“So Call Me Maybe…but not while driving!”

Afew weeks ago I wrote a piece in this column about the deadliest time of the year to drive, of which we are currently right smack in the midst of. After speaking with a number of friends of this column, they asked me if it were possible to drill down a little deeper to see if certain times of the day were deadlier than others. Sure enough, this is what I discovered: According to the AAA, the most risky times of the day to be on the road are by far the very late hours of Saturday into the early morning hours of Sunday. Reason being is that during these hours there is an increase in alcohol abusing drivers, along with many unsupervised teen drivers and drivers who are fatigued. This combination in conjunction with typical accidents caused by animal strikes, etc., shows a dramatic increase in accidents over any other times of the day. Furthermore, according to the AAA, studies have shown that driving when there is a higher traffic volume does not necessarily indicate an increase in traffic injuries. For instance, driving during the morning rush hour may present the highest crash risk because of the additional vehicles on the roads, however in terms of most dangerous crashes the morning drive is safer. One theory for this is that in the mornings of a “school day” people are sober, awake, and are concentrating on getting to work… safely.

However, “the drive at five” is not nearly as safe as the morning commute. As a matter of fact, the morning commute to the office is twice as safe as the way home. Reason for this is attributed to the fact that during the late afternoon and evening there are more discretionary drivers on our roads, combined with drivers who may have had that happy hour umbrella drink or two after work as well. In addition, studies have indicated that people tend to drive faster on their way home from work than to work, which is a major contributor to these statistics as well.

Other events that contribute to accidents are rain: but not the amount of rain, but the time span between rain events. Reason being is that rain causes oil and other slick substances to loosen from its grasp on the roadways, causing a slippery pavement and ultimately more crashes. The longer the time span between rainy days, the greater the risk of a crash is. In addition, the first few hours of a rainfall is more likely to cause a slick roadway environment than once it has been raining for a longer period of time, as the rain will begin to wash the oil substances away. Same goes for a bright sunny day, as sun glare is a major contributor to accidents as well. Of course, so are snow, sleet, hail, airplane parts, and whatever else may fall from the sky. I remember a time just a few years ago when I was driving at the speed limit south on the Taconic Parkway, and saw at about a 45 degree angle (at my approximate “10 O’clock”) what appeared to be a large bird headed towards me like a belt high fastball.

Within seconds this SOB hit my driver side-view mirror, exploding on impact, sending feathers, turkey stuffing, and mirror parts flying everywhere…leaving a trail of turkey all over the side of my car. Thank God it was a rainy day out and I had the roof up and windows closed, because if that thing would have come in my window I may not have been writing this article right now.

After pulling into the diner near the Mobil station (you know which one I mean, about 30 minutes south of the parkway entrance off I-90), I ordered a “turkey sandwich” (wanted to get him and his family back for what he did to me!), I then headed to the car dealer to have my car repaired. After convincing the service writer and the technician at the dealership that it was in fact a bird strike (I guess the blood on the side of my car, along with the dark suit and sunglasses I was wearing caused him to wonder), the car was repaired…for quite a few hundred dollars I might add! Bottom line: respect the weather, road conditions, and environment, and make a clear conscious effort to know and understand the risks of driving…and adjust your driving habits accordingly.

Speaking of auto repairs required because of accidents, I recently asked a few young drivers for their opinions on car insurance. Interestingly enough, one of recipients of my survey was a young lady by the name of Alisa Ortiz, who last month graduated from Longwood High School and will be attending Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY this the fall to study journalism. Alisa articulated in true editorial style her opinion of what car insurance means to her, and what I believe providers of auto insurance to young adults might find informative. With her permission I have reprinted her piece below: Invest in Your Safety by Alisa Ortiz

“There appears to be a wide misconception that, when shopping for insurance on a budget, buying the cheapest package or simply meeting the minimum requirements will save money. The problem with this theory is that it approaches insurance simply as a monthly fee instead of a monthly investment. When shopping around, it is important to remember our mothers’ words: “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Most culprits of this faux pas are those who compromise on their car insurance–especially in New York state where the minimum requirements still cover more than what is considered the minimum in many other states. This is a particular shame considering that so many people in New York need their cars. I can’t walk from my house to the nearest Wal-Mart. I can’t walk to school, my mother can’t walk to work and my brother can’t walk to the gym. We all need cars to get around just for daily life and own ing a car costs serious money–but the idea that one can save money on their car expenses by purchasing cut-rate insurance is more than a bit off-kilter.

While shopping for a new car, most people are not considering future repair when caused by an accident. It is understood that every car will be accompanied with its own maintenance and/or future problems, but all in all, a shopper wants a reliable car. No one goes out and buys a jalopy to get them to work every day. Ironically, buying a “beater” and fixing it up would cost, on average, the same amount of money as paying for car repairs caused by an accident without physical damage insurance coverage. Cars in disrepair cause accidents, and typically people who have cars in disrepair buy cheap insurance. The illusion that buying cheap insurance is saving money is created by the association of total cost with the amount of money currently in one’s account. People see extra money in their bank account and they think they’ve saved money. Then they find out they need an inspection, they need their brake pads replaced and they need all new tires. Suddenly they’re spending anywhere from an extra $200-400 and all that “extra money” they had goes back into their car. Don’t do the repairs? Well then you’re putting yourself at risk for an accident so now you better have more than just the minimum coverage. When people pay for insurance, they see it as a fee or a monthly cost–a flat rate–when it’s much more than that. Insurance is an investment. No one knows when they’re going to blow a flat on the LIE and skid to the side, cutting off another car and getting their back bumper taken off. No one knows when they’re going to be caught in a storm and hydroplane in the middle of Patchogue Mt. Sinai Road. No one knows when they’re going to see a pair of doe-eyes one second too late and get their hood smashed in by a deer on Rocky Point Road. Car accidents are unpredictable and unfortunately common.

The roads of Long Island are curved and hilly, they aren’t always newly paved and they aren’t always well lit. With the amount of driving one must do as a resident of the island, and the danger that the roads present, car insurance that covers a vast range of accidents and repair costs is imperative to actually saving money.

The fact is that the cash one doesn’t spend on a better insurance package, one will spend on future maintenance and repair. If you’re on a budget, it’s more important to have better insurance than to have extra spending money. Of course you don’t have to spend a fortune or buy the fanciest package- -you don’t have to spend any more than you can afford, but you can’t cut corners when it comes to insurance. Spending the extra fifty to one hundred bucks a month is better than spending an extra twelve hundred. When it comes to insurance, you’ll get exactly what you’ve invested, so invest in your safety and start saving for real.”

Nice job, Alisa, I am sure you will be a fantastic journalist! All of us here wish you the very best!

Around town it was wonderful to see people like Tamara Storch of Scott Danahy Naylon in Amherst, NY; Jim Goodman of Goodman Insurance in Shelton, CT; Jake, Jimmy and Carlo Ferrara of Street Smart Risk Managers in Freehold, NJ; and Colleen Acierno of Kevin Nilsen Agency in Middletown, NY.

Well, until next time when we will be talking about some of the summer events happening in this thing of ours. “Ciao for now!”