This process has become so easy for people to get away with. For example, a driver of a sedan might get close to you when you are heading to a stop light. Once the stop light turns red, the driver may sudden stop and if you are not paying attention then you might accidentally rear end the driver in question.

The driver of the other vehicle who suddenly was involved in the rear end collision might appear to be irate. He or she might be screaming and irate but this is how they try to legitimize the crash itself. They will even ask to call the police to file a police report. This will help them with their fraudulent auto insurance claim and even increase your auto insurance premiums because you will be ruled the at fault driver.

On average, a Florida driver will pay about 56% more for their auto insurance premiums than other drivers in the other 49 states. It is sad that this is what things have come to. Many criminals make a lot of money just by staging automobile crashes. They scope out their victims very carefully so that they can make sure that their work will not go to waste.

It is important for people to understand that the public needs to be educated on staged crashes. Many people attended the rally on Wednesday because they are fed up with PIP fraud. In the last two years, politicians have ramped up their efforts to try and do things about the issue. The governor wants more reforms in place so that the number of fraudulent auto insurance claims can go down.

The one issue here is that closing the insurance claim loopholes needs to close. It is so easy for criminals in Florida to commit fraud because they know which loopholes to exploit. The number of car accidents has gone down by about 12 percent but still the fraud continues to be a huge issue.

Florida can tackle this issue if the public helps out more. A rally is a great way to boost community efforts to try and stop auto insurance fraud. We live in an era where many people are afraid to talk to law enforcement officials because they do not want to be labeled a snitch.

If members of the community can band together and say that they will not stand for paying the price for PIP fraud then real progress can finally be made. Many people were holding up signs and expressing their support for the governor. However, this enthusiasm needs to be channeled into real reform and results. If people do not take action then nothing can really be achieved.

The governor and other politicians in the state’s legislature need to come up with more ways to motivate the public to get involved. If there can be more rallies and speeches then maybe the necessary reforms can be passed quickly.

Time is ticking away because many Florida residents feel that no real progress is being made. 2012 is an election year and many people want to see that the government is working hard for them. If the governor can begin to show people that he is serious and wants to fight PIP fraud then hopefully everyone will benefit. This journey will be a long one but hopefully it will yield positive results so that people can save money.

It is important for everyone to buckle up. The number of Massachusetts drivers who buckle up is now 73.3 percent which means that more NH drivers wear seat belts than those that do in MA. Wearing a set belt can save your life if you are ever involved in an automobile accident. According to recent statistics, wearing a seat belt can reduce your risk of dying by 45%.

The “Live Free of Die” state does also not require that drivers have any auto insurance coverage either. This can be risky for drivers who are on the road. If people are not to be held financially responsible in the event of an accident then drivers will have to deal with paying the damages.

Many drivers in New Hampshire have purchased auto insurance coverage even though they do not need to by law. This is often because they want to be financially responsible and because people who purchase new vehicles are required by their financiers to have auto insurance coverage on them at all times. Lenders do not want a car to be stolen or involved in an automobile accident and then get stiffed on their monthly loan payments because the car cannot be replaced. Lenders want to protect their financial investment so that they can repossess the vehicle if the borrower defaults on their monthly payments.

New Hampshire by far has the most relaxed auto insurance laws. It begs to ask if the state which has reduced its number of motorcycle accidents by half in the last few years is an example to other states. There are no laws mandating that motorcycle riders wear helmets when they ride their motorcycle. However, the number of fatalities is down and this is probably due to common sense.

Most people know that riding a motorcycle is dangerous. There is nothing protecting you from the road or another vehicle. This means that protecting your head needs to be a priority. This is why people are accepting responsibility for their health and safety.

The state needs to work on getting more drivers to wear a seat belt. In the next few years, maybe state politicians will make a law that drivers need to wear a seat belt because it is for the common good. Most people will not argue with you when you say that wearing a seat belt can save your life.

