In 2010 the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency increased the limit for miles per gallon rates. For 2012 models, vehicles must have a combined 29.7 mpg. That will increase to 34.1 mpg in 2016. Those increases are forcing auto makers to change things that were once commonplace– like the inclusion of a spare tire. Spare tires and tools can weigh as much as 40 pounds. “Unfortunately many vehicle owners may be unaware that their vehicle has no spare tire until they experience a flat tire,” says John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Buying, and Consumer Information. “Consumers should review their owner’s manual and emergency maintenance supplies they have in the vehicle and be informed about alternatives to a spare to prevent panic or a delay when encountering a flat tire.”

To ensure that you are protected against a flat find out if you have a spare tire. AAA says it’s important to come up with an alternative solution if one is not present. Keep in mind that if sealant is your option, it needs to be replaced every five years or after it’s used.

Insuring Yourself Against A Flat Tire is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Nearly 200 teen drivers were surveyed and experts found that those who are most likely to drive with multiple passengers are those that consider themselves thrill-seekers, those whose parents don’t set rules or monitor their whereabouts, or those who don’t understand the risks of driving in general. “The good news is that that these teens make up the minority,” said Jessica Mirman, PhD, study author and a behavioral researcher in a news release. “Teens in this study generally reported strong perceptions of the risks of driving, low frequencies of driving with multiple passengers, and strong beliefs that their parents monitored their behavior and set rules.”

Another study looked at what was happening to distract the teen driver just before they crashed. Males with passengers are nearly six times more likely to break a road rule and twice as likely to drive aggressively before a crash. “Both male and female teen drivers with peer passengers were more likely to be distracted just before a crash as compared to teens who crashed while driving alone,” explained Dr. Curry. “Among the teens who said they were distracted by something inside the vehicle before they crashed, 71 percent of males and 47 percent of females said they were distracted directly by the actions of their passengers.”

The study found that parents play an important role in safe teen driving. Setting house rules of no non-sibling teen passengers for the first six months of driving can help limit accidents. “Most teens take driving seriously and act responsibly behind the wheel. However, some may not realize how passengers can directly affect their driving,” said Dr. Mirman. “Teen passengers can intentionally and unintentionally encourage unsafe driving. Because it can be difficult for new drivers to navigate the rules of the road and manage passengers, it’s best to keep the number of passengers to a minimum for the first year.”

Twin Studies Investigate Teen Auto Accidents is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Law enforcement agencies typically report a larger number of break-ins during the holiday season which can taint this typically cheerful season. “The holidays are a joyous time of year filled with family gatherings and gift giving,” said Terri Miller, director of H.E.A.T. in a news release. “But, with overflowing parking lots and vehicles filled to the brim with purchases, the holidays are also a dream for car thieves.”

Some tips that can keep you from calling the police and your insurance company include staying alert while walking to your car. Restrain from texting or digging for your keys because that could make you an easy target. Keep your car parked in well-lit areas and avoid parking near dumpsters, bushes or vans that may be good hiding spots for criminals. Use your trunk to hide purchases. Putting them in plain view makes it even easier for thieves to steal the gifts you worked so hard to find.

If you’re planning a marathon shopping trip you may also want to consider moving your car. A crook could be watching as you take a load to your car and then return to the mall for another round of purchases. Law enforcement officials also say it’s important to give up the car if you are threatened by a carjacker. Your life is more important and it will definitely give you another thing to be thankful for this season.

Law Enforcement: Auto Crimes Increase During Holidays is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

If you’re driving in the Greater Portland area a new study found that one in three drivers are likely breaking the law by using a cell phone without a hands-free device. One in four are texting and emailing while driving. That’s according to a survey from PEMCO Insurance which also found that Portland-area drivers are upset about sharing the road with these potentially dangerous drivers. “Distracted-driving laws are becoming common across the U.S., and for good reason,” said PEMCO spokesperson Jon Osterberg in a news release. “Distracted driving is dangerous, and while our poll results show that most drivers agree, we need to raise awareness to help lower the number of drivers who are focused on their phones rather than on the road.”

Of those polled, 31 percent say they’ve used their cell phones without a hands-free device and 26 percent say they’ve  used their phones to text or email while driving. But 42 percent say that texting violations should warrant a $142 fine and another 55 percent believe that offense should go on a driver’s record. Probably not surprising, drivers under 35 years old are more likely to say the fine is too hefty.

Distracted Drivers Are Everywhere is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

However on a third of teens rate their parents as a “very good” driving instructor. Three in five parents admit to being nervous about teaching their child to drive. State Farm hopes the new online resource will help make it easier and more educational for everyone. “These online tools are the latest in State Farm’s $20 million commitment to reducing teen driving related crashes and deaths,” said Laurette Stiles, Vice President – Strategic Resources at State Farm. “It’s our privilege to make them accessible to everyone, at no charge, as part of our efforts to help teens drive more safely.”

On the website you can check out Road Trips. It’s an interactive, web-based tool so parents can build practice drives, log progress and communicate more effectively with their teen. Parents will receive tip sheets on important driving skills as well as three minute lessons on the best way to teach these skills. Another tool on the website is called Road Aware. Research shows that 43 percent of crashes caused by teens are due to the young driver’s inability to anticipate and adjust to hazards. This program will help them to locate the potential for danger or risk.

Free Tool Helps Parents Teach Teen Drivers is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

It’s considered the highest honor of professional truck drivers. “Rickey Oliver embodies the professional truck driver who delivers America’s goods safely and efficiently everyday,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves in a news release.  ”His passion for educating the public about safe driving and his commitment to his community are remarkable.  We are proud to have Rickey represent the industry as National Driver of the Year.”

