Emergency Safety Vehicle Awareness:

What is an emergency vehicle?

An emergency vehicle is defined as a police vehicle, ambulance or fire truck. These vehicles may have red, white or a combination of red and white lights which, when responding to an emergency, are constantly moving. (See Section 375 (41) of the Vehicle & Traffic Law.)

What should I do if I am approached by an emergency vehicle with its light and sirens going?

• When approached (from the front or rear) by an emergency vehicle whose light and siren are activated the driver of every other vehicle must yield the right of way.
• In yielding the right of way, you must drive immediately to the right hand edge or curb of the roadway, parallel to the roadway, and clear of any intersection.
• You must stop and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle or vehicles have passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. (See Section 1144 of the Vehicle & Traffic Law.)

How far must I park from a fire hydrant?

Unless otherwise indicated by pavement markings, parking meters or official signs, you may not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. You may not stop or stand within 15 feet of a fire hydrant unless a licensed driver is in the front seat so the vehicle may be immediately moved in the event of an emergency.

What do different colored flashing lights mean on personal vehicles?

These lights are only to be used in the event of an emergency operation. The people who display and use these lights must have written permission from the authorized chief officer of the organization for which they are volunteering.

	A flashing blue light indicates a volunteer fire fighter responding to an emergency call.
	A flashing green light indicates a volunteer ambulance service member responding to an emergency call.
	A flashing amber light, indicates a hazard vehicle engaged in a hazardous operation (i.e., snowplow, tow-truck, utility company vehicle). NOTE: In cities with a population over 1 million, a flashing amber light may be used on the vehicle of an individual who is a member of a volunteer civil or crime patrol.

What should I do if I am approached by a personal vehicle with a colored light flashing?

These are not emergency vehicles. Their drivers must obey all traffic laws. You need not yield the right of way to these vehicles. However, if you can do so safely, you should yield the right of way to vehicles with blue or green flashing lights as a courtesy. Also, be cautious in the vicinity of a hazard vehicle.

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Fall Safety Driving Tips

School Buses are back on the roads!
Watch out for school buses and children. Please remember that you must stop if you are following or approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing. It's the law!
...
Will you be traveling in New York State? Check these sites for construction areas and anticipated delays.
•The Thruway website lists areas of construction.
•The NYS Department of Transportation website lists construction areas on other roads in New York State.
Remember, in road work zones fines are doubled.

Regular Brakes and ABS Brakes:There is difference in the way that regular brakes and ABS brakes need to be used and the way they work. Please familiarize yourself with the braking systems of the vehicles you drive BEFORE you need to try to make a quick stop. For more information on these differences see our Vehicle Issues Page for links to information on ABS.

Wet leaves can be as slippery as ice!
If it is rainy and wet, please watch for patches of wet leaves in the roadway.

Studded Snow Tires
Studded snow tires may be on your vehicle from October 16 through April 30.

Time to "fall back", not asleep!!
Sunday, November 6 is the day that the clocks are turned back one hour. That one hour change can have several effects:

•Turning the clock back affects your body's internal clock.
•You are likely to be fatigued until your body has adjusted to the time change.
•You may be commuting in the dark more frequently, which you haven't done in six months.
•Incidences of drowsy driving crashes are much higher during the first weeks following the time changes.

After the time change
In the fall and winter, with nights coming early and fog often occurring, be sure to have your head lights on and follow at a safe distance.

During hunting season, deer will be trying to avoid hunters and may cross roadways.
Please see our page of tips for avoiding crashes with deer.

Getting your snowmobile ready for winter?
Snowmobile information is available at the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. 

Wear your helmet when snowmobiling - it's the law!

Home Winterizing Maintenance: 5 Checklist Items Pre-Winter

Good preparation means starting early. Take these tips to heart today so your chores will be easier when the cold fronts descend on your part of the world:

1. Get the furnace inspected

One of the most important parts of wintertime living is keeping the heat flowing, so make sure your furnace is running at its best. HVAC professionals can get very busy with faulty furnaces during the late winter months, so calling in the early fall will help ensure you get the work done.

2. Look at your roof and gutters

Now is the time to replace any worn shingles, inspect the flashing and add insulation to your attic. Watch for debris in the gutters and downspouts as well – snow melt can lead to serious runoff, and that needs to be directed away from your home to avoid water damage. Can’t get up on your roof? No worries – a good contractor can handle the inspection in less than an hour.