It is hard for other states to undo their laws because if they did then negative actions might ensue. The roads need to be safer for all of the drivers who commute within the 50 states. New Hampshire is a small state and its laws work for them but in some instances, a few changes could help.

It is good practice to make sure that each driver has at least liability auto insurance coverage. In today’s day and age, health care costs are on the rise. Auto insurance coverage is a great source of protection for drivers. It allows them to be protected in most accidents even if they are ruled to be the at fault driver. With the economy being in dire straits, it is a good idea to have even minimal insurance coverage as a fall back.

New Hampshire is an unique state. It will be interesting to see if it changes its auto laws in the next ten years.

Other states have tried similar measures in the past. They say that it helps to make drivers safer. Automobile accidents happen all the time, so having additional auto insurance coverage can be a real lifesaver.

Times are tough and many families are struggling. Some drivers have argued that by being required to have additional coverage that they will have to pay even more for their auto insurance coverage which is not fair at all. The unemployment rate is over nine percent and many families are struggling just to keep their families fed.

The new law would require that drivers have $50,000 in under insured or uninsured motorist coverage which is a 100% increase from its previous amount of $25,000. The amount of money for medical bills if more than one person is injured in an automobile accident will increase to $100,000 which is a 100% increase as well from its original amount of $50,000.

The state senator who proposed these changes has said that he has done this because health care costs are much higher than they were many years ago when the liability amounts were first set. It is very true that health care costs are rising. Millions of people are uninsured and do not have auto insurance or health insurance coverage.

Drivers do not want to have to pay more for their auto insurance premiums than they already do. This is understandable as well. It seems as though both sides want to do what is right but there is not a lot of leeway for compromise.

Nebraska residents will see their auto insurance premiums go up slightly but they will also be getting more coverage for their financial investment as well. If you are suddenly involved in an automobile accident with three other people and you are seriously injured then you will reap the financial rewards of having the additional auto insurance coverage.

Most drivers just think in terms of black and white. They see the bottom line and that their auto insurance premiums are going up and they become very angry. Anyone would be because they do not see anything tangible with paying for additional liability coverage that they may never need.

It is important for everyone to understand that politicians really cannot benefit a great deal from proposing laws that change auto insurance liability requirements. They do not go over well with constituents but times are changing so the amounts need to be adjusted to accommodate inflation.

It is a good idea for people to shop around for this type of liability insurance coverage if the law does take effect. This will give people some time to be able to find an auto insurance company that might offer them lower insurance premiums. It is also a good idea to consider investing in additional coverage if you can, such as comprehensive or collision coverage.

It does pay to have more insurance coverage, many automobile accidents have thousands of dollars in damages. It pays to be able to walk away from an accident even if the person who was at fault was uninsured and know that all of your bills have been paid by your insurer.

It stands to reason if Nebraska will implement these changes, time will tell in that respect. Hopefully, drivers can be able to absorb the additional costs if the law does take effect.

Most people think that changing their zip code is no big deal because they are not moving to another state but this is not true at all. Your zip code says a lot to your auto insurers. For example, just moving across town brings a new population area and crime rate.

One town may have a lot more car thefts and vandalism reports than another. If you live in a new zip code that has issues with car related crimes then you will pay more for your auto insurance premiums.

An example of this was when a man who owned a 2007 Honda Accord paid more than $400 less for his car insurance premiums than a man with the same car in a nearby zip code. It is a good idea for drivers to understand this because many people are shocked when they change zip codes and face the harsh truth.

It is important to do your homework before you move to a new place. Make sure to know the crime rate, how many acts of vandalism occur, how many cars are reported stolen each year, and how many auto insurance claims are typically filed. It is often better to live in a metro area than an urban one. This is due to the fact that auto insurance companies give more leeway because there are more auto accidents and people to absorb the costs of paying out the auto insurance claims.

