Onboard vehicle tech becoming a safety issue, advocates say
January 17, 2022 Ian Bickis -THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – A driver sitting behind the wheel of a new vehicle could be scrolling through their Spotify app looking for the right album when they get an incoming call or text, only to have a warning bell go off…
Saskatchewan spotlights steep distracted-driving fines
December 2, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffFive hundred and eighty dollars. And … four demerit points. That’s how much a first offence for using a cell phone while behind the wheel will cost a Saskatchewan driver, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) said as part of an October…
Insurer ups distracted driving from minor to major conviction
July 6, 2021 by Greg MeckbachNova Scotia motorists could be out of luck when they try to renew their auto insurance if they got caught more than once using a hand-held gizmo when they should be paying attention to the road. In a ruling posted…
These highway features may encourage distracted driving
June 25, 2021 by Greg MeckbachMedians and wide shoulders on highways could encourage distracted driving by giving drivers a false sense of security, transportation researchers suggest in a recent paper. “The combination and presence of a shoulder, median, higher speed limit, and extra lanes could…
Distracted driving behaviours that your clients deem to be “safe”
March 30, 2021 by Jason ContantAuto insurers take note: the majority of your clients admit to engaging in distracted driving behaviours, but they consider these behaviours to be safe. The Third Annual Distracted Driving survey conducted by rate comparison site RATESDOTCA revealed that 74% of…
Smartphones are problems, but here’s how they can help reduce driving risk
January 22, 2021 by Adam MalikThis could be the year telematics driving data actually provides meaningful information — and change — to insurers and drivers alike, allowing risk to be underwritten more accurately, experts predict. To pull that off, smartphones will be a critical tool…
Insurers now treating distracted driving as ‘major’ conviction
November 27, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIn keeping with actions previously taken by Canada’s auto insurers, Northbridge General Insurance Company will start treating driving while using a hand-held communication device as a major conviction for the purpose of setting insurance rates in Nova Scotia. The change…
Preventing distracted driving is a top priority for brokers
October 1, 2019 by Greg MeckbachBrokers are focused on preventing distracted driving, which is near the top of the agenda for the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC). Kent Rowe, IBAC’s new president, told Canadian Underwriter that distracted driving is part of a nascent federal…
What the latest distracted driving numbers from Desjardins mean
September 24, 2019 by Greg MeckbachDespite increased penalties for distracted driving, poll results released Tuesday by Canada’s second-largest auto insurer indicate even more motorists are engaging in this risky behaviour. More than half (53%) of respondents to a survey admit to having driven distracted by…
You know why the market is hardening – but do your clients?
August 26, 2019 by Adam MalikThanks to premium increases, a byproduct of a hardening insurance cycle, insurance professionals are facing an uphill battle in the eye of public opinion. That’s why Justin Thouin, co-founder and CEO at LowestRates.ca, wants to change how the general public…
How Travelers advises clients to mitigate auto risk
August 23, 2019 by Greg MeckbachDo your commercial clients have a strict policy of not calling employees while they are driving? Many drivers who are distracted are actually workers who are travelling on behalf of their employers during the day, Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Gord…
Is the entertainment tech in vehicles cancelling out the safety tech?
August 14, 2019 by Adam MalikBrokers looking to give their customers any positive news on rates potentially coming down shouldn’t get their hopes up. That’s because industry experts believe there’s little indication that we’ll see fewer collisions on roads despite all the safety technology found…