3. Inspect your windows

Many homes lose a great deal of heat through tiny cracks around windows and doors. Not sure how your windows and doors are doing? Try the candle test. In a perfectly still room, light a candle and hold it near the top, bottom and sides of your doors and windows. When the candle flickers, you have a draft. In some cases, new weatherstripping or caulking can remedy the issue. If you need replacement windows, now is the time.

4. Remember the chimney

A thorough chimney inspection is necessary to make sure your fireplace is safe for winter use. If it hasn’t been cleaned in a while, contact a chimney sweep for help. While you’re at it, put fresh batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

5. Do basic maintenance.

Small maintenance tasks are often overlooked, and that can wreck havoc on your spring.

• Drain water hoses or sprinkler systems
• winterize your lawn mower
• store summer gardening equipment
• Trim back tree branches that overhang power lines to prevent damage from ice-laden limbs.

Autumn is the best time to start handling the tasks that can make winter much easier. Whether you need window replacement, a clean chimney or more insulation to avoid an ice dam on the roof, get it done now before the harsh weather makes the work more difficult.

Auto Insurance Claims: Top 10 Items You Need When You Make A Claim

Top 10 Items You Need When You Make A Claim:

 
1. Who did I have an accident with? Be sure to get complete information from the other party(ies) involved. This means copying down their address, driver’s license #, date of birth, and ask for their phone number.  In addition, obtain their insurance information including, the company, policy #, agent if there is one, the policy begin and expiration date and their phone #. You need to make sure that you have as much info as possible to give your insurance company; this will help get your claim resolved as fast as possible.

2. Were there any witnesses? Was there anyone who saw the accident happen? You want to make sure that you get information from anyone who saw the accident. This will assist the insurance companies to determine who is liable for the accident.

3. Were the police called? If the police called or showed up, make sure to get the name and badge # of the officer and a report number. It may take your insurance company up to 3 months to get a police report, so be sure you take the information but don’t rely on the insurance company getting the information.

4. What kind of vehicle or vehicles were involved in this accident? You want to make sure that you get the vehicle year, make and model, the license plate #, and VIN number for each vehicle involved.

5. Where did this happen? Get the intersection or street that the accident happened on. Also, you want to make sure that you know how many lanes are on each side of the street, if the street or streets are 1 way or 2 way, the type of striping on the pavement within 100 feet each direction of the loss, i.e. is it a solid, double yellow line, a white line, etc. Also, you want to know where each vehicle impacted, what lane you and the other car were driving in just before the accident, the direction of travel for each vehicle, and if there were any signs posted that control traffic flow.

6. How many passengers were in each vehicle? Take note of how many people were in each of the vehicles involved. Once you know, make a brief note of their description or name including: ethnicity, gender, weight, height, etc. This will help if you are the victim of a staged accident or other type of insurance fraud since people sometimes mysteriously are reported as an occupant of the vehicle when they were not present. This is not common, but if it ever does happen, this will help you avoid being a victim.

7. What type of condition was the car in right after the accident? Was the vehicle drivable? Where is the damage? Is there any additional damage on the vehicle not related to the accident? If there is additional damage on the vehicle not related to this accident, be sure to tell your insurance company.

8. Where do I want to get my vehicle repaired? If you have a shop in mind, have that information with you. If you don’t, ask around, your friends might have a good recommendation. Otherwise, you can ask your insurance company if they have a repair program. If they do have one, be sure to ask about the program’s warranty, cost, and if there is a benefit to using it.

9. Write down all the information. Record all the information that you have gathered and keep it in a safe place. This is to assist you if there is a problem with the claim. When you report it, be sure to write down who you spoke with, your claim #, and what if any promises were made. This will make your life easier if someone says something and then it doesn’t happen.

10. Take pictures of the accident right after it occurred. Take a photo of your vehicle and the other vehicle(s) involved including all 4 corners. Also, if you can get the other party in the photo, that will help in the event that either insurance company needs help identifying the other party involved.

If you have a claim that needs to be filed, the above items are good to gather since it will make the process easier and assist your insurance adjuster to resolve your claim at a faster pace. The insurance adjuster(s) you will deal with each have a job, it is to resolve as many claims as they can in the least amount of time possible. As a result, the more information you can give him or her, the smoother the process will be.

by Darryl Lee

New York (NY) Teen Auto Insurance Laws, Rates & Requirements

In the state of New York, the following risky driving habits are among the leading causes of traffic accidents: speeding, unsafe or too-frequent lane changing, not using turn signals, tailgating, not yielding the right of way, ignoring traffic signals, and driving while impaired by alcohol or chemicals. New York teens engage in some of the same dangerous behaviors, but they have a number of other  issues working against them – especially in the beginning stages of driving. Teens are known for driving while talking on a cell phone or texting. In addition, lack of education (which can lead to all of the causes listed above), driving at night, and driving with too many passengers are top causes of teen car crashes in the state of New York.

