Road Runner : Dropping Car Insurance an Unwise Way to Scrimp

Another sign of economic times is that fewer people renewing their car insurance, says the Insurance Research Council study.

Despite an overall more people were carrying car insurance in 2007 than they were five years earlier, which could be on the brink of change. The Research Council said the bad economy is expected to cause more people to drop their insurance, or do not insure their vehicles in the first row.

It is appalling, dangerous and expensive prospect.

Put aside the legal requirement to have insurance for a moment. For me, it comes back to what our mothers told us, when you learn to drive:

"It is not I'm afraid that all the other drivers on the road."

Although sometimes, it may be ironic because, I think that statement is suitable for car insurance lesson. You're a safe driver, and figure you do not need insurance, but what happens when someone hits a car? Even worse, what happens when someone clicks on your car and flee the scene?

Twice last year my car was hit by other drivers, but both times the insurance company coughed repair costs, it was out-of-pocket for me and my insurance company or other drivers had no insurance.

This is particularly true with respect to time someone hit my car in the parking lot. I am sure that the driver had left the scene, if you do not have to wait for a table outside and witnessed everything. Not only does it cost a lot in an accident or when other drivers do not have insurance, but uninsured drivers cause all of our premium increases.

The uninsured-driver apparently raises the rate constant at the rate of unemployment. Insurance Research Council says that for every 1 percent increase in unemployment, the uninsured driver-level rise by three-quarters percent.

Do not ask someone who had recently lost his job (and thousands of people in Tucson) to buy less food for the family or add to the heat, to pay for car insurance, but I hope that the insurance is dropping something people weigh heavily against them do it.

First, most people who have cars will probably continue to use them, as search for the next task. They may even be required to provide proof of car insurance, when they obtain the next task.

Route Q

Question: "I ride my bicycle all over Tucson and occasionally drive. Nowhere else do not see the" automatic "green arrows on the Fifth Street traffic turning on Craycroft. Even if there is no east-west traffic, there is an arrow. I don’t know if he adjusts for a long line of Turners, but it appears that a minimum time before going yellow independently. Although the rush-hour traffic is not so much a problem for us cyclists, northbound traffic will support 30 or more cars in the afternoon. The delay caused by an arrow in the certainly contributes to the problem. " - Michael Gordy

Answer: The traffic signal at North Craycroft Road and East Fifth Street is controlled by loop detectors, said Michael Graham, Tucson Department of Transportation spokesman. To the west the detector is damaged, so the signal to activate the left-turn arrow, regardless whether a vehicle is waiting for a turn, he said. Department responds to the "critical issues of public safety," and there is no timetable for determining the signal, he said.

Road Runner answers to questions related to the roads in this column on Mondays. Find Road Runner plus traffic cams and other transportation news at azstarnet.com / transportation. Send your questions by e-mail roadrunner@azstarnet.com or PO Box 26807 Tucson, AZ 85726. Enter your first and last name. Find traffic updates and other information on the transport Gridlocked blog at go.azstarnet.com / gridlocked

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