Hybrid Drivers More Ticket- and Accident-Prone

[Vegas]

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/ma...accident-prone

Quite a few big-name auto insurers have been giving hybrid owners a discount on their premium. But those deals might not last much longer; as an insurance data-analysis firm points out, the insurance industry could be losing big because of this.

The surprising result: Hybrid drivers typically drive farther, get more tickets, and have significantly more expensive insurance claims.

San Francisco-based Quality Planning analyzed the driving habits of about 360,000 vehicle owners and found that hybrid owners drive up to 25 percent more than non-hybrid owners.

The firm looked at several common use categories used by insurers—including "pleasure use" (everyday driving) and "high commute" (commuting more than 15 miles a day). The long commuters traveled about the same distance whether they drove a hybrid or not, but the everyday drivers of hybrids drove about 25 percent (2,000 miles) farther than those of non-hybrids—largely offsetting any petroleum savings.

For some hybrid owners, the decreased guilt associated with improved fuel-efficiency might actually increase the number of pleasure trips. "High mileage drivers appear to be attracted to these vehicles, so insurers should take steps to verify the intended use of hybrids and validate actual miles driven whenever possible," said Dr. Raj Bhat, the president of Quality Planning.

Looking at moving violations, Quality Planning found that Toyota Prius drivers get 0.38 violations per 100,000 miles driven, compared to an average of 0.23. Collision loss costs are also much higher for hybrids—with comprehensive coverage loss about 17 percent higher than average. Furthermore, two—the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid—have among the highest collision loss costs. For 2006 hybrid models, the costs to the insurer of comprehensive coverage were 75 percent higher than average.

Even if the hybrid discounts that insurers are giving help attract new business, chances are they aren't so fiscally sound overall. "A 25-percent increase in miles driven or a 30-percent differential in loss costs is very significant," said Bhat.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Originally Posted by Vegas

The surprising result: Hybrid drivers typically drive farther, get more tickets, and have significantly more expensive insurance claims.

The firm looked at several common use categories used by insurers—including "pleasure use" (everyday driving) and "high commute" (commuting more than 15 miles a day). The long commuters traveled about the same distance whether they drove a hybrid or not, but the everyday drivers of hybrids drove about 25 percent (2,000 miles) farther than those of non-hybrids—largely offsetting any petroleum savings.

For some hybrid owners, the decreased guilt associated with improved fuel-efficiency might actually increase the number of pleasure trips. "High mileage drivers appear to be attracted to these vehicles, so insurers should take steps to verify the intended use of hybrids and validate actual miles driven whenever possible," said Dr. Raj Bhat, the president of Quality Planning.

That makes sense.

And i'm willing to bet that the fact they feel good about owning their Green car makes 'em feel like they own the road, hence those tickets and expensive insurance claims.

[Jiddy78]

Our Prius has been in one accident, rear-ended at a stop light...by a broad that didn't even have the common courtesy to ask if wifey was all right after plowing into her at a stopped red...No tickets in it..Speed limits are 70 on the highways in my hood...Wifey and I rarely push past 80...Cruise at about 75...so I don't expect one anytime soon.

We put less than 10k per year on it...Not sure if that qualifies us for "high mileage driver" or not.

I do forego flying every chance I get now and road trip it if possible.

3 tix at 250 per + rental + parking if you fly or 100-200 bucks in gas & maintenance rollin' in the Prius from Florida to Virginia, for example, is a no-brainer. Not sure if that is a guilt thing or not.

That being said, I would probably do the road trip thing with a normal sedan and foot the extra 100 bucks or so in gas as well....


We actually try to use the Mustang for most local trips to balance this out...Besides the obvious "fun in the sun" convertible thing, I like to keep excessive mileage on one or the other to a minimum so they both last a good amount of time.

[hannitykillspuppies]

Originally Posted by Vegas

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/ma...accident-prone

Quite a few big-name auto insurers have been giving hybrid owners a discount on their premium. But those deals might not last much longer; as an insurance data-analysis firm points out, the insurance industry could be losing big because of this.

The surprising result: Hybrid drivers typically drive farther, get more tickets, and have significantly more expensive insurance claims.

San Francisco-based Quality Planning analyzed the driving habits of about 360,000 vehicle owners and found that hybrid owners drive up to 25 percent more than non-hybrid owners.

The firm looked at several common use categories used by insurers—including "pleasure use" (everyday driving) and "high commute" (commuting more than 15 miles a day). The long commuters traveled about the same distance whether they drove a hybrid or not, but the everyday drivers of hybrids drove about 25 percent (2,000 miles) farther than those of non-hybrids—largely offsetting any petroleum savings.
For some hybrid owners, the decreased guilt associated with improved fuel-efficiency might actually increase the number of pleasure trips. "High mileage drivers appear to be attracted to these vehicles, so insurers should take steps to verify the intended use of hybrids and validate actual miles driven whenever possible," said Dr. Raj Bhat, the president of Quality Planning.

Looking at moving violations, Quality Planning found that Toyota Prius drivers get 0.38 violations per 100,000 miles driven, compared to an average of 0.23. Collision loss costs are also much higher for hybrids—with comprehensive coverage loss about 17 percent higher than average. Furthermore, two—the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid—have among the highest collision loss costs. For 2006 hybrid models, the costs to the insurer of comprehensive coverage were 75 percent higher than average.