In an effort to reduce the number of teen car accidents, the state of New York has its own version of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL). New York’s Graduated Driver Licensing program follows a three step process to help educate teens about the rules of the road and teach them about the dangers of unsafe driving practices. The program also comes with a number of restrictions to help keep teens and other drivers on the road safe during the process.

Continue reading to learn more about New York’s teen driving laws and the consequences for violating them.

New York Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements
In the state of New York, all beginning teen drivers must complete three steps before receiving a full unrestricted license. These include:

•    Learner’s License
•    Intermediate License
•    Unrestricted License

Learner’s License
You must be a at least 16 years of age to receive a learners license. As of February 22, 2010, you will be required to hold the learner’s license for 6 full months. During this time, you must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving time to include 15 hours at night.

Intermediate License
The intermediate license or “restricted license” is available to teens 16 ½ or older that have satisfied all of the requirements of the learner’s license.

Unrestricted License
You must be 17 years old to obtain an unrestricted license. If you have not taken a driver education course, you must be 18 years of age. To obtain your unrestricted license, you must satisfy all of the requirements of the intermediate license, meaning, you must have a clean driving record, by following the laws of the intermediate license to the letter. Please review the next section “New York Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement” for details.

To obtain a learner’s license, you must be at least 16 years of age and:

•    Provide two forms of identification as proof of identity
•    Provide a social security card
•    Provide a signed consent form
•    Take a written knowledge test
•    Take a vision test
•    Pay the $10 application fee
•    Pay the $12.50 document processing fee

To apply for your intermediate license and you will have to show proof of identity. If you have completed a driver education course, you will have to provide your certificate of completion as well.  

New York Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement
In the state of New York, learner permit holders must be accompanied by a licensed adult age 21 or older, at all times. Permit holders younger than age 18 cannot transport passengers under 21, unless accompanied by a licensed adult age 21 or older. In addition, permit holders are prohibited from driving on streets located within any New York City park.

Intermediate license holders are prohibited from driving between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.. In addition, you may transport only 1 passenger under the age of 21 at any given time. If you violate any of the conditions of New York’s Graduated Driver Licensing program, you may lose your driving privileges and/or your licensing will be delayed.

New York Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws

In the state of New York, cell phone use while driving is prohibited for all drivers unless you are using a hands-free device. Texting while driving will be against the law beginning November 1, 2009. The fine for violating the text messaging law will be $150. Currently, the hands-free cell phone law is treated as a secondary offense, meaning, you must be stopped for another traffic violation to receive a citation for violating the cell-phone law.

New York Teen DUI Laws

In the state of New York, it is a crime for a teen to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. A BAC of 0.02% is as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a New York teen of DUI. If you get caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher, you risk losing your driving privileges until you turn 21. If you get caught driving under the influence of any other substances such as marijuana or even prescription drugs, you risk the same penalties.

New York Teen Auto Insurance Requirements

It doesn’t matter if a vehicle is registered in a teens name or the parent’s name, in the state of New York you must carry minimum liability coverage in the amounts of $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury, $25,000/$50,000 uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist bodily injury, $10,000 for property damage, and $50,000 personal injury protection (PIP). Because the risk of having an auto crash is significantly higher during a teen’s first year behind the wheel, New York auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. If you plan to add a teen driver to your existing auto insurance policy, instead of purchasing a separate policy, keep in mind that your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year. The average increase is around $2,171 a year.

Michelle Burton is a published author and contributing editor for Trouve Media, Internet Brands, and Publications International, Ltd.

Critical factors that affect auto insurance rates

Each state has its own set of rules and regulations pertaining to auto insurance. The Insurance commissioner is the one who decides the minimum required for each state. Since, every state wants its residents and pedestrians to be safe on the roads, the rules have been written specifically for each state in order to protect the motorists on the highways. Hence, purchasing an auto insurance policy is in everybody’s interest and is mandatory.

Some states decide the mandatory minimum liability rates according to the financial responsibility laws. In these states, the driver has to show proof that he/she has the financial resources to make the payment in case of any damage that is caused by the driver of the vehicle.

