Drivers of vehicles with good small overlap front ratings from the Insurance Institute from Highway Safety can expect to be protected well in a frontal crash involving the left corner of the vehicle. But how would the passengers sitting next to them fare in a right-side small overlap crash? A new study shows that good protection doesn’t always extend across the front seat.
The Institute conducted 40 mph passenger-side small overlap tests on seven small SUVs with good driver-side small overlap ratings. Only one of the vehicles, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, performed at a level corresponding to a good rating, and the others ran the gamut from poor to acceptable.
The results have prompted IIHS to consider instituting a passenger-side rating as part of its TOP SAFETY PICK criteria.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7856251-ad-council-embrace-refugees/
Think “muscle car” performance, and images of speed and power are more likely to come to mind than crash tests and safety ratings. Because no one buys a sports car to drive in the slow lane, the best all-¬ around occupant crash protection is crucial. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently put a trio of iconic sports coupes through their paces, and unlike more sedate sedans, none earns the scores needed to clinch a TOP SAFETY PICK award.
IIHS evaluated 2016 models of the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang in the full battery of crashworthiness evaluations. The Mustang comes closest to earning TOP SAFETY PICK, while the Camaro falls shortin one category and lacks an available front crash prevention system. The Challenger is most in need of improvement.
To qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, vehicles must earn good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations and have a basic-¬rated front crash prevention system. To qualify for the Institute’s highest award, TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles must earn good ratings in the five crashworthiness tests and an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) was given exclusive access to a 1981 Ferrari GTSI recovered at the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach earlier this month.
The car, one of 1,743 of that model made in 1981, was stolen in 1987 from Newport Beach, Calif., while on consignment at a dealership. The vehicle identification number (VIN) was later switched to the VIN of a 1982 Ferrari that had already been exported to Norway in 2005. When the vehicle arrived at the port, it was headed from Texas to Poland.
Working with Customs and Border Protection, the California Highway Patrol and Ferrari representatives, NICB was able to determine the true identity of the car and to recover the original theft report filed with Newport Beach Police in 1987. NICB records showed only 12 stolen red Ferraris still unrecovered at this time.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7665252-nicb-stolen-ferrari/
Three out of seven large pickup trucks evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in a new round of crash tests earn an acceptable or higher rating for occupant protection in a small overlap front crash.
IIHS evaluated two body styles of each 2016 model-year pickup — crew cab and extended cab. Crew cabs have four full doors and two full rows of seating. Extended cabs have two full front doors, two smaller rear doors and compact second-row seats.
IIHS last year decided it would test the two most popular variants of large pickups instead of just one after discovering that the Ford F-150 extended cab lacked structural countermeasures that helped the crew cab earn the top rating of good in the small overlap test. The test replicates what happens when a vehicle runs off the road and hits a tree or pole or clips another vehicle that has crossed the center line.
Ford improved the 2016 model F-150 SuperCab to clinch a good rating in the small overlap crash test, up from the 2015 model’s marginal rating. The F-150 is the only large pickup in the latest test group to earn the Institute’s top rating in the test. It joins the F-150 SuperCrew in earning a 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK award when equipped with Ford’s optional basic-rated forward collision warning system.
Vehicles that earn a basic rating for front crash prevention plus good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK. To qualify for 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK+, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the five crashworthiness tests and an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.
The Toyota Prius v is the only midsize car out of 31 evaluated to earn a good rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s first-ever headlight ratings.
The best available headlights on 11 cars earn an acceptable rating, while nine only reach a marginal rating. Ten of the vehicles can’t be purchased with anything other than poor-rated headlights.
A vehicle’s price tag is no guarantee of decent headlights. Many of the poor-rated headlights belong to luxury vehicles.
The ability to see the road ahead, along with any pedestrians, bicyclists or obstacles, is an obvious essential for drivers. However, government standards for headlights, based on laboratory tests, allow huge variation in the amount of illumination that headlights provide in actual on-road driving. With about half of traffic deaths occurring either in the dark or in dawn or dusk conditions, improved headlights have the potential to bring about substantial reductions in fatalities.
Spring is around the corner, and it won’t be long before it’s prom and graduation seasons for many high schoolers. Rites of passage for many, these are times for teens to celebrate, but can also be times of poor decision-making, especially when vehicles are involved. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 2,524 teen drivers and passengers were killed and 177,000 were injured in 2013. Twenty-seven percent of these fatalities occurred between April and June, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
“The statistics are staggering, especially when you consider that most of these accidents and fatalities are preventable,” said Randy Petro, Mercury Insurance’s chief claims officer. “We don’t want any families to suffer through the loss of a child, so Mercury is taking action with the launch of the ‘Mercury Insurance Drive Safe Challenge.’”
