Auto

Small cars, SUVs top driver-death rates in crashes: IIHS

In a new “Status Report” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), small cars and small to mid-size SUVs ranked as the worst in terms of driver death rates in crashes. The two-door, two-wheel-drive Chevrolet Blazer tops the list with 308 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. This compares with an average for […]

By Canadian Underwriter | March 15, 2005

1 min read

Auto

20% of drivers "nod off" at the wheel: TIRF

One in five drivers admits they have fallen asleep at the wheel at least once in the past 12 months, according to a "road safety monitor" study by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF).In total 4.1 million Canadians admit to nodding off while driving, and yet, only 57% of respondents see driving tired as a […]

By Canadian Underwriter | March 8, 2005

1 min read

Auto

Small cars fail crash test with SUVs: IIHS

Fourteen of 16 small cars were rated poor in tests simulating a side impact crash with an SUV, says the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).Only the Chevrolet Cobalt and Toyota Corolla, which are equipped with optional side airbags with head protection achieved an acceptable rating on the text, however, without the optional airbags, […]

By Canadian Underwriter | March 7, 2005

1 min read

Auto

On the Move (March 01, 2005)

Royal & SunAlliance Canada Group has named two new board members: Robert G. McFarlane and Shelley Miller. McFarlane is executive vice president and CFO of TELUS Corp and vice chair of the Business Council of B.C. Miller is a partner at Edmonton law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP who specializes in insurance and commercial law. […]

February 28, 2005

2 min read

MPI uncovers $75,000 fraud

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) says a Winnipeg woman has been ordered to pay the government auto insurer more than $75,000 in restitution after being found guilty of fraud over $5,000.Forty-eight-year-old Roza Kantor also received an 18-month conditional sentence, handed down in the Court of Queen’s Bench. The fraud charges stem from a November, 1998 auto […]

1 min read

U.S. auto rates expected to rise 1.5% in 2005: III

The Insurance Information Institute (III) says auto rates in the U.S. should increase 1.5% in 2005, the smallest increase in the last five years.The average auto premium per vehicle this year should be US$870, up US$13 over last year. In 2004, rates rose an average 2.8%. III chief economist Robert Hartwig notes that the 1.5% […]

1 min read

Newfoundland Study Finds Savings With “Cap”

Newfoundland’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) will hold public hearings throughout the last half of February and possibly into March on the issue of auto insurance. The hearings follow the completion of the PUB’s study of closed auto claims, published by Mercer Oliver Wyman. That study suggests significant savings if a cap were put in place […]

January 31, 2005

1 min read

Kingsway latest to join portal

Mississauga, Ontario-based Kingsway General Insurance Co. is the latest insurer to hop on the Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO) portal.Non-standard auto insurer Kingsway is the 30th company to take part in the web-based portal for broker-insurer interaction, a CSIO release notes.Kingsway’s Tom Mallozzi, vice president of personal lines, says joining the portal shows […]

1 min read

10 keys to reducing personal injury claims costs: ISO

Technology has a role to play in reducing personal injury claims costs, but only if specific criteria are taken into consideration. A new report by the U.S. Insurance Services Office (ISO) outlines 10 “critical factors” in reducing these costs.The first is early assessment of damages, key to reducing unnecessary legal costs and setting proper reserves. […]

1 min read

Newfoundland puts out call for participation in insurance hearings

On the heels of publishing its claims study, Newfoundland’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) is asking for public input to a series of insurance hearings.The first hearings will deal with auto insurance, with the completion of the PUB’s study of closed auto claims. That study, published last week by Mercer Oliver Wyman, suggests there would be […]

2 min read