There are a number of factors that affect auto insurance rates such as:

• Age – According to the available statistics, drivers who are below 25 years of age are considered to be high risk and are charged hefty premiums. However, the married individuals are considered to be far more responsible compared to bachelors and spinsters and hence the premiums charged are much less. The drivers who are over 50 are generally charged lesser premiums as they have enough experience on the roads and are considered to be mature drivers.
• Gender- Women are generally considered to be safe drivers when compared to men and hence the premiums charged are always much lesser than what the men have to pay.
• Area – The place where you live in will also make a difference when the premium is calculated. If you live in an area where there is lot of traffic, then there are more chances of being involved in an accident. Hence, the premiums that are charged will be much higher when compared to the premium charged if you were to live in a rural area, where there are lesser number of vehicles on the roads and fewer accidents.
• In case you stay in an area that has a high crime rate, then the premiums are bound to go up. Theft and vandalism prone areas are considered to be high risk areas and the number of damages and claims are always high. All this is taken into consideration while writing the policy.
• Driving record – Having a clean driving record is certainly advantageous. It will help in sending the message that you are a responsible driver and that will help in fetching some discounts. However, a bad record with a lot of violations will indicate that you are a high risk driver and the premiums will shoot up.
• Model and make – If you have to insure a car that is an expensive one, then your premiums will skyrocket. However, insuring a cheap car or insuring an older model will not cost much. In fact, insuring a sports car is very expensive and is likely to burn a hole in your pocket. This is due to the fact that these cars are more likely to get stolen.

It is important to bear all these things in mind while shopping for auto insurance. Shopping online and comparing quotes is the best way to go about it.
By Hayden Krueger

New York city has the highest auto insurance rates in the US

According to a study released by an online auto insurance quote provider, New York City is the most expensive city in the whole of US, to buy auto insurance.

The Tri-State members New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have the highest auto insurance premiums throughout the country. There are a number of factors that have contributed to these high auto insurance rates such as, poor traffic conditions, high crime rates, as well as high population density. New Jersey has continuously been ranked number one for 3 years in a row. But New York as well as Connecticut has also ranked among the top five expensive states to purchase auto insurance.

These high auto insurance rates are mostly concentrated around the city metropolitan area in New York. But the auto insurance rates in rural Connecticut and downtown Brooklyn are really staggering if you have to say the least, stated James Shaffer from Online Auto Insurance quote. But the auto insurance rates in New York have always been ranked as the highest in the country, while the rural areas offer rates that are relatively inexpensive. For instance, the average driver in North Dakota pays just $554 on auto insurance annually. But the state average for auto insurance in New Jersey is $1,184.

So, the simple solution to save on auto insurance costs according to Mr. Shaffer is to move out of New York City area. He states that instead of spending that amount on auto insurance it would be better to just live outside this area and take public transportation instead. This carries a lot of weight especially if it is coming from someone who has been a life-long insurance agent.

However, it is not exactly a hopeless situation for the residents of New York. The online auto insurance quote website offers a number of ways where one can save on auto insurance premiums. The first step is to ensure that you keep a high credit score, maintain a clean driving record, and drive a safe automobile. Another way to cut costs is by combining the insurance policies with the rest of the household members as well.
There is a lot of data that has been compiled by the website and it includes some of the findings from information that is made publicly available by IIS or Insurance Information Institute as well. There are plenty of tips available on these websites and consumers can use them to purchase affordable auto insurance.

Richard Burton
Published: Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Most Expensive Place to buy Automobile Insurance in the US is New York!

As per recent studies conducted by online auto insurance quote it has been found that the New York City Metropolitan area’s auto insurance rates are the highest in the US.
According to the study New York is the most expensive state to purchase auto insurance in 2011. The Tri-State members that are New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey have the highest average insurance cost throughout the nation. There are a number of contributing factors such as high crime rates, high population density, as well as poor traffic conditions. These have caused the auto insurance rates to shoot up. New Jersey has ranked No. 1 in the US for the 3^rd consecutive year. Connecticut and New York have are also ranked among the top five expensive states to purchase auto insurance.
The high insurance rates seem to be concentrated more around the New York metropolitan area. Auto insurance quote owner James Shaffer has stated that the difference in auto insurance rates in rural Connecticut and Brooklyn are staggering. The insurance rates in New York have always been high, while it is relatively inexpensive in rural areas. For instance, in North Dakota, the average motorist has to pay only $554 per annum to purchase auto insurance but for New Jersey the state average is $1,184 per annum.

