The bottom line is, insurance is all about risk. And few understand how to assess risk better than insurers. The factors in determining your insurance rates when evaluating those risks include:
• Age (rates generally go down at 25 and increase again at 62)
• Gender
• Zip Code (inner city or rural)
• Vehicle Type (sportscar or mini van)
• Marital Status (married is cheaper but totally not worth it…trust me)
• Driving Record (accident and citation history)
• Annual Mileage
• Credit Score
• Own or Rent Your Home

So, who actually receives the cheapest auto insurance rates??
• Females
• Over 25 Years Old (but under 62)
• Married (ugh..there we go again…)
• Vehicle is Older and Less Expensive
• Clean Driving Record (no accidents or citations)
• Live in a Rural Area
• Low Annual Mileage
• Good Credit Score (ugh..there we go again…)

At the end of the day, these drivers cost the insurers less money because they are a lower risk. So, if you want to know how to lower your insurance rates, here are a few options.
• Increase Your Deductibles
• Lower Your Maximum Coverage Limits (this is “iffy” since you must have the proper legal minimums in your state)
• Take a Defensive Driving Safety Course every three years
• (If you are a student) Maintain a High GPA
• Make Sure Your Car Has The Newest Safety Features (air bag, alarm, etc.)
• Maintain a Clean Driver Record (again, taking a Defensive Driving Safety Course to dismiss a citation will help)
• Move Outside of the City Limit
• Drive Fewer Miles
• Improve Your Credit Score

Just keep in mind, though, the company with the most attractive rates may not always be the best option for you. Shopping around for better rates with these points in mind will save you money. And we all know that the money we save can be used for other important expenses, like paying off our liquor store credit card charges.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Auto Insurance Rates – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Auto Insurance Rates appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

So, what if you can’t afford insurance? Well, you really can’t afford not to have it. The Driver Financial Responsibility Program has put a kibosh on drivers with no insurance. The citation for no liability insurance is a heft fine between $350 and $400. And the second violation is around $1,000. Plus you will get your car impounded and have a two year driver license suspension. In addition, you will receive a surcharge, annually, for three years of approximately $260 per year (money you could have used to pay for insurance). And, it will remain on your driving record FOREVER. And forever is a long time. Those of us who have liability insurance are paying higher rates for uninsured and under insured motorist coverage because of the 1 in 5 drivers without insurance. So what about college students, single parents and elderly drivers who cannot afford insurance? If you’re having trouble paying for insurance or have been denied coverage, you can seek insurance through an association of insurers called the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA). And you can access more information about them at taipa.wpengine.com/faq/taipa-fags/. In addition, if you have a car that is 10 years old or older, you can get state assistance to get your car repaired so it will pass inspection, or even get state assistance to purchase a newer car. That link is http://www.nctcog.org/trans/air/act/.

Those of us who do have insurance carry uninsured and under insured motorist coverage, usually carry the minimums. And most newer cars cost an average of $30,000 and up. So make sure those minimums are enough to pay for ALL of the damages, should your car be hit by an uninsured driver. Having to pay money out of your own pocket to get your car fixed (especially when it wasn’t even your fault) would be a real drag.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

TexasSure – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post TexasSure appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

So, “Yay” for modern technology. We all understand that insurance rates are climbing. And, with the economy, it’s difficult to pay high insurance rates. You can always take a Comedy Defensive Driving class taught by real comedians to get an insurance discount for three (3) years. Not only will it lower your insurance rates, but it’s also a nice refresher course. There are also websites that will give you several quotes at once so you can compare rates. As I mentioned, you must keep a current insurance policy. But you don’t have to pay Neiman-Marcus prices for liability insurance. Who wants to spend a bunch of extra money on insurance when you have better things to spend your money on? (such as Jack Daniels).

Until next week…be financially responsible.

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

The Financial Responsibility Program – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post The Financial Responsibility Program appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

My insurance, because I am older and hadn’t had a ticket in a long while was only $61 per month. That was for full coverage insurance, which included road side assistance, towing, and many extras. I was pretty happy with that rate, until I added my 17 year old daughter to my policy. I added her to my policy online…with my fingers crossed. But my rate still more than quadrupled. So I am currently shopping around for better insurance rates. I’ve noticed that most of the larger insurance agencies are pretty competitive in price, right now. So I found a similar policy which is a much more manageable price for me. It doesn’t send up a red flag to your insurance agency when you shop for rates. And, as stated, you must have insurance. But, you don’t have to pay Neiman-Marcus prices for your automobile insurance. Besides, who wants to spend a bunch of extra money on insurance when you have better things to spend your money on (like my buddy Jack Daniels). So it doesn’t hurt to compare quotes now and then.

