U.S. consumers feel their world is becoming riskier: Travelers

Almost two-thirds of respondents in the United States taking part in a survey commissioned by Travelers believe the world is becoming riskier, citing privacy, personal safety and severe weather as among their concerns.

Detailed in the insurer’s new Consumer Risk Index, the baseline data shows 63% of respondents believe their world is becoming a riskier place, while only 15% feel it is less risky.

The greatest levels of concern focus on their financial security, loss of privacy and identity theft, personal safety and the increased frequency of severe weather, Travelers notes in a statement released Tuesday.

The annual survey provides insight into the types of risks the public believe to be most prevalent in their everyday lives. Hart Research surveyed 806 adults by telephone from May 20 to June 2.

In all, 70% of respondents believe severe damaging weather events are becoming more frequent across the U.S. today compared to the last few years. But almost all of those polled, 90%, report they are somewhat or very confident their home or dwelling is properly insured, and 93% say the same for their automobile coverage.

With regard to being prepared, Travelers reports that 57% of respondents note they store extra food/water/flashlights in the event of severe weather, while 52% note they have created an evacuation plan.

“Americans realize that many of today’s most worrisome risks did not exist half a generation ago,” Patrick Gee, senior vice president of catastrophe response at Travelers, says in the statement.

Technology-related risks are the second biggest concern identified on the index, with 64% of respondents worrying about personal privacy loss. More specifically, 64% report being concerned about their bank or other financial accounts being hacked; 62% worry about ID theft; and 48% fear losing confidential information via a stolen computer.

Technology brings with it an entire new spectrum of personal safety and transportation risks. For example, 84% of respondents say distracted driving is a concern, Travelers reports. That said, only 31% of respondents are concerned they themselves could get into an automobile accident as a result of their own use of a mobile device while driving.

“The Consumer Risk Index provides insight as to what concerns people most, and gives us an opportunity to offer simple, everyday steps on how they can best manage those risks,” Gee adds.