Shaffer also added that if people look to save costs on auto insurance they should probably not live in New York City area. He feels it would be cheaper to take the public transportation. He has been an insurance agent all along and it does mean a lot if it is coming from him.

But all is not lost and there are ways and means that residents of New York can make a saving by visiting the company’s website. Here visitors will know some of the best ways to cut down their auto insurance costs even if they live in areas that have exorbitant insurance rates.

Some of the ways to cut the costs are by maintaining a high credit score, good driving record, driving a safe vehicle, and bundling up insurance policies along with the other members of the household.  Some of the other studies that have been done recently include the ‘ten best insurance companies,’ ‘most and least expensive cars to insure’ and the ‘ten most stolen automobiles.’  In this technology-driven age, everything is available at your fingertips including how-to guides, tools, and tips that can help consumers find cheaper auto insurance with the help of these websites.

By Richard Burton
Published: Friday, July 8th, 2011

Rise in auto insurance rates inevitable due to auto insurance fraud!

The next time you open your mailbox and see a hike in your auto insurance bill, you must ensure that you don’t get upset with the insurance agent or your insurer. You must instead target all your anger on those who are responsible for this state of affairs – the auto insurance fraudsters.

These are the people who have ruined the entire system and created this mess state the local officials. In the State of New York, the average auto insurance rates are the fourth highest and this is due to auto insurance fraud. This bit of information has come from the elected
representatives as well as law enforcement agencies.

Auto accidents are staged by con artists and there is an entire network that operates in this scam. This includes unscrupulous doctors who file false claims for medical treatments and they make it look like the persons have suffered serious injuries. They collect the insurance claims by doing all of this, state officials. There are a number of auto insurance fraud cases in the State of New York every year and this costs insurers millions of dollars each year. Hence, the insurance companies have no choice but to pass on these costs to the customers. During 2010, insurance fraud had cost the residents over $204 million, as per reports from Fraud Costs NY, which is a collation of business and civic groups from the state.

"The situation is even worse for motorists in Brooklyn," stated Sen. Marty Golden.

He claimed that the motorists in his district paid over 185% over the state average for auto insurance cover.
Insurance companies are shelling out millions of dollars each year to settle these fraudulent claims as they don’t have sufficient time on hand to investigate each case and bring the fraudsters to book, stated Golden.
He went on to add that there is one company that has already left New Jersey and is now threatening to get out of New York as well. If that happens, New Yorkers will be short of one company, which means that consumers will have lesser choices and this will in turn drive up the auto insurance rates.

The no-fault auto insurance cover is being blamed for this fiasco. This is a faulty system and criminals have been using the loopholes in this system to get past the no-fault laws at the expense of the motorists in New York, stated Golden. Now Golden has introduced the legislation and hopes that it will help in addressing the problem.
By Richard Burton
Published: Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Understanding auto insurance for teen drivers better

Teenagers are always known to be high spirited and excited when they get their very first car. Due to this reason, many companies are wary about providing insurance to teens for their cars and will give them the coverage at very high rates. This is not to say that all the companies out there will do the same. If you are looking at auto insurance for teens, you can look at multiple options that are there before making a decision to pick a provider for your needs. There are also many methods by which you can look at saving some money on the insurance premium payments if you plan things well.

It is always wise to get some extra advice. This is easier than ever with so many different websites offering opinions and expert tips to get a better deal on insurance. Spend a little time understanding the variables you will be judged on by an underwriter so you know what to discuss and what to ask for with an insurance provider. You just might find that there are indeed cheaper options available which will not put an overly large dent in your pockets. There will be a lot of websites offering support round the clock to insurance providers to allow them to acquire the best possible deal.

Price is a big factor for most teens looking for auto insurance. This is not the reason to compromise on proper coverage as there are risks involved with you being an inexperienced young driver. Youngsters in the age group of 16 to 18 are often caught with traffic violations and car accidents making it quite important to ensure that they are provided with a proper guidance and course to make them eligible for their permits to drive. The record you have and any violations in your name will make it that much harder for you to get a cheaper insurance quote.

Did you know that good grades can count in more ways than one? This is especially true of the insurance companies as they often consider whether a candidate can be a good investment. Companies don’t offer all out excellent discounts based on grades alone but a student with good grades looks to be a more stable and reliable candidate to bank on than one who has been a drop out or performed poorly at school. If you have a luxury car or a really racy model, you can pretty much gear yourself to pay extra. Fast cars and a young driver are the ultimate formula for accidents in the eyes of insurance agents and providers.

