Consumer Insurance Blog

In this day of road rage and road rudeness, it seems a little crazy to take issues with drivers who are polite -- but in an article by Joseph Younger entitled When Courtesy Turns Dangerous, CarandTravel reminds us that there are times when politeness can inadvertently get you into trouble. This is generally at intersections or right of way situations. "Drivers who cede their legal right of way out of courtesy, thinking that they’re doing you a favor, might actually put you at risk." They offer a handy list of "Dos and Don'ts" - if you are in the "courteous driver camp" it might make you think twice about the error of your ways; and if you are a recipient of such courtesy, it explains why a traffic favor may not be such a favor after all.

Rules of the Road Refresher
Safety Blog at Consumer Reports comments on this article, and says that the right thing to do in a "right of way" standoff is to follow the rules of the road. They post a handy list of "right of way" rules from New York.

Massachusetts right of way rules can be found in the driver's manual beginning on page 17. We've excerpted the main rules, but the manual offers a handy refresher for these and other traffic laws.

Intersections not controlled by signals
You must yield the right-of-way to any vehicle that has entered the intersection from your right or is approaching from your right.
Look for any traffic approaching from the left. Even though you may have the legal right-of-way, make sure that the other driver is yielding to you before you proceed.

Four-way stops
At an intersection controlled by stop signs in all directions, you must yield the right-of-way to...

• Another vehicle that has already come to a full stop at the intersection
• A vehicle on your immediate right that has stopped at the intersection at the same time as you

Confusion can develop at four-way stop intersections. You should try to make eye contact with the drivers of other vehicles at the intersection to better judge their intentions and avoid accidents.

Turning Left
When making any left turn, you must first yield the right-of-way to any:

• Oncoming vehicle
• Vehicle already in the intersection
• Pedestrians or bicyclists crossing your intended path of travel

Through-ways
If you approach a designated through-way, you must yield the right-of-way to traffic on the through-way before you turn.

Intersection of Single or Two-Lane Road and Multiple-Lane Road
If you are traveling on a single or two lane road and come to an intersection with a larger road, you must yield the right of way to vehicles driving on a divided highway or a roadway with three or more lanes.

Rotaries
Traffic moves in a counterclockwise direction around a rotary. You must always yield the right of way to vehicles already in the rotary (unless directed differently by local signs or police officers) and to pedestrians. You should use your turn signals in the same way as any other intersection: travel through the rotary and, when you are ready to exit, use your right turn signal.

Other situations that require you to yield the right-of-way

• Pedestrians who are walking in or crossing a roadway
• Any animal that someone is leading, riding, or driving
• Funeral processions (in MA, it is against the law to disrupt or cut through a funeral procession)

On average, about 98.7 million fans tune into watch the game on Super Bowl Sunday. If you're going to be hosting or attending a Super Bowl party this weekend when the New Orleans Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts, you should plan in advance for your safety and that of your guests.

The Insurance Information Institute (III) suggests that designating a driver should be at the top of everyone’s super bowl party list. They note that:

"According to the most recent figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, alcohol-impaired-driving crashes accounted for 32 percent of total motor vehicle traffic fatalities. On Super Bowl Sunday (February 3 to 5:59 a.m. February 4), 49 percent of the fatalities occurred in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher. Overall, more than 13,000 Americans died that year in crashes involving an impaired driver."

Whether you plan to be a party host or a party attendee, III offers a list of tips and suggestions to help you stay safe. Plus, party hosts have a particular imperative to protect guests. It's the right thing to do - plus, it may protect you from liability.

Here are some additional tips from the Natioanl Highway Transportation and Safety Administration's Fans don't let fans drive drunk program.

Tips for party hosts
If you are hosting a Super Bowl party, remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired driving crash. To protect both yourself and your guests:

• Make sure all guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.
• Serve lots of food—and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.
• Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.

• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself—eat enough food, take breaks and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
• Designate your sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys.
• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend or family member to come get you; or stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.
• Research and use a local Sober Rides program.
• Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired.
• Always buckle up—it’s still your best defense against other impaired drivers.

Additional resources
Drunk Driving Laws by State

In these tough times, everyone is looking to save money where they can - yet many insurance buyers are leaving money on the table in the form of discounts that they could be realizing, but perhaps just don't know about. Renaissance Alliance member Wayne Wiersma of Wiersma Insurance brought to our attention a recent national survey conducted for Trusted Choice and the Big "I."

