Who is the better driver? Man or Woman?

First of all, let’s take a look at some statistics that I have located on line that will help this investigation.

Men are more than twice as likely to die in a car crash as women, consider the yearly statistics shown below. In fact, studies have shown as many as 73 percent of all people killed in car accidents are male. Since record keeping began: male fatalities significantly outweigh female fatalities. However men and women do not drive the same number of miles under the same conditions- men do about 60-65% more driving than women. Studies show that woman take shorter trips and female drivers have a greater number of minor crashes than do men. However men are still 70% more likely to be in a serious crash.

Insurance company AAMI has found some interesting statistics in a recent telephone survey of more than 2,000 drivers.

- 55 per cent of men – 30 per cent of women – drink drive.

- 47 per cent of men – 38 per cent of women – have rudely gestured at other drivers.

- 84 per cent of men – 77 per cent of women – have crashed their vehicle,

- 51 per cent of men – 40 per cent of women – have been distracted by billboards while driving

- 46 per cent of men – 36 per cent of woman – admitted to verbally abusing another driver.

- 22 per cent of men – 15 per cent of women – admitted to using their mobile phones without hands-free accessories while driving.

So you can see from the survey that things are not looking that great for men, but do all those statistics make women better drivers?

“Our claims data shows that men’s crashes tend to be more serious than women’s, they are more likely to be involved in head-on collisions, roll-overs and loss-of-control crashes, as well as crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists and animals.” AAMI spokesman Geoff Hughes said. Read the rest of this entry »

Buying auto insurance can seem like an overwhelming duty. There are many tips to consider that can potentially save or cost you a lot of money and stress over the years.

Auto insurance rates depend on several factors, including, your age and marital status, where you live, how many cars are on your policy, annual mileage driven, how far you are from your work, what you drive, how long you have been with your insurance company and what other things do you have insured with them, and of course your driving record.

Here are a few car accident insurance tips that can make this task much easier:

1. Drive A Low Profile Vehicle

Some cars carry high insurance costs based upon the perceived risks associated with those cars. For example, if you drive a sports car, most insurance companies will presume there is a higher inherent risk and assign a higher rate on your insurance policy. For much lower rates, drive a low-profile vehicle that does not raise any red flags with your insurance carrier.

2. What kind of insurance coverage do I need?

Most states require that you have liability insurance; to pay the other drivers for whatever damage you cause in an at-fault accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for the physical damage to your car from things like fire, theft, weather, and vandalism. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car if the accident was your fault (if the other driver was at-fault his insurance will pay for your damages).

3. Keep Your Credit Report Clean

Your credit report is often used by the insurance carrier to determine the amount of risk they assume to offer you a policy. Though most insurance carriers won’t proactively tell you that your credit report is used to determine your car insurance rates, there is a strong correlation between a person’s credit rating and the risk an insurance carrier assumes in offering that person a policy. Pay your bills on time and review your credit reports annually to ensure they are clean of errors.

4. How do I choose the right Auto Insurance Policy?

The minimum liability coverage required by your state may likely be low – so if you hit an expensive car, the other driver (or her insurance company) may sue you for any excess damages. Think about a higher coverage limit if you can afford it – and if you have assets to protect in case you get sued.

5. Install A Car Alarm Or Anti-Theft System

Often, you can save money on your car insurance rates if you install a anti-theft device. Your rates are largely a result of the perceived risk that a car insurance company assumes in carrying your policy. Installing a car alarm in your vehicle lowers this perceived risk. As a result, your rates may be lowered. Read the rest of this entry »