Seniors who take Fido or Fluffy along for a ride to the store probably think of it as just a fun outing and a way to spend time together. Unfortunately, the distraction this creates is a bit like a teenager or busy parent talking on their cell phone. According to researchers at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, crashes increase dramatically among drivers age 70 who habitually take their pet with them in the car. Their…
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The summertime stretch from Memorial Day to Labor Day is the most dangerous time of the year for teen drivers. Over the past five years, an average of eight teens were killed in car accidents each day during the summer, according to Tire Rack Street Survival, a nonprofit teen driving education program. “Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rate among teens,” said Loretta Worters, vice…
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Fewer drivers are shopping around for auto insurance but when they do they’re more likely to switch to a new company. The percentage of auto insurance shoppers is at a six-year low even as the percentage of those choosing a new company is at a six-year high. According to a 2013 Insurance Shopping Study by J.D. Power and Associates, of the 23 percent of customers who shopped auto insurance in the past 12 months, 45…
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Tired drivers are causing 20 percent of crashes and 16 percent of near-crashes, according to a recent study. Previous estimates put driver fatigue as a factor in only 2 or 3 percent of crashes, based on surveys, simulator studies, and test tracks. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted a a 100-car naturalistic driving study that allowed researchers, for the first time, to observe driver behavior just prior to a crash. The study also concluded that…
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The cost of insuring, fueling and maintaining the average sedan in America rose by 1.96 percent over the previous year to a price of $9,122.. According to AAA’s annual “Your Driving Costs” study, this is based on someone driving 15,000 miles per year and works out to a cost of 60.8 cents per mile. “Many factors go into the cost calculation of owning and operating a vehicle,” John Nielsen, AAA’s director of automotive engineering and…
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Teen drivers have long been associated with risky behaviors such as texting behind the wheel and driving under the influence. While these behaviors are still a problem, a passenger survey of their fellow teens indicates some progress on these fronts. The study, by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm, indicated that from 2008 to 2011, risky behaviors of teen passengers (ages 15 to 19 years) decline. The number of teen passengers killed in…
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For the third year in a row the Honda Accord topped the list of cars stolen and recovered most often in 2012, according to a report by LoJack Corp. The report includes data from LoJack’s recovery system, from data in 27 states. Nearly $125 million in stolen vehicles were recovered during 2012 using this device, according to the company. The Accord was favored by thieves in both the new car category and for all vehicles…
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Despite knowing the risks of distracted driving, American are far more likely to use their cell phones than their European counterparts. Most U.S. drivers report talking on their cell phone and about one in three read or sent text or email messages when driving, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study, published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, examined two specific types of self-reported distracted driving…
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The number of 16 and 17-year-old drivers facing their own demise behind the wheel increased by 19 percent in the first six months of 2012, compared to the previous year. According to a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, the figure is based on preliminary data from across the nation. Deaths of 16-year-old drivers increased from 86 to 107 (a 24 percent change), while the number for 17-year-old drivers went from 116 to 133…
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Among all the mayhem that superstorm Sandy wreaked on the East Coast were several thousand cars. These cars must be identified as flood-damaged when they’re resold but that doesn’t always happen, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The NICB puts the total number of cars damaged by Sandy at more than 250,000, with New York and New Jersey accounting for 210,000 of them. The figures are preliminary estimates based on claims processed by insurance…
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Thousands of residents from Los Angeles
When you’re young, long-term care insurance is not something