The survey revealed that more than 34% of the respondents said they were not taking advantage of homeowners discounts or didn't know that that such discounts were available and 20% either didn’t know about or said they were not maximizing all the car insurance discounts available to them. That translates to about 53 million U.S. households. Are you one of those households?

Have you checked with your agent about what discounts might be available to you? You can often earn discounts by consolidating policies with one insurer. There are many other potential discounts available - although discounts may vary by insurer or by state. The IIABA offers a Tip Sheet on various insurance discounts that may be available. (Note that this link is to a Microsoft Word Document download.)

Don't spend more money than you have to in 2010 - call your agent to talk about potential discounts!

To buy or not to buy? That is the typical consumer conundrum when renting a car and faced with the issue of insurance. This short podcast from the Insurance Information Institute (III) helps you to understand the choices. Also, see the III article to help you determine if you need separate rental car insurance. III suggests that, before you do anything, check to see what your current auto insurance policy covers - your agent can help you with that, or you can call the insurer directly. Also, check with your credit card company because there may be some insurance benefits associated with your card.

Halloween is one of the nation's most popular holidays. We love the annual ritual of scaring ourselves and our favorite kids silly, all in the spirit of good-natured fun. But as much fun as it can be, when you tally up the associated risks to kids, pets and property, the holiday can truly earn its nickname, "fright night."

Potential problems
Unfortunately, kids experience a lot of injuries at Halloween. While the media can play up the dangers of poisoned candy and predators, the most common injuries to kids at Halloween are more pedestrian: eye injuries, burns, and being hit by cars. Other Halloween dangers include an increase in fatalities related to driving while under the influence; a high rate of fires, vandalism, and property crimes; and a spike in incidents of animal cruelty. For the property owner, there's a veritable witches' brew of liability issues. Any injuries that occur on your property can be considered your liability - whether it's a little Cinderella who trips on her gown or a vandal who breaks his leg while egging your house. If partygoers drink too much alcohol while at your house, you may be held liable for any injuries that occur when they drive home. And if your teen's Halloween "pranks" result in any property damage, you might have parental liability for the cost of that damage, depending on your state law. Other risks you may encounter include vandalism to your home or your auto and home fires triggered by candles and decorations or overloaded electrical outlets.

Most people enjoy a fun, safe Halloween and odds are in your favor that you will too. But there are simple steps you can and should take to minimize your risk and keep things safe. One thing you can do in advance is to check with your insurance agent to be sure your homeowners or rental insurance is up to date and that you have adequate protection. Find out your deductible (how much you have to pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in) and the extent of your liability coverage.

Keeping kids safe:

• Equip kids with flashlights. Add day-glo or illuminating trim on their costumes.
• Make sure costumes are fire-safe and flame-resistant.
• Ensure costumes don't impair vision or present a tripping hazard.
• Masks can limit visibility - colorful face paints are a cute, creative, and safer alternative.
• Make sure kids are dressed warmly enough and have comfortable, non-slip footwear.
• Costume accessories and props should be short , pliable, and soft - no hard, long, pointy, or sharp objects
• Inspect all candy before kids eat it. Be alert for choking hazards and watch for anything that is loose or unwrapped.
• Don't let kids walk while eating candy on a stick - very dangerous if they trip.
• Don't let kids eat homemade treats unless they were made by someone you know very well
• Stick to familiar neighborhoods and familiar houses
• Kids shouldn't enter any homes unless they know the neighbors well
• Kids without adults should keep in groups
• Walk on sidewalks. Complete one side of the street, cross carefully, and complete the other side.
• Use cross walks and crossing lights whenever possible.
• Drive with great caution over the weekend, particularly after dark - excited little goblins may dart out from anywhere.

Other safety matters

• When decorating, avoid candles - use LED lights and battery-powered lights instead.
• Take care not to overload electrical circuits with lights.
• Paper and dried plant decorations can easily ignite. Keep them away from flames, lights, and electrical cords.
• Keep porches and walkways well lit and free of debris and clutter that might be tripping hazards; Put reflective tape on your steps and along your walkway.
• Don't forget about your pets - they could be upset by the unusual activity and may be skittish. Keep them inside and away from the door so they don't frighten or nip at your guests.
• Be careful not to let your pets eat candy, which can be toxic to them.
• Park your car in a garage, if possible. Mischief makers may egg your house or car.
• Lock up bicycles, gas grills and other outdoor valuables.

