The answer appears to be YES. That’s the conclusion of a recently released report by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation. The common typecast of the drunk driver was male – often a young man: “for several decades, road safety research has demonstrated the fatalities and injuries related to road crashes (due to alcohol or other  more...

You’ve had the experience: opening your vehicle insurance renewal policy, and groaning as you digest the cost to maintain coverage for another year – and on an asset of declining value. But the value of the car itself is of less consequence in calculating the premium than you might think. The Auditor General of Ontario  more...

Volvo, the Swedish automobile manufacturer, has long had a reputation for superior passenger safety standards.  Now its technology may lead to enhanced safety for Canada’s wildlife, too. According to the MTO, over 10,000 animals or large birds are struck by drivers in Ontario annually. Volvo is developing an infra-red technology system that will identify animals  more...

A recent Canadian report* indicates alcohol-related vehicle crashes in Canada killed significantly more males than females.  Almost 80% of fatalities in such collisions were male; and almost 70% of those were drivers (as opposed to passengers or pedestrians.) Digging into the stats provides more support for the contention that while males generally may not represent  more...

Hopefully winter is coming to an end in Ontario.  However, we will continue to experience “winter risk” driving conditions.  The following PDF shows some related stats dug up by our Personal Lines Underwriting Department. WinterDriving.PDF You will need a PDF reader in order to view the file.  Click here to download Adobe Reader if neces more...

What are you doing behind the wheel?  The Insurance Bureau of Canada has created a Virtual Road Test so you can see how multi-tasking affects your reaction time. Click below to check it out. http://www.ibc.ca/en/BeSmartBeSafe/Road_Safety/Virtual_Road_Test more...

The Ontario legislature is considering a private member’s bill, recently introduced to encourage the automobile insurance industry to give premium discounts to those using snow tires.  The bill – if passed – is non-binding. And it won’t have any tangible effect.  Here’s why: Ontario’s insurers – over 75 of them – are struggling to climb  more...

A recent study by Allstate Canada* ranks Ontario communities by the likelihood of drivers having a collision. Although causing a stir in the local media here in North Bay, as always when reviewing statistics context is critical.  All data was based on Allstate’s own claims records only, involving private passenger vehicles Allstate insured.  The majority  more...

Automobile accidents – even minor ones – are traumatic experiences. And all too often, those of us in the insurance business are confronted with significant human suffering and loss.  However, on occasion we encounter situations that although serious, could have been far, far worse. The pictures above and below tell that type of story. This  more...

It seems like a logical deterrent to drivers running red lights: install highly visible cameras to record the license plate numbers of those who do – and send them a traffic ticket. And yet the latest statistical information coming out of Manitoba suggests that accidents actually increased after the cameras were installed. The Winnipeg Sun  more...