Warning to motorists: Fall is peak season for deer-vehicle collisions
The I.I.I. Offers Tips to Avoid Deer-Related Accidents
Cars and deer can be a lethal combination. Deer migration and mating season generally runs from October through December, and causes a dramatic increase in the movement of the deer population. As a result, more deer-vehicle collisions occur in this period than at any other time of year, so drivers need to be especially cautious, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
The I.I.I. estimates that there are more than 1.6 million deer-vehicle collisions each year, resulting in 150 occupant deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and over $3.6 billion in vehicle damage. An additional billion dollars is spent on medical payments for injuries to people in the car and out-of-pocket expenses paid by vehicle owners, bringing the total cost to approximately $4.6 billion. The average claim for deer-vehicle collisions is $3,000, with costs varying depending on the type of vehicle and severity of the damage.
Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that three out of four vehicle-animal collisions involve deer, and that November is the peak month for these accidents. These collisions also account for tens of thousands of injuries each year, according to the National Safety Council.
“As our wildlife habitat continues to shrink, accidents with deer and other animals are likely to increase. Drivers should stay alert and pay particular attention to the sides of the road, especially during the hours just before dusk and just before daylight. “said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I.
Not only is urban sprawl displacing deer from their natural habitat, but the deer population is also growing. As a result, many of them find their way onto highways and into suburban neighborhoods, especially during deer season.
Some states experience more deer related collisions than others. According to a study of annual claims statistics, the states with the highest claim frequency are West Virginia, Michigan, Arkansas, South Dakota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Virginia.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to decrease the likelihood of being involved in a deer-vehicle collision.
Drivers should be aware of the following:
– Deer are not just found on rural roads near wooded areas; many deer crashes occur on busy highways near cities.
– Deer are unpredictable, especially when faced with glaring headlights, blowing horns and fast-moving vehicles. They often dart into traffic.
– Deer often move in groups. If you see one, there are likely to be more in the vicinity.
Drivers should take the following precautions:
– Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland.
– Always wear your seatbelt. The IIHS reports that in a study of fatal animal crashes, 60 percent of people killed were not wearing a seatbelt. sixty-five percent of people killed in animal related crashes while riding motorcycles were not wearing a helmet.
– When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of any deer on or near the roadway.
– Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before or after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions
– Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
– Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not proven effective.
In the event your vehicle strikes a deer, try to avoid going near or touching the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. If the deer is blocking the roadway and poses a danger to other motorists, you should call the police immediately.
Contact your insurance agent or company representative as quickly as possible to report any damage to your car. Collision with a deer or other animals is covered under the optional comprehensive portion of your automobile policy.
Source: Insurance Information Institute
Aggressive Driving a Factor in Up to 56 percent of Deadly Vehicle Crashes, Says New AAA Foundation Analysis
Motorists Concerned With Others’ Aggressive Driving While Many Are Guilty Themselves
As many as 56 percent of deadly vehicle crashes involve one or more unsafe driving behaviors typically associated with aggressive driving, according to a new analysis released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows speeding is the most common contributing factor and is involved in nearly one in three deadly crashes.
Aggressive driving is one of America’s main traffic safety worries. Last year’s AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, a nationally-representative telephone survey, found nearly eight out of every 10 people surveyed rated aggressive drivers as a serious or extremely serious traffic safety problem.
However, in the same survey, many individuals reported driving in ways that could be deemed aggressive. For example, nearly half of drivers reported exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph on major highways in the past 30 days, and 15 percent even admitted exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph on neighborhood streets. This reflects the “Do as I Say, Not as I Do” attitude society has toward traffic safety.
“It’s easy to think ‘that other guy is the problem’ – the one who runs someone off the road, tailgates, or yells obscenities,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. “In reality, examples of driving aggressively – any of which can lead to crashes, injuries and deaths – are all too common.”