Halloween vandalism can range from "mild" pranks to more serious and willful property damage. A well-lit house and motion-activated lights may help to protect your property. If you have a garage, keep you car locked up. If you don't, you might want to check your car before bed or very early in the morning - that way, if your car has experienced any "mischief" such as a dousing of shaving cream, silly string, eggs, or other food matter, you may be able to hose it away before the sun bakes it in. Some of these substances can cause scratches or dents; others can be corrosive to your paint. Pressurized water from your hose is your best clean-up ally.

Call your agent
If you should suffer any damage to your property or have any accidents during Halloween weekend, file a claim as soon as possible to get the claim process in motion. Be ready with the details of where and when the event occurred, along with the names and addresses of any injured parties or witnesses to the event. If there is damage to your property, report it to the police, take photos, and record the details so you won't forget them later.

Other helpful resources
Safe and scary: Tips for home decorating and costumes
Tricks for making your Halloween party safe
Driver safety tips for Halloween Eve
Halloween Car Cleanup Guide - how to remove eggs, shaving cream, silly string, and more.

It's that time of year again: peak deer-car collision season. More than half of all vehicle-deer crashes annually occur in October through December, with November being the peak month. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), more than 150 fatalities each year are caused by vehicle-deer collisions. Deer are fast, unpredictable and can appear out of the blue. A police camera caught this startling video clip of a near-miss with a deer.

But deer aren't the only four-legged danger - moose and elk are serious road hazards, too. Larger, taller and with more body mass than deer, a bull moose can reach up to 1500 pounds. And because they are tall with long legs, they often come right in through the windshield when hit, a serious danger to car occupants. See this mammmal size comparison illustration to get an idea of how big moose, elk, deer, and other wildlife can be.

IIHS has issued a chart of state fatalities from crashes with animals, tracking the years 1993 to 2007. They note that many of these deaths were preventable:

"Most of the crash deaths occurred after a motor vehicle had struck an animal and then run off the road or a motorcyclist had fallen off a bike. Many of these deaths wouldn't have occurred with appropriate protection. The study found that 60 percent of the people killed riding in vehicles weren't using safety belts, and 65 percent of those killed riding on motorcycles weren't wearing helmets."

Driving tips to avoid colliding with deer and moose

• Wear your seat belt
• Be particularly cautions at dawn, dusk. Most collisions occur between 5 and 10 pm.
• If you see one deer, there may be others - deer travel in herds
• Heed posted signs warning about wildlife - they are there for a reason
• Avoid speeding. Slow down around curves
• Scan the sides of the road - watch for movement.
• Be particularly alert on roads with woods, farmland, and water
• Be cautious and slow down at night. You may see deer eyes reflected in your lights, but moose eyes don't reflect light.
• Watch other traffic - if you see cars stopped or slowing, it may indicate an animal
• Flash headlights to warn other drivers
• Don't try to outrace or beat a crossing animal
• Use high beams when you can
• If you see an animal, honk your horn. Your lights may freeze or confuse an animal.
• Motorcycles are particularly vulnerable - a cyclist may even be charged by a large animal

What to do if you hit a deer or a moose
Stop your car, put on hazard lights. You want to be visible so that no other car will hit you, your car, or the animal. Avoid approaching an injured animal, which can be very dangerous. In some states, if there are no injuries and your car is drivable, you would not be required to report the collision to the police. If you are unsure of the state law, call police. They will alert game wardens or the appropriate authorities to handle the animal. Some states will let you keep an animal for the meat, but you may need a permit. Report the accident to your insurance agent as soon as possible.

Drivers should be aware that not all auto insurance will cover deer or moose collisions. Comprehensive insurance is required to pay for damage incurred from an animal collision. Some people only have collision coverage and don't carry comprehensive.

Pop quiz: what car do you think was the most stolen car in 2008? The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) just released its list of the top 10 stolen vehicles for 2008. You can also find out the top 10 most stolen vehicles by state. If you think having an older car is any protection, think again - older models are popular for their parts. Plus, newer models are getting harder to steal since they are more likely to be equipped with anti-theft devices.

The good news is that auto theft continues on its 5-year downward trend, with 2008 being the lowest annual total in over 20 years.

To avoid theft, NICB recommends four layers of protection:

Common Sense: Lock your car and take your keys.

Warning Device: Having and using a visible or audible warning device.

Immobilizing Device: "Kill" switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices which are extremely effective.

Tracking Device: A tracking device that emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen is very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.

View or download a brochure with more tips on how to reduce your chances of auto theft.