Call your local Insurance Agent for more details!
By Jasper Ericks

Are you Protected? Regarding Automobile Insurance &/or Homeowners Policies

Is your Insurance Agent working for you?
 
1. Are you getting the best bang for your buck?
2. Are you properly covered/protected?
3. Do you understand your insurance policy that you purchased? The limits, the meanings of the limits?
4. Do you know if you have the proper coverage to be protected?

These are all legitimate questions that you should be asking your local "Insurance Agent"!
You should be making an appointment to go over your insurance policies on a yearly basis!

Pull out your insurance policies and take a look at your coverage! Do you have NY State minimum coverage? Enough coverage? What is your liability limits?

Don't wait until it is too late to know if you are protected!

What are the common mistakes related to Automobile claims that you should avoid?

When you are someone who is crazy about your car, you would no doubt have gotten the best possible insurance policy on it to ensure that it stays that way. When you have an unfortunate accident, every thought leaves your head and you are completely shaken up and wondering how bad your car looks like at the moment, sometimes that’s what you think about even before checking how badly hurt you are. When things are calmer however, you realize that you have to gather all the information you need to file for an insurance claim. Many drivers end up jeopardizing this process even before they get started on it.

The first mistake most drivers make is not collecting insurance information from the other driver. You may have found the other person to be totally apologetic and he or she may have volunteered to pay for damages in cash. Irrespective of the promises extracted, make sure you have the pertinent insurance information to contact immediately after. Waiting it out will tend to blur the details and make the claim more difficult. You are paying a premium every month on your insurance, get things started immediately if you want to get the claim.

Call your "Insurance Agent" for direction on reporting your claim!

Another common mistake drivers make when it comes to auto insurance claims is not calling up their company to ask about what needs to be done. Most people have refrained from ever calling their company back to raise any questions about claims after all the horror stories about how rates have changed overnight for many folks reach their ears. When you hear such tales, you must understand that this is not the case for every company and for the good ones, they do answer your queries without any complications. There are even laws in place to protect consumer interests in such cases.

Giving an honest statement is an important part of your insurance claims. Some people make a horrible mistake by exaggerating details and trying to get more of a payout. Your insurance claims investigator will talk to the other party, witnesses and will also examine the statement issued by the police. An attempt at dishonesty will only end up with you having to pay for it. Don’t try to change, distort or add to the facts. Just give them an honest feedback and accounting of what happened and things will work out smoothly for you. Report quickly and give a clear picture of what happened, nothing more, nothing less.

Texting while driving? Put down the cell phones and handheld devices!

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, joining officials in other states who have sought steep penalties for phone-wielding motorists, said on Friday he would introduce legislation to crack down on drivers who text, post on Twitter or otherwise distract themselves with handheld electronics while at the wheel.

The governor said he would propose upgrading so-called distracted driving from a secondary offense to a primary one, meaning that police officers could pull over drivers solely because they are spotted pecking away at their phones.

“Every day, countless drivers, particularly teenagers and young adults, drive with their eyes on a screen rather than the road,” Mr. Cuomo said in a statement. “We need to impose a true deterrent to stop people from driving while using an electronic device and to keep our roads and citizens safe.”

The governor’s proposal would also increase the penalty for distracted driving from two points on a driver’s license to three points, the same punishment meted out for offenses like running a stop sign, failing to yield or committing minor speeding infractions.


Violators would be fined up to $150, an amount that remains unchanged from when the Legislature first banned texting while driving in 2009.

The proposal comes as lawmakers around the country push to tighten restrictions on using electronics at the wheel, a widespread practice that has been blamed in a number of fatal accidents in New York State in recent years. In 2009, 5,474 people across the country died in crashes linked to distraction, according to federal data.

Compared with most other states that have sought to crack down on distracted driving, New York’s existing law is relatively lax. Thirty-three states have forbidden text-messaging while driving, but only four of them do not consider it a primary offense, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Safety advocates praised the proposal, saying it would allow more widespread enforcement of the state’s ban on texting while at the wheel.

“The secondary nature of New York State’s law dilutes its deterrence value,” said John A. Corlett, the legislative committee chairman for AAA New York State. “Lawmakers need to stiffen the consequences for those who endanger the rest of us with their dangerous conduct.” And Ray LaHood, the federal transportation secretary and an outspoken critic of distracted driving, issued a statement saying, “I commend Governor Cuomo for introducing strong legislation that will help save lives and put a stop to dangerous distracted driving behavior on New York roads.”