Such examples of aggressive driving include running stop signs or red lights, preventing other drivers from passing, speeding, illegal driving on the shoulder, and failing to yield. The goal in releasing these findings is to educate motorists about the scope of aggressive driving as well as encourage motorists to reevaluate their own driving behavior, and ultimately to improve this country’s traffic safety culture.
“If you find yourself driving slowly in the passing lane, tailgating, or doing other things to teach the other driver a lesson, you are also part of the problem,” said Kissinger. “An aggressive driving act by one driver can trigger a disproportionate and potentially violent reaction from another driver.”
For more information or to see the full report, visit www.AAAFoundation.org.
Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is an independent, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by conducting research into their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur.
To examine the prevalence of aggressive driving in fatal crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database was analyzed. The extent of aggressive driving in crashes was determined using the driver-related contributing factors coded in FARS. These are factors listed on police crash report forms as having contributed to the crash, and include a number of different factors related to the driver’s behavior and performance, condition, and circumstances. Only factors related to behavior and performance typically associated with aggressive driving were included. Driver-related contributing factors in FARS were taken as indications that crashes may have involved aggressive driving, since it was impossible to ascertain driver intention from the FARS data. The frequency with which each of these factors was coded in fatal crashes was analyzed using FARS data from 2003 through 2007, during which there were 192,069 fatal crashes.
Source: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Mayor Bloomberg Becomes First Big City Mayor to Endorse EcoDrivingUSA
Offers City Support for National Fuel Use and CO2 Reduction Program
The EcoDriving movement added another key supporter as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg became the first big city mayor to endorse the initiative. Mayor Bloomberg adds his name to a growing list of elected officials who have announced their support for the program. EcoDrivingUSA was launched in August 2008 at an event with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), Governor Bill Ritter (D-CO), the Environmental Defense Fund and the Auto Alliance.
“Many motorists may not realize it, but it is easy to drive green – and you don’t need to buy a hybrid vehicle to do it,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Through the simple steps of EcoDriving, you can reduce your carbon emissions, prolong the life of your car, and save money at the pump.”
By supporting EcoDriving, Mayor Bloomberg is helping to raise awareness of how simple and easy-to-use driving and vehicle maintenance best practices can improve mileage by about 15 percent. If all New Yorkers practiced even moderate levels of EcoDriving, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by more than 1.6 million tons annually.
“Mayor Bloomberg recognizes the significant role EcoDriving can play in helping consumers save money at the pump while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions from their automobiles,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “His support for this driver-friendly program shows leadership in engaging the citizens of New York City to start driving green. And it emphasizes his commitment to being a part of the comprehensive solution to protect the environment.”
EcoDriving produces the highest mileage from every single vehicle, regardless of vehicle size and age, so it offers an unmatched reach in addressing energy and climate issues by potentially affecting the nation’s entire fleet of 245 million automobiles. The program’s benefits are potentially huge:
- If just half of all drivers nationwide practiced moderate levels of EcoDriving, annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could be reduced by about 100 million tons, or the equivalent of heating and powering 8.5 million households.
- If all Americans practiced EcoDriving, it would be equal to 450 billion miles traveled on our roadways without generating any CO2 emissions. That’s 1,500 CO2-free miles for every man, woman and child in the United States each year.
“In these tough economic times, practicing EcoDriving makes sense,” McCurdy said. “EcoDriving is the perfect program since it helps drivers by allowing them to make their current vehicle more fuel-efficient while also reducing fuel costs and CO2 emissions.”
For more information on EcoDriving or to become an EcoDriver, please visit the interactive Web site, www.EcoDrivingUSA.com, which helps drivers learn practical tips for improving their mileage and reducing their carbon footprint. The site includes a video guide to EcoDriving, an “EcoCalculator” to determine benefits for individuals or states, a Virtual Road Test, and a variety of educational tools.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 11 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Land Rover Jaguar, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen. For more information, visit the Alliance Web site at www.autoalliance.org.