Living in a rural area can be great for people who want low auto insurance premiums but you still to make sure that there is not a large presence of crime. Today, many cities are having to deal with the fact that their crime rates are increasing.

Times are tough and many people turn to criminal activities such as stealing cars as a way to make a quick buck. Sadly, it is drivers who have to suffer for this.

It is important to try to deal with more expensive auto insurance premiums if you do move to a new zip code. The first is to shop around for low car insurance premiums. The second is to reduce your risk to auto insurers. Consider buying a car alarm or anti-theft device. This will help to show your insurance company that you are taking steps to make your vehicle more secure so that it is not targeted by thieves.

You should make sure that your car is not left out in the open for a long time. Many people live in zip codes where there are a lot of space and cars get stolen because there are not a lot of people around. Make sure to take public transportation if you can and leave your car parked in your driveway if you can.

You should also try to buy a car that is safer and has good crash test ratings. If you can, before you move you should contact auto insurers and have them do a comparison of your current zip codes and others that you might want to live in. This will allow you to have all of the information that is necessary to move to an area that will not cost you a lot more for car insurance coverage. Make sure to plan ahead so that you can make the right choices. Being able to save a few hundred dollars a year in today’s economy can be a real life saver.

Parents need to be proactive because most drivers under the age of 18 operate a motor vehicle under a parent’s auto insurance policy. This means that if your kid gets caught drinking and driving behind the wheel then you could land in some hot water as well. If your teen driver hits someone or worse yet kills someone then you could be held liable for any damages that are not covered by the terms of your auto insurance coverage.

Drivers who are under the age of 21, are not allowed to even have one drink. The blood alcohol content level cannot surpass .02 for these individuals. Parents need to be vigilant and make sure that they do not let their child drive to a New Year’s party. They should offer to drop the child off and pick the child up after the party is over. This will allow the parent to make sure that their vehicle or their child’s vehicle is parked safely in their drive way.

Parents should also consider adopting a policy wherein the child can call them if they have been drinking and get a ride home with no punishments. Many teens are afraid to call their parents for help if they have been drinking because of the fear of repercussions. These teens often drink and drive because they do not have a designated driver to take them home. Approximately 40 percent of deaths from Dec 25^th to January 1^st might be due to drunk drivers according to The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism . You do not want your kid to be a statistic so make sure to educate your teen on drunk driving and its consequences.

Source: HomeInsurance.com

A study has found that Christmas is the holiday in which most vehicles are broken into or stolen talk about holiday spirit- Bahumbug! The National Crime Information Center  has reported that on Christmas day in 2010, 2,347 cars were stolen. This is just above Memorial Day which reported 2,122 thefts.

Drivers need to arm themselves so that they can reduce the likelihood that they will become a statistics this Christmas. Park in a driveway or close to homes that have lights on. This can scare off thieves because they do not want to be spotted by potential witnesses. Never leave your car at a train station, bus depot, or airport if you are going anywhere like this take a cab and leave your vehicle at home.

Always keep your car door locked and consider installing an anti-theft device on your steering wheel. Do not leave gifts, luggage, or any other items in your trunk because thieves can break into a trunk in seconds. More than 20,000 cars were stolen just during the holidays alone in 2010 which is down from more than 22,000 in 2009.

If you can, you should buy a vehicle that has a car alarm pre-installed in it. The noise may scare away thieves because it draws attention from people who happen to pass by. If you will be leaving your vehicle outdoors at night, park in a well-lit area that is near or directly under a street lamp. If you are proactive then hopefully your car will not be broken into this Christmas.

Source:

The Sacramento Bee

This is a program where teens get a graduated license until they turn 18 and get a normal driver’s license. The GDL license has restrictions such as teens not being able to drive after certain night time hours. It also puts a limit on the number of passengers under 25 that they can have in the vehicle when they are behind the wheel.

Tens of thousands of teens die each year in car accidents. This is also the number one killer of teens so something needs to be done to rectify the problem.

