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Four Facts About Speeding

Exceeding posted speed limits accounts for nearly one-third of all fatal car crashes and can affect your car insurance rates. Next time you are rushing to get somewhere and find yourself speeding, consider the following facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

  1. Don’t Let Low Traffic Fool You: Speeding-related fatalities are twice as likely to happen in rural areas as they are on urban streets. In fact, only 12 percent of speeding-related fatalities occur on Interstate highways.
  2. Ten Miles Per Hour Makes a Difference: The probability of death or a debilitating injury doubles for every additional 10 mph when a vehicle is traveling 50 mph or faster.
  3. Wear Your Seatbelt: One in three drivers killed in car accidents are not wearing safety restraints.
  4. Talk to Your Teen: The likelihood of fatality in a speeding-related crash is highest for divers in their teen years. Young men are particularly at risk. They have twice as many fatalities from speeding when compared to women.

10 facts you didn’t know about cars and driving

As we approach the new year and you begin to think about your 2012 travel plans, here are 10 fun facts to keep in mind.  Also, before going on any trip, make sure that your auto insurance is up to date.

  • Windshield wipers were invented by a woman named Mary Anderson. She patented them in 1903.
  •  The nitromethane fuel used to power Top Fuel Dragsters costs $16 per gallon.
  • The fastest known time for replacing a car engine is 42 seconds. Gareth Lloyd did so in 1985.
  •  Many vehicles have an arrow on the fuel gauge that points to which side of the vehicle the gas cap is on. Take a look!
  •  In Youngstown, OH, running out of gas is against the law. It’s considered a “Minor Misdemeanor.”
  •  The average automobile consists of more than 2,500 ft. of electrical wiring.
  •  On average, half an ounce of gas is used to start an automobile.
  •  The average fuel economy for a vehicle on the road was 14 miles per gallon in 1923.
  •  From a fuel economy perspective, it’s better to turn the air off at low speeds and open the windows. At highway speeds it’s more economical to use the air conditioning.
  •  US 20 is the longest road in the United States, spanning 3,365 miles from Boston, MA to Newport, OR.

Pet Injury Coverage

Frequently asked questions about Pet Injury coverage

How do customers get this coverage?
For existing Progressive commercial customers with Collision coverage on at least one vehicle on the auto insurance policy, Pet Injury coverage will be provided at no additional cost beginning March 8, 2011. New customers who are interested in the coverage should purchase Collision for at least one vehicle on the commercial policy to get the pet benefit.

Why is Progressive offering Pet Injury Coverage to commercial customers?
One in five American companies allow dogs at work, and if they’re anything like most pet owners, Angel and Bo aren’t just pets – they’re family members. Our Pet Injury coverage protects these furry family members when traveling in a covered business auto or truck.

Is Pet Injury Coverage provided for a private passenger auto, RV and boat policy holders?

Yes, we provide free Pet Injury Coverage to auto, RV, boat and now commercial auto customers with Collision coverage.
Is the coverage available in all states?

This coverage is available in all states except New Hampshire, North Carolina and Virginia.

Do other auto insurance companies offer this?
Typically, if a person causes an accident, their car insurance policy provides benefits for pets in the other person’s car under Property Damage Liability coverage, but the person’s own pets are not covered. We are not aware of any other car insurance company that provides this type of first-party coverage for pets.

How is this different than pet insurance some companies offer?
A typical “pet insurance” policy, such as those offered by companies like Veterinary Pet Insurance, covers an owner’s pet for a variety of veterinary treatments and procedures, including injuries sustained in a car accident. Our pet benefit is very specific, paying up to $1,000 for veterinary bills related to injuries sustained by, or death of, a cat or dog riding in an insured vehicle involved in a collision.

Is Progressive insuring pets?
No, our pet injury coverage is part of our private passenger auto, RV, boat and commercial auto products, not a pet insurance policy. We’re only paying benefits for veterinary bills due to injuries a dog or cat sustains in a collision, or death of a pet dog or cat due to a collision.

Is it just for dogs and cats? If so, why?
While we know that Americans are fond of a lot of different kinds of pets – from dogs and cats to birds, reptiles, fish and more – we’ve limited the coverage to the most commonly-owned pets in the U.S. – dogs and cats – which are also, we believe, the most likely to be transported in a car, RV, boat or commercial vehicle.

If the customer has pet insurance with another company, would Progressive’s coverage be primary? Who would pay?
Our coverage would be primary so we would pay the first $1000 of treatment.

How did Progressive come up with $1,000 – would that really cover the average vet bill for a dog or cat injured in a crash?
We recognize that fees for some veterinary procedures may be higher – much higher – than our $1,000 limit. Our goal is to help alleviate some of that cost. We know of no other auto insurer that provides this coverage – and we’re providing it at no additional charge. We think customers will appreciate the fact that we understand how much their pets mean to them and is ready to help in case their dog or cat is injured in a collision.

Can a customer buy increased limits?
At this time, we are only paying up to $1,000. We may, in the future, consider offering an option for customers to pay extra to get increased limits.

About Pet injury Claims

What if the pet is in the back of a pickup truck and is thrown from the vehicle?
If the pet is thrown from the vehicle as the result of the collision, we would consider the pet to be in the vehicle at the time of the collision and pay the benefit as appropriate.

Is there a deductible?
There is no deductible for Pet Injury coverage. However, if the vehicle is damaged in the Collision, the Collision deductible will apply to the damaged car.

Will Progressive pay for injuries to pets sustained immediately after an accident (i.e., the pet is injured walking around the accident scene)?
No, the coverage applies only if the pet’s injury is sustained while the pet is inside the vehicle during the collision.

Will Progressive pay if the pet is injured as a result of being left in the vehicle on a hot day?
No, there must be a collision for Progressive to pay.

Will Progressive pay if the pet is injured in an accident and the owner subsequently decides to euthanize?
Yes, we’ll pay in this situation.

Will Progressive pay a third-party liability claim for veterinary bills?
Yes. If our customer causes a collision that injures someone else’s pet, we will pay claims for veterinary costs if the customer has Property Damage Liability coverage.

Does Progressive pay a first-party death benefit for dogs and cats?
If the customer’s dog or cat dies in a covered collision, we will pay up to $1,000. The pet must be in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

Will Progressive pay any kind of benefit for a dog or cat that wanders away and is lost after an accident?
We won’t pay in this situation.