Mr. Cuomo’s proposal would apply not only to texting, but also to any other hands-on use of smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, gaming devices or other portable electronics while driving. It would not include any devices mounted on a car’s dashboard, like a GPS.

A similar proposal by Mr. Cuomo’s predecessor, David A. Paterson, failed to win approval last year. But aides to Mr. Cuomo expressed optimism about winning passage before the scheduled end of this year’s legislative session on June 20. Lawmakers in both houses of the Legislature have expressed interest in strengthening the state’s laws on distracted driving: a bill to make texting at the wheel a primary offense passed the Senate last month, and the Assembly is expected to approve it next week.


The bill’s sponsor in the Senate, Carl L. Marcellino, a Long Island Republican, responded positively to Mr. Cuomo’s proposal. But he questioned the scope of the plan. “Maybe there’s some things you don’t want to cover,” Mr. Marcellino said, mentioning iPods as one example. “I like the fact that he’s engaging because it gives us the strength of his office and prestige behind the legislation and will help move us forward. But I think we have to be careful because it’s a very expansive bill.”

The governor’s proposal would also increase the penalty for talking on a cellphone without a hands-free device, which New York outlawed in 2001, from two points to three points.Last year, the police in New York State issued 331,809 tickets, including 217,012 in New York City, to motorists who were spotted talking on cellphones without hands-free devices, according to the State Department of Motor Vehicles. By contrast, the police issued only 3,235 tickets last year for texting while driving, including 1,632 in New York City.

By THOMAS KAPLAN

Published: June 10, 2011

Understanding gap insurance and how it works

Gap insurance is basically the difference between the worth of the car and the amount you owe on the car. This comes into play when the car is totaled or stolen when the car owner is still making the payments. A car is totaled when it is damaged to an extent that the repairs would exceed the worth of the car.

We can illustrate this with an example. Let us assume that you purchase a car for 20,000 and you make a down payment of $500 and you are expected to pay $350 per month.

If the car is involved in an accident just barely six months after purchase and if it is totaled, then the collision insurance company will determine that your car which is six months old is presently only worth $16,500. This amount would be paid by the insurer to you after subtracting the collision deductible in case the accident is your fault. Hence, if you have already made 6 monthly payments along with the down payment, then on a total of $2,600 you will still have to pay $17,000 on your car. Under such circumstances, gap insurance will pay the difference of $1,100 between what is covered by the collision insurance ($16,500) and the amount you owe on the car ($17,400). Hence, if you had not purchased gap insurance, you would have had to shell out the extra amount of $1,100 from your pocket. (It is important to note that if the insurance company arrives at the conclusion that your deductible is applicable, then you will have to shell out that money and that will not be covered by gap insurance).

If you are a buyer, gap insurance will only make sense if you owe more than what the car is worth. For instance, if the down payment is low, or if you have purchased a vehicle which depreciates quickly, have high rate of interest, or if there are other costs like money owed on a trade-in on your new car payments, then gap insurance will make sense. Most of the buyers who make a healthy down payment will always be at an advantageous position and will therefore not require gap insurance.

If there is a lease then you are not purchasing the car outright, but you would be responsible if the car is stolen or if it is totaled. Here purchasing gap insurance will make sense and most lease contracts require gap insurance.
By Jasper Ericks
Published: Sunday, June 5th, 2011

Now insurance fraud would become more difficult – thanks to the bill

                                                                                    Insurance fraud is costing the policyholders as well as the state millions of dollars each year and business leaders in New York are hence urging policymakers to pass the legislation to help enable them to fight the insurance fraud.

Fraud Costs New York is a coalition of consumers, business leaders, and lawmakers. It has called upon the state legislature to bring about reforms in the no-fault auto insurance policy in order to curb auto insurance fraud and insurance scams that they claim has totaled to over $200 million in the last year alone.

The New York State Business Council’s acting President Heather Briccetti has stated that the State Legislature must stop funding criminals by bringing about reforms to the no-fault insurance laws. By bringing about this reform Albany could easily do away with the ‘fraud tax’ and also reduce the premium costs for small businesses all over New York, stated Briccetti.

The coalition has demanded that the Legislature must act on the bill S.2816/A.6286 which was sponsored by Senate Insurance Committee Chair James Seward, R-Milford, as well as Assembly Insurance Committee Chair Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit. This would give insurers the teeth to fight insurance fraud & abuse and that will help in reducing the no-fault costs.

