Car Insurance

Many people consider their car or truck to be their pride and joy. Others consider the vehicle to be an essential part of their lives, whether it’s for home or for work. The reality is, vehicles have become an essential part of our lives. Unfortunately, we do not always take the necessary steps to protect this valuable asset.

In the U.S., a car or truck is stolen every 25 seconds-that equates to over 1,200,000 vehicles stolen every year. No vehicle will ever be 100 percent theft-proof, and discouraging thieves is not an easy task. But a thief’s biggest enemy is time; the more time the thief has to spend attempting to steal a vehicle, the greater the chance of getting caught.

Simplicity is the key to theft prevention. Here are some helpful tips to help keep your vehicle in your hands:

• Always lock your car and pocket the keys.

• Never leave your car running while unattended.

• Park in well-lit, high-traffic areas.

• Completely close all windows, including the sunroof.

• If you have a garage, use it and lock it.

• Park with your wheels turned to the curb.

• If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your driveway.

• Activate your vehicle’s security system.

On average, one person is killed every minute in car crashes around the world-that’s more than half a million deaths annually. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the year 2003, there were 42,643 auto-related deaths and nearly three million auto-related injuries in the U.S. alone. That’s one fatality in the U.S. every 12 minutes.

“Today, vehicles have active safety equipment, which can help prevent crashes from happening in the first place, and help save lives,” said Bill Kozyra, president and CEO, Continental Teves North America. “Active safety systems help drivers keep their vehicles in control and on the road. These systems are not ‘gadgets’ or ‘accessories’ that complicate the driving experience, but rather enrich it by making ’smarter’ and safer vehicles.”

A few baseline active safety systems you should look for in your next new vehicle include:

Anti-lock brake systems (ABS) regulate brakes to help prevent wheel lock-up during stops. It helps prevent skidding, so the driver can steer and maneuver around obstacles.

Traction Control Systems (TCS) apply brakes at the drive wheels and reduce engine power to help reduce wheel spin during acceleration. It works across a full range of speeds, whether you’re accelerating after a stop or passing on the highway.

America needs you. Buckle up. This message is to combat the low safety belt use among the nation’s truck drivers, who are so important to America. Less than half of the nation’s commercial motor vehicle drivers wear them. Part of the campaign for commercial motor vehicle driver safety belt use is a safety belt myth and fact sheet. It includes these interesting facts and fallacies.

Myth: Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision and doesn’t affect anyone else.

Fact: Wearing a safety belt is the law for truckers. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require that truckers buckle up. The consequences of not wearing a safety belt can greatly affect your family and loved ones. What would be the emotional and financial effect on your loved ones if you were killed or seriously injured in a crash as the result of not buckling up?

It is your responsibility to maintain control of your vehicle. Safety belts are your best chance of remaining in control of your truck in a crash or emergency situation.

It seems safe to say that America’s leading all-wheel drive vehicle continues down the road to success, picking up another top safety rating.

The 2005 Subaru Outback has earned the highest rating in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests. The latest model received five stars in both the frontal and side-impact crash tests for both the driver and passenger seating positions.

“We are very pleased with the results of the all-new Subaru Outback in the NCAP crash tests,” said Fred Adcock, executive vice president, Subaru of America, Inc. “As always, safety is a top priority.”

NHTSA’s NCAP provides consumers with vehicle safety information, primarily front and side crash test results, and more recently rollover ratings, to aid consumers in their vehicle purchase decisions. The test results are relayed via an easily recognizable star rating system-from one to five stars, with five being the highest.

Every year, the agency chooses to test new vehicles which are predicted to have high sales volume, those which have been redesigned with structural changes or those with improved safety equipment. The NCAP crash tests are conducted at speeds higher than required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for both side impacts at 38.5 miles per hour and full frontal barrier impacts at 35 miles per hour. The tests compare vehicles for the NHTSA Consumer Information Program and the results can be found at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

With the new 2005 Outback, Subaru aims to bring occupant safety to a new level. Built on a new version of the company’s proven Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame safety structure, the 2005 models include as standard equipment front seat side impact air bags and side curtain air bags that offer additional head protection for front and rear occupants. New intelligent dual-stage deployment front air bags use sensors to detect the presence and weight of a front passenger and the driver’s distance from the steering wheel.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, transportation-related crashes are the number one cause of death among children and young adults every year. While many people are aware of various child-restraining devices that are crucial in helping keep young children protected in the event of a car crash, most don’t realize that a safety feature exists that can actually help keep crashes from occurring.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is an active safety technology that helps drivers maintain control of their vehicle. The system compares a driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual movement. When instability is detected, ESC automatically applies brakes to individual wheels and can also reduce engine torque to help keep the vehicle on track, thereby preventing skids, spins and rollovers.

This safety system has been proven to help prevent crashes and could potentially save over 5,000 lives each year. ESC is now a standard or optional feature on many car models.

For a complete list of vehicles equipped with ESC and other safety information, visit the Web site www.esceducation.org. The site includes recent news, educational literature, video demonstrations and industry studies about ESC.