Distracted Driving Accounts For One Third Of All Commercial Auto Accidents

Distracted Driving Accounts For One Third Of All Commercial Auto Accidents

According to leading industry experts, distracted driving accounts for 1/3rd of all commercial auto accidents and is causing business insurance rates to rise for the 5th straight year. This is an important topic that employers need to understand and respond to.

What Are The Types of Distracted Driving

• Visual: taking your eyes off the road;
• Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and
• Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving

Risk Factors

• Drivers under the age of 23 have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.
• Commercial drivers that drive long hours without breaks.

Prevention Tips

• Create a formal, written policy stating your organization’s position on mobile device use while driving.
• Educate drivers about the risks and potential consequences of driving while distracted.
• Make this part of your monthly safety meetings.
• Enforce the rules.
• Reward safe drivers.

At Roussel Insurance we strive for trust and reliability with our clients. Through our 32 years in the insurance business we have learned to achieve immediate and sustainable cost savings for businesses and individuals. We can help find you the right insurance options, so that no matter what your budget is we can minimize you’re spending and easily meet your needs. To learn more about us and what we offer, make sure you browse through our personal and business services. Lastly, do not miss our blog page! All our blogs are informative, so we can help make insurance more understandable.

Latest Trends In California Commercial Auto Insurance

Recent studies have identified a correlation between auto accidents and increased auto insurance premiums. While this is something that we all might have assumed, we now have definitive analysis. In California, if you have an accident, you have a +75% chance of having an increase in your auto rates. If you have a second accident, your chance of an increased rate goes up to +93%.  Some carriers may modify these percentages depending on whether the accident is at-fault or no-fault.

Whether you operate one vehicle or many, a fleet safety program can help ensure compliance with safety regulations, reduce the possibility of accidents, help lower repair costs, and save money by reducing business insurance premiums.

Benefits Of Driver Training Programs

• Most insurers offer discounts for safety programs.
• Reduces fleet management costs through lower maintenance, fuel and insurance premiums.
• Reduced Workers’ Compensation costs.
• Creates a positive public image.
• Great employee satisfaction.
• Increases business effectiveness.

Critical Factors To A Successful Driver Safety Program

A driver safety program establishes policies and procedures that are needed to have a safe work environment for employees.

• Management commitment is the most important factor when developing a driver safety program. Management must be willing to support and participate in the process.
• Driver screening and background checks can be a very effective method of evaluating potential drivers.
• The best way to evaluate drivers is through conducting written and road tests.
• Investigate and review all accidents. This will give the firm an opportunity to educate all drivers on specific prevention techniques.
• Have written policies, including discipline procedures, in the event of repeated offenders.

Established by company president John Roussel in 1985, Roussel Insurance & Financial Services was founded to assist business owners and professionals in their insurance and employee benefit programs. Our mission is to give you the peace of mind that your company and personal assets are properly safeguarded.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Will Auto Insurance Cover Your Car if it is Stolen?

Auto Insurance and theft coverage

Every 26 seconds a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States.  According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, of all motor vehicles stolen, 73.9% were automobiles. The most popular cars for thieves are; 1996 Honda Accord, 1988 Honda Civic, 2006 Ford PU and 1999 Chevrolet PU.

Your auto insurance may provide coverage in the event your vehicle is stolen, if you have the right coverage. If you bought your insurance on line in15 minutes, you might not have coverage. You will need comprehensive coverage on your policy to cover auto theft. Your liability coverage will protect you if there is third party damage.

Roussel insurance is an independent insurance agency with access to many markets, and we shop for the best price possible.

How to prevent your car from being stolen

• Never leave your car running while unattended.
• Never leave computers, phones or other valuables inside your car.  If you must leave valuables in your car, place them in the trunk where they are not as easily seen.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Alarms or anti-theft devices work: Thieves are usually looking for the “easiest” target. If your car has an alarm, it could act as a deterrent. But don’t make this common mistake: Just because you have an alarm, doesn’t mean thieves won’t break-in if you leave valuable items in plain sight.
• Lock ALL of your vehicle’s doors: This is true even if you plan on only being gone for “just a second”. Remember, it only takes seconds to steal items from your car. It’s not uncommon, for thieves to walk down a row of parked vehicles, looking for unlocked doors. Also, make sure car windows aren’t left open.

A stolen car can be a real headache that can have some serious side effects on your future insurance premiums and your lifestyle.  Keeping thieves away, helps to keep everyone’s insurance costs down.  Doing what you can to prevent an auto theft will not only save you hassle, it will save you money as well. So stay safe–on the roads and in the parking lots as well!

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.