Are American motorists playing a high-risk game of “Highway Roulette” when they venture out on the road? Denton Gay, a former insurance claims professional and author of the book “American Highway Roulette,” says the numbers speak for themselves:
• Close to 6 million auto accidents every year.
• About 2.5 million injuries each year in auto accidents.
• Nearly 33,800 traffic deaths in 2009.
InsuranceQuotes.com visited with Gay to discuss the state of our highways, and what drivers can do to keep themselves – and their families – safe on the open road.
InsuranceQuotes.com: What inspired you to write the book?
Denton Gay, author of “American Highway Roulette,” says: “People don’t realize it, but consumers have more power than they think when it comes to auto accidents.”Denton Gay: Back in March 1980, I lost a very close friend – actually my first cousin – to an auto accident. That’s still with me. As time went on, I realized people just don’t consider how pervasive auto accidents really are. We lost 43,000 people to accidents here in the U.S. in 2005, and thankfully that number fell to 33,800 in 2009. I’d like to see that trend continue.
I also have a background in auto insurance. I was a claims manager at State Farm and, in that capacity, I was constantly exposed to the consequences of auto accidents. I’ve seen how people change, physically and emotionally, after an accident. It totally changed their personalities.
So I set out to write a book about auto accidents. It took me seven years. But I did feel I was the logical person to write it.
InsuranceQuotes.com: Why the decrease in traffic deaths?
Gay: I think the economy has a lot to do with it. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that when unemployment is high, accidents are low. They can actually pinpoint that data. In areas across the U.S. where unemployment is highest, and where the prices of gasoline is the most expensive, accidents are at their lowest levels. People just aren’t driving as much in those situations.
InsuranceQuotes.com: Any other reasons?
Gay: Yes, I think law enforcement has done a good job of watching for things like texting and cell phone use while driving. That has helped keep the roads safer.
Another factor is that our cars are safer. We have more cars made with side airbags and more vehicles with electronic stability control. Automakers and the government are crash-testing more often and are learning a lot from those tests. We’re simply seeing more and more safe cars.
The good news is that the auto companies have really picked up on that. The message has gone down to the dealerships and to salespeople: Talk up safety with buyers. That has helped educate the public.
Denton Gay’s experience as an auto insurance claims professional helped drive the writing of “American Highway Roulette.”InsuranceQuotes.com: In the book, you use the term “casino” again and again, especially when discussing the insurance, legal, government and automaker sectors. What’s that about?
Gay: Yes, I used the roulette analogy for the book – that was intentional and that was why the book has the title it does.
My point was that there are so many variables that go into dealing with an auto accident that you might as well be spinning a roulette wheel. The insurance angle, in particular, in how it responds to financial loss, is a casino all its own, and one where the industry has the advantage over consumers. But I believe consumers can go into these “casinos” armed with knowledge and make a real difference about the outcome.
Let me give you an example. In the insurance industry, you have underwriters who calculate the odds on whether you win or lose at “highway accident roulette.” You have insurance agents who take your money. Then you have claims employees who act as cashiers. It’s just like a real casino.
The consumer is the player at the gaming tables. Like a poker player, a good driver can control the odds of getting into an accident and dealing with an insurance claim. Good drivers can drive safer, control when and where they drive, and can determine just how much insurance they want to purchase.
Also, as citizens, we can lobby our legislators about what traffic rules should be in place and how each should be enforced.
People don’t realize it, but consumers have more power than they think when it comes to auto accidents.
InsuranceQuotes.com: What more can consumers do to prevent accidents?
Gay: There are lots of things. They can buy safer cars. They can avoid driving when they’re emotionally upset. They can stop talking on the cell phone when they’re driving. Anything that distracts you from the task at hand – driving safely – should be avoided. I mention in the book that driving on Friday and Saturday night increases your odds of an accident. Don’t drive, or drive early or sparingly, on those nights.
