Car Insurance

When Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger severely injured himself on his motorcycle in the off season, it was yet one more example of how dangerous motorcycles can be.

But promising new technologies are being introduced to increase safety for motorcyclists. For example, a motorcycle airbag system -; optional this year on some Honda Gold Wing models -; was independently tested by AAA and its affiliate in Germany, ADAC.

Results showed that the airbag was able to prevent fatal injury to a test dummy in a 45-mph crash. The same crash on a motorcycle without an airbag would have produced fatal or near-fatal injuries in a front-to-side collision with a passenger vehicle. Researchers concluded that the motorcycle airbag system had a significant potential to considerably reduce injury risk in approximately one-third of all crashes involving motorcycles and passenger vehicles.

There has been a 115 percent increase in fatal crashes involving motorcyclists since 1997, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The total number of fatalities in 2005 climbed to 4,553, more than a 12-percent increase from the previous year.

These figures, according to experts, serve to underscore the importance of road safety for both motorcyclists and automobile drivers.

“The tremendous growth in the popularity of motorcycling has added millions of new motorcycles and riders to our roadways,” said AAA President Robert L. Darbelnet. Motorcycle registration has increased nearly 50 percent in just under a decade, according to the organization’s statistics.

Eighty-five percent of U.S. drivers are “stressing out” their tires by failing to properly check inflation pressure.
To help keep tires in top shape and to reduce vehicle risks, the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) reminds drivers to check their vehicle’s tires as part of regular monthly maintenance. Spending five minutes once a month to check tire pressure can maximize vehicle safety, performance, fuel economy and tire life.

“Underinflated tires are dangerous,” says Donald B. Shea, RMA president and CEO. “They cause excessive heat buildup and heat is the enemy of a tire. Over time, this can cause internal damage that may lead to tire failure.”

Motorists can reduce tire stress with basic care — starting with air pressure. Properly checking tire pressure means checking at least once a month when tires are cold and using the correct inflation pressure. If properly cared for, tires can last a long time — usually from 40,000 to 80,000 miles, depending on the application. RMA offers these simple tips to keep your tires safer:

* Use a Tire Gauge. Your eyes are not a substitute for a tire gauge. Tires can lose up to half of the required air pressure and not appear flat. Use a gauge to check your tires once a month and before long trips.

* Find the Right Pressure. The correct inflation pressure for tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and can be found on the vehicle door edge, doorpost, glove box door or fuel door. It is also listed in the vehicle owner’s manual. RMA, which annually tracks tire care and maintenance habits among motorists, also found that more than half of drivers — 53 percent — wrongly believe that the correct inflation pressure is printed on the tire sidewall.

America is sport utility vehicle crazy. SUVs now account for one in four vehicles on U.S. roads, and their rising popularity is accompanied by alarming increases in rollover incidences and related fatalities. And, male drivers between the ages of 17 and 27 are almost two and a half times more likely to die in an SUV accident than the national average.
These and other sobering facts caught the attention of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. As a result, the 53 jurisdictions have joined forces to launch the ESUVEE Safety Campaign. This $27 million, yearlong national education program consists of a variety of strategic events and initiatives designed to reduce SUV rollover incidences, particularly among younger male drivers who are most vulnerable to such incidences.

The ESUVEE Safety Campaign highlights four critical tips for driving SUVs that can mean the difference between life and death:

* Handling: SUVs possess a higher center of gravity than passenger cars, which contributes to a great risk of rollover. Incidences of rollover can be exacerbated by speeding, abrupt maneuvers, inattentiveness, tailgating, recklessness, aggressiveness or impaired driving.

* Loading: The center of gravity of an SUV is affected by the number of people carried, as well as the amount, weight and distribution of cargo. Overloading the vehicle or the overhead cargo rack raises the center of gravity, increasing the risk of rollover.

* Tires: Tire size, pressure and maintenance are keys to SUV safety. Drivers should monitor each of these elements, and take them into account when loading and driving an SUV.