The economy is taking its toll in many ways - one of them being that states are looking to tighten budgets and streamline state services. The budget is taking a toll on Mass Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) services that many drivers have come to rely on. For example, the RMV no longer mails license renewal notices - it will be up to drivers to keep track of license expiration dates and to renew at least seven days prior to expiration. Your license renews on your birthday.

In addition, the RMV recently announced the closure of 11 MA RMV offices and a shift to 5 additional "mitigation" centers. The branches that closed or are closing include: Lowell, North Attleboro, Cambridgeside Galleria, New Bedford, Springfield (Eastfield Mall), Southbridge, Framingham, Falmouth, Eastham, Beverly, and Boston (Chinatown).

New new full and express mitigation offices will be located at: MTA Charlton Turnpike Center (full), MTA Natick Service Plaza (express), MHD Canal Visitor Center (express), MHD Peabody (express), and a location in Boston to be announced.

See a map of the new MA RMV

RMV reminds drivers that 18 transactions are now available online in the Express Lane. The RMV plans to partner with libraries to offer ways to help those people who aren't yet taking advantage of online services help in earning how to navigate online. Online services include:

• Change Your Address
• Free FAST LANE sign up
• License Inquiry
• Permit Inquiry
• Mass/Liquor ID Inquiry
• Order Special Plates
• Organ and Tissue Donor
• Pay Citations (Tickets)
• Registration Inquiry
• Renew Your Driver's License
• Renew Your Mass ID
• Renew Your Registration
• Replace Your Driver's License
• Replace Your Mass ID
• Request a Driving Record
• Request a Duplicate Registration
• Title/Lien Inquiry
• Verify Your Driver's Ed Certificate

Plymouth Rock Assurance has a consumer information blog that offers tips on safe driving, saving money, and understanding auto insurance. Recently, they featured posts on the value of independent agents when it comes to purchasing auto insurance. We couldn't have said it better ourselves! The following are links to their posts, along with a excerpts highlighting a few points that we think are important.

The Value of the Independent Auto Insurance Agents – Part 1
(excerpt)

Independent agents are local businesses located in the community where insurance shoppers live and work. Independent insurance agents offer the convenience of one-stop shopping for a full range of insurance products – auto, home, boat, business, life and disability – since they typically represent multiple insurance companies and products.

Independent insurance agents also bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and helpful resources to selecting the correct level of insurance for each customer’s individual needs. They are licensed under rules set by the state(s) in which they do business, and are required to complete continuing education courses to maintain their knowledge of industry trends and regulations.

The Value of the Independent Auto Insurance Agents – Part 2
(Excerpt)

An independent insurance agent has a broader perspective on the insurance marketplace in a local area. He or she can provide helpful insights about a policy, from discounts that apply to a given situation, to unique service programs that can save time or money, to extra savings by bundling more than one type of insurance (auto and home, for example) with a single company. Independent insurance agents not only help with shopping but also provide valuable advice to help make a more informed decision.

Additionally, most independent insurance agents provide services that online companies don’t, such as complimentary paperwork and fee processing with your state Department of Motor Vehicles. They also provide an annual coverage review and personal assistance in the event of an accident or claim. An independent insurance agent can advocate for the consumer in ways that an insurance company cannot, such as facilitating settlement of a claim or acting on the consumer’s behalf to resolve a problem with a insurer.

June 7-13 is Tire Safety Month, an event organized by the Rubber Manufacturers Association to promote safety and to raise awareness about proper maintenance and care. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 600 deaths and 33,000 injuries per year are due to under inflated tires. And in addition to being a safety hazard, tires that are improperly inflated also lower a car's fuel efficiency. Consumer Reports offers tips on tire maintenance.

Conventional wisdom has been to use a penny to measure tire tread for safety, but Consumer Reports notes that based on driving performance in a battery of tests, using a quarter would be a safer gauge:

"It has long been the standard that tires are worn out when their tread depth reaches 1/16 inch (or 2/32 inch as found on standardized tread-depth gauges). The easiest way to measure this, if you didn't have a gauge, was to hold a penny upside down in the tread. If the top of Lincoln's head was visible, you needed new tires. See test results of foul weather comprises with worn-out tires.

But CR's tests show that using a penny is too stingy and that most consumers should consider replacing their tires when the tread reaches 1/8 inch."

Experts at the Tire Rack, an independent tire tester, suggest that measuring tire tread via the quarter method can improve braking distances up to 24 percent. See a quick tutorial for using coins to measure tire depth.

