car collision Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Automobile Insurance

Daun Thompson — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 05:36:22 +0000

Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. And, with higher risk comes higher cost. While a large number of drivers are not insured, the rest of us are paying extra for underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. It is understandable that some drivers simply cannot afford automobile insurance. Some states have programs to help cover the high cost of insurance. Surely there is a qualification process, but it’s nice to know there’s help out there. Getting caught without liability insurance coverage is a serious violation, one that comes with strict penalties, ongoing surcharges and a permanent smudge on your driving record. In addition, high-risk drivers, especially DUI and DWI offenders must maintain an SR-22, which is also very pricey.

If you are paying a car loan, you must keep collision insurance until the car is paid off. Unfortunately, most people choose to change their coverage to liability only, once it is paid off to suit their budget. But, in the event of a collision, if you were at fault, your insurance would only pay for the other car’s repairs and not yours. There again, we’re looking at a higher cost issue. Paying for your own repairs or possibly having your car totaled, now you’re without wheels. You have to depend on rides, use the local transit system (if there is one available) and may lose income as a result. It could be a spiral downward, and just because you couldn’t or wouldn’t afford liability insurance.
Although you must have insurance, you don’t have to pay Neiman-Marcus prices for it. Most drivers are eligible for insurance discounts, and don’t even know it. You can receive benefits for merely driving safely or doing well in school. Apparently there are many things that determine your insurance rates. What you drive, your age, your gender, your zip code, your marital status, whether or not you own or rent your home, if you have any points or tickets on your driving record and even your credit score.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Automobile Insurance – Comedy Defensive Driving

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The Odds of Dying in a Car Crash

Daun Thompson — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 06:19:40 +0000

I have been preoccupied with thoughts of mortality since my Father’s death in September. Although his life ended as a result of natural causes, he barely escaped the odds of dying in a car crash or in a motorcycle crash. Of course these odds change as technology evolves. Everything does. And, it appears that more people are choosing cremation rather than a traditional funeral. This is what my Mother had chosen for him. A handful of children attended the memorial service at the funeral home, since there was no viewing, it seemed kid appropriate. Little did we know, there was another service scheduled across the hall from my Father’s, with a traditional viewing. Shortly after the service began, my tiny niece ran up to her mother and said “Mom! I just saw a dead body! A REAL dead body!” My sister was horrified. Then my niece looked around the room and with a puzzled look on her face, said “Where’s Grandpa’s body?” My sister told her “Grandpa’s body is in that box on the table.” My niece looked at her with a little grin. Clearly her mother was joking. “How did Grandpa fit in that little box?” My sister said “Because we had Grandpa cremated and his ashes are in that box.” My niece screamed “You set Grandpa on FIRE?”
With my preoccupation of life and death, I found some interesting statistics and other facts about death and dying. I wasn’t surprised that the National Safety Council’s table on an individual’s odds of dying from various causes lists motor vehicle incidents in the top four, with the odds being 1 in 112. The odds for a car occupant dying are 1 in 492. And the odds of a motorcycle rider dying are 1 in 922. The National Safety Council collects safety statistics for their annual Injury Facts publication, which includes this table on an individual’s odds of dying from various causes. But, still, the number one cause of death on the list is heart disease and cancer, which are 1 in 7 odds. Not good odds for any of the living and certainly bad news for those who are already gone.
And let us not forget the old hornet, wasp and bee sting deaths (1 in 75,852), legal execution (1 in 96,203) and being killed by a dog (1 in 103,798). Wait! I have three dogs that are seemingly nice. Tonight, I will be sleeping with one eye open.
Until next week …
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
The Odds of Dying in a Car Crash – Comedy Defensive Driving

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A Force To Be Reckoned With – Women Drivers

Daun Thompson — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:40:00 +0000

Men always give women drivers a bad rap. Our driving is a form of entertainment for most guys out there. There are countless jokes and stories about women drivers. In fact, I just heard one today. This man is watching the news and the top breaking news story is about a car traveling down the wrong side of the freeway. This is the same freeway his wife takes home from work. Do you already see where this is going? So, worried for his wife’s well being, he calls to warn her about what he’d seen on the news. He says “Be careful, apparently there’s a car driving down the wrong side of the freeway.” She replies “I don’t know what part of the freeway you are referring to, but there are hundreds of them driving on the wrong side of the freeway where I am.”

I am told that women don’t take driving as seriously as men. So here’s a good argument to chew on, what about the female racing drivers of NASCAR? There are entirely too many of them to mention here, but how about Danica Patrick, Susie Stoddart and Deborah Parker. Oh, and let’s not forget about the Force sisters, Ashley and Courtney. Ashley Force is the first woman to ever win an NHRA event title in the funny car listing. A Force to be reckoned with (pun intended)…heck, she even beat her own father, John, in that very race. And he’s a 14-time Powerade Champion. I don’t even know what that means. I’m just an ordinary girl and an ordinary driver. And I don’t even like to drive. Some people love road trips, while I love planes and taxis. My parents will get in the car and drive from Chicago to Florida in one day. And they enjoy the trip every time. Not me. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

What I have read about male v.s. women drivers is basically that, while women drivers do get their fair share of speeding tickets, the male drivers usually get ticketed at a higher speed. Men are considered more attentive and focused while driving than women drivers. Unless, of course, there is a girl within viewing range, then that theory goes right out the window.

I know a few women who are the drivers in their relationships. Like my parents’ neighbors. The husband lost his license when he got a DWI, so his wife has to drive him everywhere. She said he always complained that she drives him to drink…and now she has to. So, maybe she’s not only the driver in their relationship, but the designated driver as well.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Comedienne / Writer / Artist

Women Drivers – Comedy Defensive Driving

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