depends on the nature and severity of your vehicular accident and who's found to be at fault. If you were driving drunk, you are going to be in deep trouble with the insurance company and the law. In that situation, you're likely to have your policy non-renewed. However, you can still get insurance, but it's going to cost you a lot more."
State Farm Insurance Co., for example, typically ratchets up your premium if an insured is found to be "at-fault" for a vehicular accident - meaning any accident in which the company pays more than $750 in property damage liability and collision claim payments, according to State Farm spokesman Bill Sirola. State Farm policyholders should expect to see the increase at renewal time on their liability, collision, and personal injury protection or medical payments coverages, Sirola confirms.
"If you've had a good record, and you've been with a particular company for more than five years, companies such as Allstate won't necessarily bump up your rates if you're found to be at-fault in a relatively minor vehicular accident," says Daniel Kummer, director of auto insurance for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, in Des Plaines, Ill.
Your rate rise depends on various factors such as state law and your insurance company rating plan," says Dave Snyder, American Insurance Association vice president and assistant general counsel.
Snyder says that "a minor accident may be forgiven under state law or by an insurance company. On the other hand, there could be severe insurance and legal consequences if there is a major accident with serious bodily injury and the at-fault driver is operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. There could be a dramatic increase in insurance rates or even a cancellation of coverage, subject to state law. But beyond that, there could be heavy fines and even jail time involved."
Some companies such as State Farm have a forgive-the-first-accident policy, but qualifications vary from company to company. When purchasing auto insurance, be sure to ask if that particular insurer has a forgive-the-first-accident program and if so, how you might qualify.

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