Rickey isn’t just a truck driver, but he’s an advocate for safety. He has been an active Trucker Buddy, Career Day presenter and volunteers through Wal-Mart’s Foundation. Rickey is also an active member of the Honor Roll Driver Education Program which helps provide safe driving education throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. “Rickey is an incredible resource for the trucking industry,” said Mississippi Trucking Association President David Roberts. “We are glad to have him representing professional truck drivers here in Mississippi and around the nation. I congratulate Rickey for receiving this award and thank him for his tireless efforts on behalf of the trucking industry.”

Wal-Mart Truck Driver Honored For Keeping Roads Safer is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

Buying these cars can create risks. Many buyers unknowingly purchase a flood damaged car, according to AAA. “Depending on the vehicle make, model and age, the cost of a thorough cleaning and drying may exceed the car’s value,” said John Nielsen, director, AAA Auto Repair in a news release.  ”In many cases, insurance companies ‘total’ flood-damaged vehicles that are then sold to salvage companies. However, rather than being disassembled for parts, some of these vehicles end up being purchased by individuals who bring varying levels of expertise to the restoration process.”

If a car has been submerged in flood waters, more repairs may be needed than just a good cleaning. Some of the inner-workings of the car are very hard to dry out and can lead to a quicker deterioration. It may work properly after the flood, but it won’t hold up over time according to AAA experts. The electrical systems of a car can run into corrosion or oxidation that reveals itself months after the flood. According to AAA you can obtain a CARFAX Vehicle History Report which may reveal the car’s involvement in a flood. You can also use your sense of smell– detecting dampness is important. Look for signs of water stains or mud in odd places such as under the dashboard. Finally, you’ll want to have the car inspected thoroughly before purchase.

AAA Warns Of Flood Damaged Vehicles is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

The free mobile app uses GPS to recognize the user’s location, sending breaking alerts to them instantly. The free app is already available in AppWorld and the Android Market. “Natural disasters, from hurricanes to tornadoes, have been particularly harsh throughout the country this year and the best way to mitigate the damage of these storms is to prepare. The free app gives users the peace of mind of knowing that if severe weather is headed toward them, they will automatically be alerted and can immediately take action,” said Scott Hughes, President of Global Alert Network. “Within minutes of downloading the GAN app, users have a free, potentially life saving tool at their fingertips. Especially during seasons with devastating weather and in the regions that often get hit, there is no reason why residents should not be downloading this application.”

Getting proper insurance is another way you can prepare for a natural disaster. But a recent Harris interactive poll found that only 56% of Americans say they’re prepared for a disaster. Two in five Americans say they’re not prepared for a long term power outage. Here are some regional concerns according to this recent poll:

• Easterners think that a snow and/or ice storm will be most likely to directly impact them (77%) and while Midwesterners are concerned about this as well (79%), an even greater number say they believe tornadoes will impact them (89%);
• Southerners are also concerned about tornadoes (66%) yet half say they are concerned about hurricanes (54%) or droughts (50%);
• Those in the West believe earthquakes will impact them (66%), which is a concern shared by very few in all other regions (between 7% and 16%);
• Although only 11% of Americans think a nuclear power plant disaster or meltdown will affect them directly, it is the only issue listed that most people say the federal government is worst equipped to handle (59%).  One third say the government is worst equipped to handle terrorism (34%), which is down from the 48% who said this in 2006; and,
• In 2006, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, half of Americans (50%) said that the federal government was worst equipped to handle hurricanes.  Five years later just 16% believe this.

Preparing For Hurricanes And Other Natural Disasters is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

The free insurance deal runs through September 6 and includes both liability and physical damage coverage. It exceeds minimum requirements set by Oregon and Washington. If you’re wondering why those two states were selected for the free insurance promotion, officials say it’s because those states are falling behind others in market share. But it may move to other states if it proves successful.

GM reports an 11% increase in sales so far this year compared to last. Retail sales are up 16%. Those numbers do not account for corporate fleets. Officials hope by offering free insurance, more people will feel comfortable buying a new car since the financial burden will be lower.

Buy A New Car, Score Free Auto Insurance is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance

The average score did increase this year to 77.9 percent, up from 76.2 percent in 2010. But that’s still very low and shows that many people on the road don’t have basic knowledge of the rules. Amazingly, 85 percent of those surveyed could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light. Only about a fourth could identify correct following distances.

The goal of the test is to remind drivers to stay informed about the rules of the road. It marked the seventh annual survey, polling drivers from 16-65 in all states and the District of Columbia. Here are some of the interesting highlights uncovered by the test:

• Males are better drivers? One in 4 women failed the test, which was about double the percentage of men. Overall, males out-performed females with an average score of 80.2 percent versus 74.1 percent for females.
• Northeast is worst driving region. You may think your city’s drivers are the worst, but with average scoring at 74.9 percent the Northeast came out the worst. Midwest is the best driving region with average scoring at 77.5 percent.
• The older the wiser. Despite popular belief, the oldest drivers tested, ages 60-65, continued to have the highest average test scores at 80.3 percent.
• Be careful in the Empire State and Beltway. One out of 3 (34 percent) of all drivers in New York and Washington, D.C. failed the test. Wyoming residents passed the test most with only one out of 20 failing.
• Biggest gains and losses: There were some shake ups in the test this year. After ranking 24th place in 2010, Colorado moves to third place with an 82 percent average score. Alaska plummeted 30 spots from tenth place in 2010 to 40th place this year. Their average test score decreased from a 79.8 percent average to a 76 percent average.

One In Five Drivers Would Fail Written Test Today is a post from: Peppercoin Insurance