In addition to maintaining good tire pressure and tread, the age of your tires can be a safety factor - rubber breaks down over time. Many safety experts suggest replacing tires that are more than 5 years old to avoid the potential for a blowout or tread separation.

One side effect of the worsening economy? Experts predict that there will be more and more uninsured motorists on the road. A recent study (PDF) from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) says that within the next year, we can expect that approximately one in six drivers across the country may be driving uninsured. The report found a strong correlation between the percent of uninsured motorists and the unemployment rate: "An increase in the unemployment rate of one percentage point is associated with an increase in the uninsured motorist rate of more than three-quarters of a percentage point. Based on current unemployment rate projections, the percentage of uninsured motorists is expected to rise from 13.8 in 2007 to 16.1 in 2010."

Depending on which state you live in, the problem may be more or less severe. The five states with the highest uninsured driver rates in 2007 were:

• 29% - Mexico
• 28% - Mississippi
• 26% - Alabama
• 24% - Oklahoma
• 23% - Florida

The five states with the lowest uninsured driver rates in 2007 were:

• 1% - Massachusetts
• 4% - Maine
• 5% - North Dakota
• 5% - New York
• 6% - Vermont

Page 3 of this report from the IRC includes a chart depicting the percentage of uninsured drivers in your state. (PDF)

Paying the price
Driving uninsured can be costly. It's against the law to drive without liability insurance in all states but Wisconsin and New Hampshire, which both require drivers to have what is in effect self-insurance, or proof they can pay a minimum level of damages. Penalties for driving uninsured may include fines, license or registration suspension, impounded vehicles, and the potential for imprisonment. For example, here in Massachusetts, penalties for driving without insurance can include a fine of between $500.00 $5000, up to 1 year in jail, or both. Your license can also be suspended. FindLaw offers links to state laws for driving without insurance or with insufficient insurance.

Check your own coverage
In good economies and bad, the cost of an accident with an uninsured driver can be steep. IRC estimates the average payment on claims in crashes with an uninsured driver is about $11,000. Your chances for recovery will depend on your own coverage and/or the financial assets of the uninsured - which may be poor, given that is the most likely reason for not having insurance in the first place. It's a good idea to evaluate your coverage level with your independent agent to ensure that you have adequate coverage. If you don't already have it, you may want inquire about uninsured and under insured motorist coverage. These types of coverage would pay for injures or damages if you are in an accident with an uninsured or under insured motorist or if you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident.

A new Not-in-Traffic Surveillance study sheds light on the numbers and types of injuries that occur as a result of non-crash related accidents, statistics that hadn't previously been tracked. Annually, auto-related non-traffic accidents are estimated to cause 1,747 deaths and and 841,000 injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which conducted the study.

Here are some of the study findings, as reported by the Consumer Reports Car Blog:

• More than half of the non-crash fatalities in the study occurred when a vehicle fell on a person who was under it or from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning
• About 20 percent of the non-crash injuries involved slamming fingers or other extremities in a car door or trunk, or resulted from overexertion when loading or unloading a vehicle or pushing a disabled vehicle
• Across all types of tragedies, about one-third of those injured and about half of those killed were not inside the vehicle at the time
• Other common hazards included vehicle fires, anti-freeze and battery-acid burns, and falling from a vehicle
• A significant 221 deaths, and 14,000 injuries resulted from pedestrians being backed over by a vehicle

Backovers killed nearly 100 children and injured 2000 in 2007
About twice a week, kids are killed by being run over by a vehicle that is being backed up. Tragically enough, this often occurs in the home driveway with a parent or a relative at the wheel of the car. In 2007, nearly 100 children were killed and 2,000 injured when they were backed over by cars. In fact, one of the primary reasons for the new mandate to track non-traffic related injuries and deaths stems from a 2008 law requiring the tracking of data for incidents in which children are backed over, strangled by power windows or killed from being left in hot vehicles

A child safety advocacy organization called Kids and Cars says such accidents are predictable and preventable. The following video highlights the issue and shows Consumer Report studies on blind zones, which vary by vehicle, ranging from about 12 feet for a sedan to as much as 30 feet for a pickup-truck.

For additional information on back-up blind zones, see The danger of blind zones by Consumer Reports.

A word to the wise: keep to the speed limit. While that's always good advice from both a safety and an economic perspective, it may be even more significant in the light of a recent study:

"A new study to be published in next month's Journal of Law and Economics finds statistical evidence that local governments use traffic citations to make up for revenue shortfalls. So as the economy tanks, motorists may be more likely to see red and blue in the rearview."