Some people have stated that these restrictions discriminate against teens because they have passed a driver’s license exam like everyone else. Others say that it will put a hardship on parents if they have to go out and pick up their teen aged child during the night time hours.

It is important to keep a few things in mind. Drivers under 18 are still considered minors so putting driving restrictions on them is a safe guard. These teens are not adults and often act erratically when they are behind the wheel.

The study found that more than 2,000 lives would be saved by changing GDL laws and it would save insurance companies and policy holders more than $13.6 billion. Parents need to take more responsibility and not just hand over the keys on the day that their teen gets their license. If your teen is irresponsible and exhibits bad driving behavior then take away the keys indefinitely because you could save your child’s life and someone else’s.

Teens often become unfocused when driving with passengers. They are talking to their friends, maybe texting on their phone, and listening to the radio at the same time. It only takes one split second to cause a car accident and teens need to understand risk and consequence.

Teen drivers need to take driving more seriously. Parents should spend at least six months to one year training their child on the ins and outs of driving in all types of weather and visibility. Put off allowing your child to get their license until age 18 if you feel they are unready for the road. Hopefully, the GDL laws will change so that more teens can be saved every year.

Source: MSNBC.com

This is great news for Massachusetts drivers because many people in the state are unemployed or deep in debt and have low credit scores. For years, many residents have argued that there is a line between being a responsible driver and being someone who is financially responsible.

A credit score is made up of many different things. This includes a person’s amount of debt, number of open accounts, and their payment history. Sometimes people fall on hard times which is what is going on right now so they cannot pay their bills so their credit score drops.

This does not mean that everyone who has a bad credit score is a terrible driver or will engage in reckless behavior behind the wheel.

Auto insurance companies have stated for years that they believe that they should be able to use a person’s credit history when deciding whether or not to write a driver an auto insurance policy. Most drivers who have poor credit scores have to pay more for their auto insurance premiums because they are seen to have more risk.

Other states might follow the state’s lead because so many people are unemployed right now. It is important for as many people to have auto insurance coverage as they can in the United States.

If people have to pay more for their auto insurance premiums because they have a low credit score then people will not get insurance coverage. It is kind of a lose-lose situation for auto insurance companies in other states. If they penalize people who are deep in debt by giving them higher premiums then those people will go to providers will less stringent rules or just not be insured at all. This in turn shrinks the client base that each insurance company has.

It is important for consumers to reduce the amount of risk that they have. Always follow the rules of the road, never let your coverage lapse, and always be sober when behind the wheel of a car.

Sources:NU Online News Service

Property Casualty 360

The study was done in Portland, Oregon and it found that 33% of drivers were distracted while driving. Oregon has a state law where people who are caught texting or using their cell phone while driving will get a $142 dollar fine but that has not dissuaded drivers at all.

Fifty percent of the drivers who were polled in the study said that they do not think that they should have to be on the road with people that are distracted because automobile accidents can take place.

Many people think that they can drive basically blindfolded but as everyone knows at any time something or someone could appear in front of you and you would not have enough time to stop and avoid a collision. Many people have kids and become distracted by noise so it is important for them to keep their eyes and their hands on the wheel at all times.

It is important to not have your cell phone on the seat next to you when you drive. Texting while driving is very dangerous and causes many collisions each year so consider getting Bluetooth so that you can use your phone safely while driving. Do not eat or drink while driving wither. Some people eat fast food and drink soda or water while they drive but sudden stops may cause these items to get spilled which can cause a driver to want to lean down and pick up the mess.

States such as Oregon may want to think about taking measure to punish drivers with more expensive fines for texting and using their cell phone while driving. Safety needs to be a priority when driving but many people could care less.

People get points on their license for not stopping at a stop sign because it is dangerous but not for being distracted while driving which seems very unfair and unbalanced. Legislators in Oregon need to examine their laws so that they can protect their residents better from the hazards associated with distracted drivers.

Source: US Insuranceonline.com