What’s New: In Brief (October 15, 2008)

Ontario in 2008 Q3 saw a minimal increase in the average of the lowest premium quoted of 0.8% year-over-year.
“While the increase was less than 1% when compared to the same period last year, this is the fifth consecutive quarter that rates were found to be higher, suggesting that consumers could see their insurance costs rising,” Kanetix noted in a press release.
The Kanetix study also noted that, in 2008 Q3, there was an increase in the number of drivers aged 25 and younger who were shopping for car insurance compared to the figures of Q3 2007.
“This shopping trend may have contributed to the (0.8% rate) increase as well, as this group tends to sees higher rates given their relatively fewer years of driving experience,” Kanetix noted in its release.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is piloting a new slip-hazard alert and road-cam service, intended to prevent accidents under slippery road and cold weather conditions.
Testing of the road-cam service will begin November 2008. The slip-hazard alert will be available by December.
Both services will be available to all Nissan CARWINGS customers.
The slip-hazard alert combines data from its ITS (Intelligent Transport System) and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to produce a map that indicates the location of slippery road conditions to drivers.
The road-cam service can enhance the effectiveness of the alert service by offering drivers a visual image of roads in difficult driving environments (such as mountain passes, for example).