InsuranceQuotes.com: What’s the takeaway for readers?
Gay: If someone reads the book, he or she will be in a better position to avoid traffic accidents and avoid serious injury. I want people to know that if you have a serious accident, it can change your life – and not for the better. But you also have the power to control a lot of what goes into auto accidents. I’m hoping that people will recognize that and take the steps needed to minimize that risk.
–Brian O’Connell
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Filed under insurance by on Feb 24th, 2011. Comment. 
It looks like the stars just weren’t aligned for Allstate.
On Jan. 27, 2011, Allstate released a study indicating that Virgos were nearly 700 percent more likely to be in a car accident in 2010 compared with Scorpios, who were deemed the best drivers. The study also ranked other zodiac signs based on their accident rates.
Your zodiac sign indicates what kind of behind-the-wheel personality you have, astrologers say.Two days later, the insurance company apologized for the study.
Allstate said the study “led to some confusion around whether astrological signs are part of the underwriting process.”
“Astrological signs have absolutely no role in how we base coverage and set rates. Rating by astrology would not be actuarially sound,” Allstate said in a statement. “We realize that our hard working customers view their insurance expense very seriously. So do we.”
The Allstate study came on the heels of revelations about a supposed reconfiguration of the zodiac chart, practically triggering panic among horoscope devotees. However, most astrologers have dismissed the so-called zodiac shift as erroneous and have sought to reassure horoscope disciples that they should follow the signs that they’ve always followed.
InsuranceQuotes.com recently asked astrologers for their insight into what your zodiac sign says about your driving habits. Unlike the Allstate study, the InsuranceQuotes.com story did not include a comparison between zodiac signs and accident rates.
If you’re eager to find out what your zodiac sign tells you about your behind-the-wheel behavior, read the InsuranceQuotes.com story. By the way, astrologers say Virgos are the safest drivers on the zodiac chart — lending some validity to the Allstate study.
–John Egan
Filed under insurance by on Feb 4th, 2011. Comment.
When drivers get into an accident, their first thought is often “How much will this cost?” It depends on your insurance company and your state’s laws, but part of that cost will likely be an increase in your auto insurance premium – unless the accident was very minor.
The chance of an increase in premium rises along with several factors:
Accident severity Your degree of fault, unless you’re in a “no-fault” state The value of the insurance claim you or the other driver files Type of violation, if you get a ticket at all Whether the violation or accident appears on your MVR or CLUE reportLike everything else about insurance prices, the amount of an increase, if any, varies by company. However, based on a 2008 insurance.com study of the effect a moving violation or accident has on premiums, the price can be high. Drivers who had an additional ticket saw their rates increase from $157 to $248 a year while those who had an additional accident saw increases ranging from $302 to $458 annually.
These increases are typically seen at renewal time, but if you didn’t notify your insurance company (please do!) and no one made a claim, it could take awhile for the company to find out. Rest assured that they will not be happy to uncover a ticket or accident you failed to report. If you’re switching companies, they may not find out until they order your driving or claims history, at which time they may decide not to issue you a policy.
Some insurance companies offer an accident forgiveness feature. If yours does – and you qualify – your rates may not increase if you’re found to be at fault in a relatively minor accident. However, there could be severe consequences if you’re involved in a major accident and you’re driving under the influence. Remember that there are worse things that can happen than a higher insurance premium, like license suspension and jail time.
MVR = Motor Vehicle Report. Not every traffic ticket actually appears on your MVR. In fact, in some states only 75 percent of all moving violations are ever recorded on an MVR.CLUE = Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. C.L.U.E. is a claims history database created by ChoicePoint that allows insurance companies to access your claims information when they underwrite or rate a policy. The report includes claim information such as date of loss, type of loss and amounts paid, and vehicle description.Looking for different information? Have questions or feedback? Please let us know.
Originally posted September 17, 2004.
Filed under insurance by on Jan 19th, 2011. Comment.