I have found that the best way for keeping my money in my own pocket is to follow my own mantra…or what I like to call “tips for getting better insurance premiums”:
1. Drive like a nervous Chihuahua, looking out for cops, and most importantly distracted drivers (ones on their phones).
2. Take a defensive driving class every three years for an insurance discount.
3. Keep your tires, fluids, brakes and all in top condition to prevent freak accidents.
 
A defensive driving class may cost you a little money and a little time, but will afford you a three year insurance discount, typically 10% (but the discount can be anywhere between 8% and 15%). That’s a nice savings, and every bit helps in this economy. Plus, you will learn about new laws and tips to be a better, safer driver. You will be able to rub shoulders with other bad drivers…uh, I mean students…and compare notes. Also, communicating with your insurance agency about tips for a better insurance premium will also help. They will be thrilled that you have chosen to take a defensive driving class. It just makes sense that they would prefer to insurance a better, safer driver.
Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Comedienne / Artist / Writer

The post Tips for Getting Better Insurance Premiums appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

“We are only human and we are not perfect and you’re going to burn in a lake of fire!!!”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing religion, either. All I’m suggesting is that we need that little light that shines to carry it with us in our cars. That way the next time some asshole cuts us off, we won’t shoot him the finger or just plain shoot him!

And with the holiday season upon us and everyone trying to get here and there, be a little friendlier out on the roads. It takes an extra second to let someone in. Turn on your signal before you turn or change lanes. Give a friendly wave when someone lets you into traffic. Don’t cut off an 18-wheeler, it takes truckers over four times the distance to stop than a regular vehicle. And no sex while driving!

Remember, a world without road rage starts with you, if someone is tailgating you, ask yourself, “what would Jesus do?” He would probably get pissed off too and send them to hell!

I hope you have a safe and happy holiday season. Join me again next week and until then…

Take care and be safe-

Danny Keaton

The post Driving in the Bible belt or another reason for traffic school appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

“Obey the law” he says. “Stop immediately” and “stay in your car with your hands on the wheel.” Finally, “if your woman is mad at you, leave her at home. There’s nothing she’d like to see more than you getting your [you-know-what] kicked.”

It’s a dead-on spoof of a hard truth: Respect authority. If you don’t, you increase the odds of a pricey ticket.

“Everything in that video is absolutely true,” said Sgt. Matthew Koep of the South Plainfield, N.J., Police Department. “It’s funny, but it’s accurate.”

Citizens who are generally law-abiding are likely to come into contact with the police only under two circumstances: If you’re a crime victim or you get pulled over for a traffic violation.

Police officers are not out to make your life miserable, but to make sure you’re following the rules of the road and not endangering yourself or those around you.

With a few exceptions, and an egregious traffic violation is top among them, cops aren’t mandated to write tickets. Most would rather send you on your way with a friendly warning — that can save you time and money.

But handle the situation with an aggressive or arrogant attitude and you can expect to squeeze an expensive court date into your busy schedule.

Play Nice

First rule: don’t argue.

“I get this all the time,” said Karen Rittorno, a nine-year veteran with the Chicago Police Department. “‘What are you stopping me for? I didn’t do nothing.’ If they try to take charge of the traffic stop, they’re not going to get out of it without a ticket,” she said. “We ask the questions, not them.”

Accept that the police have caught you doing something that’s against the law, such as speeding or gliding through a stop sign.

“All we do is react to what people do when you pull them over,” said Dennis Fanning, a homicide detective and veteran officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. “We don’t instigate the stuff, but we will react to you. The situation will escalate or de-escalate depending on how that person reacts.”

To argue with cops is akin to calling them idiots. Don’t do that. “That’s implying that I pulled you over for no reason and that bothers me,” Koep said.

Keep It Honest

Don’t lie, either. Cops are trained to note the human characteristics of lying, including twitching and looking to the left, and they know the right questions to ask to suss out the truth.

Fanning estimates that nine out of 10 people lie to him. “It’s an attack on our intelligence,” he said.

Moreover, the truth can set you free. Koep recalled an incident when he pulled a young guy over for speeding.

“He looks straight at me and says, ‘You know, officer, I wasn’t even paying attention. I just had the best date of my life. I just met my future bride. I’m just on cloud nine right now.’

“The guy was completely serious,” Koep said. “How are you going to write that guy up after that? Who makes that kind of stuff up?”

Of course, don’t use pejoratives when addressing the police, unless you’re eager for a ticket. But other words may backfire, too. Rittorno works in a crime-ridden section of Chicago where the majority of people she pulls over for traffic violations don’t have licenses or insurance, she said.