Source: Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
To Repair or to Replace – That Is the Question
AAA offers advice for motorists debating costly major repairs vs. new vehicle purchase
With the downswing in the economy and the country in a recession many motorists have delayed the purchase of a newer vehicle. But as existing vehicles continue to age, major components can begin to fail and leave motorists facing a tough decision — invest in costly repairs to an older vehicle or the purchase of a newer one.
“Repairing major vehicle components such as the transmission or engine can run upwards of $2,000 or more,” said John Nielsen, director, AAA Approved Auto Repair and Auto Buying. “When faced with the decision of whether to invest in the repair of a current vehicle or purchase a newer one, motorists need to consider a number of factors.”
Comparing costs
It is typically less expensive in the long run to repair the vehicle already owned rather than purchasing a newer one. Financing even a $2,000 repair typically results in lower payments (or similar payments for a shorter time) than those incurred when purchasing a newer vehicle.
If motorists are still paying off a car loan on an existing vehicle, they need to take a careful look at the equity they have in it. If they are ‘upside down’ in the loan, meaning they owe more than the current value of the vehicle, purchasing a newer vehicle could mean not only financing its purchase price but also the negative equity from their current vehicle.
The 50-percent rule
After receiving the estimate of a major repair, consider the ‘50-percent rule.’ When the cost of a needed repair approaches 50 percent of the vehicle’s value, it is time to seriously consider replacing it. Current trade-in and retail values of vehicles can be determined using tools available in the Auto Buying section of AAA.com.
Reliability and maintenance history
The decision to make a major vehicle repair should always be based on knowing the vehicle is otherwise in good condition and likely will not require additional major repairs anytime soon. Consider the reliability of the vehicle so far. If it has a history of problems, it could indicate there are more costly repairs still to come.
The best way to know a vehicle’s condition is by maintaining it on a regular basis and using the same repair shop. If a repair shop knows the service history of a vehicle, consumers can look to its technicians for guidance on when their vehicle likely will need major repairs. Keep in mind that the best time to make a repair or replace decision is always before the vehicle breaks down. A car with its transmission scattered by the roadside has little or no trade-in value.
“Following the vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations can greatly increase the lifespan of a vehicle,” Nielsen said. “It’s the difference between paying $100 now to replace a part before it fails or being faced with a $1,000 repair bill later when the part fails and causes major damage to other vehicle components.”
Cosmetics
The cosmetic condition of a vehicle can greatly affect its value and a motorist’s desire to hold on to it. Motorists should take a critical look at their vehicle for signs of a wear and tear and evaluate how important their vehicle’s cosmetics are to them. For someone who frequently drives business associates, vehicle appearance might be a higher priority than it is to others.
Nicks in the paint that are starting to rust or snags in the upholstery might not seem like a big deal now, but they can grow into larger cosmetic issues that can depreciate the value of a vehicle. If opting to hold on to a vehicle, be sure to address those little things to prevent them from getting worse.
Lifestyle
Changes in lifestyle can be a large factor in changing vehicles. Family size, commute length, recreational usage and business needs are all legitimate reasons to consider purchasing a newer vehicle that is better suited to a consumer’s driving routine. Changes in priorities can also be a factor, such as the desire for a more environmentally friendly vehicle or one with more safety features.
Outside factors
Several outside factors may impact the decision between repairing and replacing a vehicle such as reduced pricing and special offers from manufacturers; the ability to secure financing; and other upcoming expenses. A vehicle that could become an appreciating classic sometime down the road also might be worthy of extraordinary repairs and maintenance.
“Given proper maintenance and an occasional repair, modern cars are highly reliable and can be safely driven far beyond 100,000 miles,” Nielsen said.
If deciding to go ahead with a major repair, be sure to use a qualified and trustworthy auto repair facility. AAA offers a free public service to assist consumers in their search for a quality auto repair shop. AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities have met stringent standards for customer service, quality and expertise. A listing of AAA Approved Auto Repair shops is available at AAA.com/repair.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.