The Mercury Insurance Drive Safe Challenge kicked off with a free defensive driving program, which included hands-on driving skills training and classroom material. An interactive website provides teens with detailed instruction, as well as gives parents the tools to shape responsible driving behavior.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7772251-mercury-teen-drive-safe-challenge/
Unprecedented planning by state and local authorities, law enforcement and the insurance industry established what is being called a national model for protecting the public from fly-by-night contractors in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), preparation in advance of the F-5 tornado that devastated the city of Moore and surrounding areas in May 2013 resulted in a well-coordinated effort to ensure that roofers and other contractors who swarmed into the area in the hours and days after the storm were properly licensed, insured and authorized to work in the area.
Local police assisted the Oklahoma Insurance Department Fraud Unit in patrolling the area and keeping suspected fraudulent out-of-state contractors from doing work unless all protocols were followed.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7665251-nicb-limited-fraud-following-2013-moore-tornado/
Continuing the excitement of the Esurance Pass It On Sweepstakes, which kicked off on Feb. 4 and selected 16 winners of $50,000 throughout tonight’s game, Esurance released a new post-game television commercial announcing it is giving away a grand prize of $250,000 to one lucky winner. To win the final $250,000 giveaway, people can continue to Retweet messages from the Esurance Twitter handle tagged #EsuranceSweepstakes.
Esurance surprised viewers with a television commercial that aired immediately after tonight’s game featuring a special cameo from Deadpool catching a football made of money. The character is the titular anti-hero in 20th Century Fox’s DEADPOOL, which opens in theaters everywhere this Friday, and stars Ryan Reynolds. Throughout the ad, Deadpool and others continue to drop everything they are doing to catch the football and “pass it on,” much like how Esurance saves money and passes the savings on to its customers every day. As part of the Allstate family, Esurance has innovative technology and knowledgeable experts to take care of customers and help them make smart decisions about their insurance.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7750152-esurance-pass-it-on-post-game/
In this year’s big game, Esurance is passing its savings on and giving away over $1 million in its Esurance Pass It On Sweepstakes. Beginning today, people can simply Retweet messages from the Esurance Twitter handle tagged #EsuranceSweepstakes for chances to win. And for the first time ever, Esurance will select multiple prize winners each quarter who could win money in real time during the big game.
There will be more surprises in store along the way, so people should keep a close eye on the Esurance Twitter channel as details are revealed.
“The Esurance Pass It On Sweepstakes allows us to engage with people before and throughout the game, while also sharing information about who we are in a fun, memorable way,” said Nancy Abraham, Vice President of Integrated Marketing Communications at Esurance. “We want people to become more aware of and familiar with Esurance, so with every Retweet they’ll learn something different.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7750151-esurance-pass-it-on-sweepstakes/
https://youtu.be/iHIQj7H8Slk Website security experts for Connecticut and the world, protection from hackers and malware. Connecticut is full of surprises, and Trust Guard is full of awesome website security. Trust Guard has your security needs covered, whether you’re creating a website for your booming insurance company or writing about your experiences as a Yale student. Trust Guard makes sure that your website is PCI compliant. We’ll protect your website and increase your conversion rate! Connecticut is the third smallest US state, but Trust Guard can take care of your online security needs like you were the largest state.
Imagine looking outside your home window and seeing a group of deer partying in your swimming pool or, in a twist on the Goldilocks children’s story, you found a bear has broken into your home and has been tasting the food left in your refrigerator? Scenarios similar to this are the basis of a new ad campaign launched by Farmers Insurance®, one of the nation’s largest insurer groups. The company’s new, We Know From Experience, advertising campaign kicks off today with two television spots and a new interactive website that humorously convey to consumers that Farmers, over its 87 year history, has helped customers recover from some of the most unique --- yet very real --- claims.
“The amazingly unlikely events we’ll be featuring in our new campaign are based on real claims experienced by our customers,” said Mike Linton, chief marketing officer for Farmers Insurance. “Through this new campaign we hope consumers realize that we know a thing or two about insurance and that our agents are ready to help consumers understand coverage options so consumers can select the coverages they want.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7585551-farmers-insurance-we-know-from-experience/
Website security experts for Connecticut and the world, protection from hackers and malware. Connecticut is full of surprises, and Trust Guard is full of awesome website security. Trust Guard has your security needs covered, whether you’re creating a website for your booming insurance company or writing about your experiences as a Yale student. Trust Guard makes sure that your website is PCI compliant. We’ll protect your website and increase your conversion rate! Connecticut is the third smallest US state, but Trust Guard can take care of your online security needs like you were the largest state. https://youtu.be/u1R_gwyaUuw