Kristina Baldwin, assistant VP of Property Casualty Insurers Association of America stated that there are certain loopholes in the existing laws and these highly innovative criminal gangs seem to have figured out a way to exploit the same. Hence she feels that there needs to be a stricter law in order to address these issues and plug the loopholes.

The no-fault insurance system works this way – the insurer will cover all the damages up to the value of the policy, irrespective of who was at fault during the accident. Hence, the no-fault fraud generally occurs when fraudsters orchestrate staged accidents or sometimes individuals may claim for injury even when they were not involved in the accident.

Allstate Insurance Company announced last Thursday that it was planning to file a fraud lawsuit against around 37 residents of New York and was seeking to recoup $2.1 million. This comes close to the heels of yet another auto insurance fraud lawsuit filed by the insurer this year for around $4.7 million. In all, Allstate has filed about 29 lawsuits since 2003 and has claimed over $167 million in damages.

Allstate spokeswoman Krista Conte has stated that the no-fault system is currently being exploited and innocent citizens have become the victims due to this.
By Richard Burton
Published: Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Test Your Driving Skills

 

Think you're smarter than the average driver?

The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test features 20 questions from actual DMV tests across the nation. Test your skills and brush up on your knowledge of the rules of the road.

To start the test, choose Latham, NY in the drop down by clicking here.

According to GMAC National Drivers Statistics, New York State ranks 45th for drivers who are unfit for the road! 

Protecting Your Home ~ Don't Make It Easy

"About half of all break-ins aren't break-ins but walk-ins," says Bob Portenier, consultant, lecturer, and former burglar. "Families get in a hurry in the morning—kids going to school, running late for work, doctors' appointments, what have you—and forget to take that one or two minutes to check the doors and locks, usually on the back side. You have a pet, you let it out to do its business—and then forget the security French door or sliding glass door." 

Remember, don't forget to turn on your home alarm. In a security survey of 1,038 U.S. homeowners we conducted in February, 43 percent of people in our survey who had an alarm said they at least occasionally don't turn it on when they're not at home. Some other troubling numbers. Nineteen percent of people in our survey said they at least occasionally leave doors at home unlocked when they're out, and 26 percent of survey respondents said they at least occasionally leave windows unlocked when they're not at home.

Leaving your garage door open

In addition to providing access to everything in the garage, the door most likely leads to an interior door and access to your house. That interior door probably isn't as strong as an exterior door. And once a burglar's in your garage, the neighbors can't see him.

Obscuring your house

Tall hedges and fences hide windows and doors, giving thieves cover to work, says Walter T. Shaw, former burglar and co-author of "A License to Steal."

Leaving valuables in sight

"When we targeted a house, we would approach the door and look in—the quality of furniture, whatever there was—to give us an idea of how these people spend their money," says Portenier. "So with mirror-tinted windows, it eliminates that."

Advertising a vacation

People often don't do anything to make the house look occupied, says Maj. Kurt Philipps of the Memphis police department. Lt. John Dzwlewicz of the New York City police department suggests this trick: Put some inexpensive kids' toys on the lawn. On Facebook, share news of your trip only after you return.

Being carefree with keys

Leaving keys under the doormat or elsewhere outside the home is a risk that 12 percent of people in our survey say they often take. Another 7 percent say they do it occasionally. And 66 percent say they have given a key to someone other than a resident of their home. 

And avoid hiding your car keys inside or outside the car. That just makes it easier for thieves to engage in a spur-of-the-moment theft, authorities say. Many of today's cars make it difficult to lock your keys inside. If you're concerned about that anyway, keep a spare in your wallet or purse. Eleven percent of people in our survey said they at least occasionally leave car keys in the ignition when parked. And 52 percent of people from nonmetro areas in our survey said they at least occasionally leave their car unlocked outside.

Tossing prescription bottles

Prescription labels on pill bottles can contain important information such as phone numbers, doctors, and prescription numbers. Remove the labels and shred them. Also be careful with medical records. And also treat your benefit claims forms, insurance reimbursements, and even medical tests as confidential information and destroy them before discarding.

Thinking a gun is your best defense

Gun ownership is a controversial topic, but research has shown that homeowners with guns increase the risks in their home. Homeowners might make the mistake of not getting proper training and not securing their firearms. Thirty-two percent reported having a gun as a security measure. And 73 percent of gun owners thought it was very good or excellent for protection.

 The article above was provided by Consumer Reports at:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/june/money/how-to-protect-yourself/home-security/index.htm