Keep Your Family Safe on Winter Road Trips
Although the basics of winter driving safety don’t change much from year to year, it’s a good idea to refresh your memory (in case you’ve forgotten last winter). Here are some tips that will help make winter driving less stressful.

Can Your Car Handle the Weather?

Driving a vehicle you trust and that you are familiar with gives you confidence on the road. Make sure you know how your car handles in slippery driving conditions. For example, if your car has antilock brakes, find an empty parking lot or other safe area and test them out to see what they feel like when you brake suddenly.

If you’re looking for a new car, you’ll want one that can handle winter weather. Four-wheel or all-wheel drive will give you handling control on slippery roads; airbags and other safety features will give you the security of knowing that if something does happen, your family will be protected. For Ann Mackinnon of Minneapolis, an SUV was the answer. “Minnesota winters can be brutal, but you still have to get to work and shuttle kids around,” she says. She bought a Saturn Vue because of its good safety record. “I was drawn to Saturn because of features like the front and rear crumple zones, side impact protection, which is super important to me. There are so many things I like about it — the head curtain airbags which protect my backseat passengers, anti-lock brakes with traction control, controls over windows and locks and other features that simply give me peace of mind as a driver and a parent.” she adds.

A Winter Checklist

If you haven’t given your car a winter once over, now is the time to make sure everything is working properly. Check your brakes, windshield wipers, and defroster to make sure they’ll perform as needed in bad weather. Make sure your antifreeze and windshield wiper fluids are topped off.

Add some winter-readiness items to your trunk: a heavy duty ice/snow scraper to keep the windshield clear, a shovel and a bag of kitty litter to free yourself from snow banks, and jumper cables. You’ll also want to have an emergency kit that includes bottled water, candy bars, a blanket, and a flashlight, just in case.

A covering of fresh snow makes for a beautiful glimpse of Mother Nature. But in many parts of the country, winter weather makes for challenging driving conditions — ice, sleet and snow can mean treacherous trips.
Before you pull out of the driveway, whether you’re headed cross country or just across town, take a minute to ensure that your car is ready for winter conditions and that you are prepared in case of an emergency with these tips from Farmers Insurance.

If you live in a cold, snowy part of the country, you’ll want to give your car a winter once-over. If you have a set of snow tires, have your mechanic put them on. You’ll also want to change to a lighter weight motor oil for winter temperatures; check your antifreeze level while you’re at it. Make sure your headlights are in good working order, and replace your windshield wiper blades if necessary. Check your windshield wiper fluid level periodically; visibility is more important than ever in the winter.

Common sense is your best weapon in winter driving. Check weather conditions before you start out on a trip. If bad weather is predicted on your route, postpone your departure. If driving conditions deteriorate while you’re on the road, pull off until the situation improves, even if that means spending the night in a hotel. If you’re driving in snow, adjust your speed for the condition of the road — just because the speed limit is 65 doesn’t mean that’s how fast you should be going.

On slippery roads, it is more important than ever to employ defensive driving techniques. Be aware of your surroundings and the traffic around you. Leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you in case you need to stop. Get a feel for how your car handles in ice and snow and drive accordingly. If your car is equipped with antilock breaks, practice using them in a deserted parking lot or other safe area so you know what to expect if you have to apply them suddenly.

If you’re on a long trip, give yourself enough traveling time so you can take breaks to help eliminate fatigue. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually involve drowsiness and fatigue as a principal cause. “Driving while tired or drowsy is something many drivers have experienced or will experience at some point,” says Greg Ciezadlo of Farmers Insurance.

While some drivers use tactics such as turning the radio on full blast or opening a window to let in some cold air, these methods are not reliable for preventing sleep attacks while driving. Instead, experts say the only sure way to combat drowsy driving is to take a 20-minute nap, then drive to the closest safe resting spot (hotel, friend’s house) and sleep.