“So I get a lot of, ‘I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean it, sweetheart,'” she said. “I hate being called ‘baby’ or ‘sweetheart.’ I’m ‘officer’ to you.”

The police don’t like being talked over, either. “Be polite,” said Chicago Officer Mike Thomas. “You have your rights as a citizen, too, but it doesn’t do you any good to talk while he’s talking.”

Cops know that people are nervous when they get pulled over, and they expect a certain amount of jumpiness when they approach a car. Rittorno even admitted she’s intimidated in the same situation. “I’m the police and I get scared if I get pulled over,” she said.

But did you know they’re on edge, too? You know who they are, but they don’t know whether you’re a good guy or a bad guy. “The only thing on his mind when he approaches you is safety,” Thomas said. “You know you don’t have a gun in your lap, but the officer doesn’t know it.”

Rittorno, for one, said she assumes everyone has a gun. “I’m always on 10,” she said, referring to her high level of vigilance. “I take it down depending on their demeanor or what I see.”

Stay Calm

When those headlights go on, it’s best to pull the car to the right, stay in the car, turn the interior lights on if it’s dark and put your hands on the steering wheel.

Don’t make any quick movements, and don’t turn to grab your purse or put your hands in your pocket or under your seat to retrieve your license — until the officer instructs you to. Then, do it slowly.

Don’t move to open the glove box either, until directed. And do that slowly, too. Let the police shine a light inside the box before you reach in. Many criminals hide guns in glove boxes.

“What’s going to cause the situation to get worse is for the fear factor to rise in that officer,” Koep said. “The officer is more likely to cut you a break as long as you can reduce that fear. …If you’re friendly with me, not arguing or denying what happened, that lowers the fear factor and will make me a lot more cooperative with you.”

Don’t boast about who you know, either. That can infuriate cops. They consider it a veiled threat to their livelihoods. Fortunately, most municipalities have laws in place to insure that an officer is not fired or reprimanded for ticketing, say, the mayor’s daughter.

Finally, never try to buy off a cop. “In those instances where they’ve offered me a bribe,” Fanning said. “I loved making those arrests.”

________

Thanks to Jennifer Waters and Yahoo for this great article!

Jennifer Waters is a MarketWatch reporter, based in Chicago.

The post Driver safety course when pulled over appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Why does a driver’s insurance rate drop at the age of twenty-five?

Recently, I was driving around in Irving, Texas listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ CD called Blood Sugar Sex Magik. When that album was released, I was 22 years old. Back then my driving sucked!! My insurance rates were high because of my gender and particularly because of my age. I drove my car like I drove through life, reckless. I would rush into a bad relationship like I was going through an intersection with a red light! Back then I hung out with a group of friends, like my age, that were into Native American Spirituality and we hung around the Dallas-Irving area and no, we didn’t play Dungeons and Dragons. We lived for the moment in our self deceived eternal youth. Like bohemians on the Ship of Fools we floated down the river of Nirvana. According to the insurance companies, we were in a high-risk age category for drivers more likely to cause an accident. Young drivers are inexperienced and they take more chances behind the wheel.

Yes, the good ‘ol days of grunge rock, the internet was new, we still had cassette players in our cars and I drove like a driver’s ed. school flunky. Now I believe or at least I hope my driving is much better, just don’t ask my girlfriend. I always use my turn signals even when I cut someone off. I make an effort to tell myself not to have road rage before I start my car. I don’t speed up to keep someone from moving over, most of the time. Even when there’s a homeless person standing on the side of a freeway off-ramp, I always make eye contact to tell them “no”, instead of acting like I have to concentrate to change the radio station.

Now to answer the question, “why does a driver’s insurance rate drop at the age of 25? In your brain, the cerebral cortex (frontal lobe) located behind the forehead, deals with complex decision making. This part of your brain does not fully develop until the age of twenty-five. For most men, it does NOT develop until 50, am I right, ladies?? That’s why your 30 year old husband acts like he’s still in the 7^th grade!

OK, back to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and driving in Irving, I had a spiritual awaking without the use of some organic substance. Unlike my Mantra of the past, “Live for today, F@%K tomorrow” my old school of philosophy has changed to “Slow down, you’re driving too fast!”, “Take it easy” and “Turn down that music, it’s too loud!” As I’m getting older, I’m gaining more experience and with that, come the wisdom. Just like a classic or antique automobile, you increase in value and prestige and along the way you pick up little pieces of dignity and unbridled pride.

Keep sending in your comments and e-mails. Join me again next week and until then…

Take care and be safe-
Danny Keaton

The post Driving Under The Bridge appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.