The study, which controlled for demographic and economic differences in the sample, included an analysis of data from 96 North Carolina counties over a 14 year period. The study authors stated, "Specifically, a one percentage point decrease in last year's local government revenue results in roughly a 0.32 percentage point increase in the number of traffic tickets in the following year."

Other news reports seem to indicate that the volume of traffic tickets has risen in some states. For example, Connecticut police issued 78,000 speeding tickets in 2008. This 16% increase over the prior year added $327,000 in revenue to the state. And as a way to offset budget shortfalls, some other states are looking to increase fines for traffic violations. Florida basic traffic fines recently went up by $10, with some fines increasing by as much as $35 to $60.

Now many public officials would deny any link between the municipal budget and traffic tickets. Officials in Denver attribute last year's 20% spike in parking ticket revenue not to the economy, but to increased fines, a spate of special events such as the Democratic Convention, and an increase in the number of personnel writing tickets.

It may well be true that any increase in local revenues from traffic-related tickets is coincidental. On the other hand, cash-strapped states and municipalities may see enhanced enforcement as a win-win that increases public safety while helping with a budget crunch. So next time you consider putting more pressure on the gas pedal or pulling into that illegal parking space because "you'll only be a minute," consider the fact that the odds might be working against you. And remember, a moving traffic violation is not just the matter of a one-time fine - in terms of your insurance rates, tickets can be a drain for several years to come since your rates are partially based on your experience.

Related reading
State Traffic Laws from FindLaw
Traffic Tickets, A to Z from FindLaw
How Traffic Tickets Work from How Stuff Works

If you are risk averse, avoid driving on Saturdays in August. According to a recent article in Forbes, those are the most dangerous times to drive. The article is accompanied by a short slide show filled with interesting accident and fatality statistics.

But as Mark Twain was fond of saying, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." In reader comments about the article, several people point out that it is not the sheer number of fatalities that is significant but the relative risk. If numbers alone were significant, then motorcycles would be the safest means of transportation since the sheer number of fatalities is low in comparison to autos. As the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety notes: "Risk is characterized by the bad outcomes for a given level of exposure." To determine the risk, it would be more significant to determine the fatality rate in relation to the number of cars on the road at a given time or in relation to the number of miles driven.

That being said, the Forbes article sheds light on an important topic and notes one indisputable and sobering fact: auto accidents kill upwards of 40,000 people each year or about 110 per day, far too many by any yardstick one might care to use. And most accidents and related injuries are attributable to human error: distractions, speeding, drunk driving, failure to use a seat belt, driving too fast for the weather conditions, and failure to keep a safe stopping distance from other vehicles.

If you want to delve into the statistics yourself to learn the relative risk for specific factors such as geography, demographics, or day of the week, try Traffic STATS, an interactive website developed for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety by the Carnegie Mellon Research department. If that is more involved than you would like to get, John Tesh has collected some interesting data points on relative driving risks from Traffic Stats analysis:

• A cautious 82-year-old woman is more likely to die in a car crash than a risk-taking 16 year old boy. Why? Because the 82 year old is more fragile
• The second most likely group to die in a car accident, after little old ladies, young male drivers between the ages of 16 and 23. Their fatality rate is 4 times higher than average
• Drivers in New England are the safest. They get in the fewest crashes of any region
• The safest passenger in the car? A baby or toddler secured in a car seat during morning rush hour traffic
• The safest vehicle is a school bus
• The most dangerous vehicle is a motorcycle
• The safest driving day is Wednesday. There are the fewest crashes and fatalities
• Saturdays are the deadliest days on the road
• The safest driving month: February
• The deadliest month: October
• And the drivers with the lowest risk of death are adults between 40 and 50 years old

How much do you know about auto insurance? The Insurance Information Institute checks conducts a pop quiz on passers by. See how well you would do with these questions.

For three decades now, auto insurance rates in MA were set by the Division of Insurance, meaning there wasn’t much difference from one insurer to the next. But all that is suddenly changing, add according to the Patriot Ledger, rates could drop by an average of 7.8%. Some consumers will see even greater savings, although some drivers may see a pricing uptick – it will largely depend on risk factors, driving history, and demographics. While we’re all happy to save money, it’s important to remember that insurance has a purpose of asset protection. It’s important not to buy the wrong insurance to save a few dollars now and then be inadequately covered in the event of an accident or a theft. Instead, ask your agent about available auto discounts and the possibility of grouping several policies together. Your agent can help you find the best price/value for you unique situation and needs.