Even if the hybrid discounts that insurers are giving help attract new business, chances are they aren't so fiscally sound overall. "A 25-percent increase in miles driven or a 30-percent differential in loss costs is very significant," said Bhat.

how does it offset the petroleum savings? is it guzzling up gas at an exceptionally higher rate during those 2,000 miles?

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Originally Posted by Jiddy78

Our Prius has been in one accident, rear-ended at a stop light...by a broad that didn't even have the common courtesy to ask if wifey was all right after plowing into her at a stopped red...No tickets in it..Speed limits are 70 on the highways in my hood...Wifey and I rarely push past 80...Cruise at about 75...so I don't expect one anytime soon.

We put less than 10k per year on it...Not sure if that qualifies us for "high mileage driver" or not.

I do forego flying every chance I get now and road trip it if possible.

3 tix at 250 per + rental + parking if you fly or 100-200 bucks in gas & maintenance rollin' in the Prius from Florida to Virginia, for example, is a no-brainer. Not sure if that is a guilt thing or not.

That being said, I would probably do the road trip thing with a normal sedan and foot the extra 100 bucks or so in gas as well....

That Prius is on recall as of today.

Seems it's unsafe for the highway and those of us who're driving vehicles from other manufacturers should stay away from Toyotas so that we don't get caught up in the brake-failings of a manufacturer who thought it would get away with not issuing a recall years ago when one was needed.

Just thought you'd wanna know....Mr. Above-board-high-standards-non-cheater-non-Babylonian.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer Yuri Kageyama, Ap Business Writer 44 mins ago

TOKYO – Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda will speak about quality control Friday in his first — and long awaited — news conference since the automaker issued massive global recalls last month.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100205/...a_recall/print

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Originally Posted by hannitykillspuppies

how does it offset the petroleum savings? is it guzzling up gas at an exceptionally higher rate during those 2,000 miles?

Fewer recalls.

[pnkpanther]

Originally Posted by Jesse Helms' Ghost

That Prius is on recall as of today.

Seems it's unsafe for the highway and those of us who're driving vehicles from other manufacturers should stay away from Toyotas so that we don't get caught up in the brake-failings of a manufacturer who thought it would get away with not issuing a recall years ago when one was needed.

Just thought you'd wanna know....Mr. Above-board-high-standards-non-cheater-non-Babylonian.

[hannitykillspuppies]

Originally Posted by Jesse Helms' Ghost

Fewer recalls.

that doesn't even make sense.

what do you drive? probably a saab.

[Jiddy78]

Damnit Pnky...I unignored when I saw Babylonian....Why? I don't know.

Stop quoting him you guys.

[TGPackersTwins19]

Originally Posted by Jesse Helms' Ghost

That makes sense.

And i'm willing to bet that the fact they feel good about owning their Green car makes 'em feel like they own the road, hence those tickets and expensive insurance claims.

This reminds me of one time when I was riding gun in a Silverado going 80 on a highway in northern MN (nothing around in terms of intersections, so It was safe). In front of us was a Prius, going 90

It turns out Prius' aren't the greenest vehicles anyway......and yet they are SO FUGLY! Much worse looking than the greenest vehicle, actually (Honda Civic)

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Originally Posted by hannitykillspuppies

that doesn't even make sense.

what do you drive? probably a saab.

Ashy, how long have you been reading my posts on this board and the other board??

And you still have yet to figure out what brand of car i drive????
(and i usually pat them, on the back shamelessly)

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Originally Posted by Jiddy78

Damnit Pnky...I unignored when I saw Babylonian....Why? I don't know.

Stop quoting him you guys.

Look Jidmeister, at least *follow* the rules you're gonna make for yourself and not be a hypocrite.

...or just admit that you read ole JHG/The Evil Babylonian and deal with whatever comes down the pike. Words in posts on the internet tend to be harmless.

Same goes for you, too, Dom.
(You read me over on the other board- and talk about me even when i'm not there- but play the 'ignore game' here...all while answering posts of mine without quoting 'em???)

[hannitykillspuppies]

Originally Posted by Jesse Helms' Ghost

Ashy, how long have you been reading my posts on this board and the other board??

And you still have yet to figure out what brand of car i drive????
(and i usually pat them, on the back shamelessly)

shows you how much anyone pays attention to your posts. wait, i forgot who were. you probably drive an aston martin in your $80 socks.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Originally Posted by hannitykillspuppies

shows you how much anyone pays attention to your posts. wait, i forgot who were. you probably drive an aston martin in your $80 socks.

...which is why you're always there to stalk my posts...


...even in threads (on both boards) that i had yet to even appear or post in.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Originally Posted by hannitykillspuppies

shows you how much anyone pays attention to your posts. wait, i forgot who were. you probably drive an aston martin in your $80 socks.

I'm way too blue collar for friggin expensive socks, douche.

Also, first hot/cool car i'd ever own- if i'm gonna plunk down that kinda cash- would be a Maserati or Lamborghini.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

que va environ, vient environ


TOKYO – Toyota said Sunday it will soon announce a plan for dealing with braking problems in its Prius hybrid amid reports that the world's largest automaker plans to issue a recall for the latest model of the vehicle in Japan.

Toyota Motor Corp. has already had to recall more 7 million other cars in the U.S., Europe and China over a sticky accelerator and floor mats that can get caught in the gas pedal. Those problems and criticism of Toyota's response to them have sullied the stellar reputation for quality long enjoyed by the world's biggest automaker.

Separately, the company has told dealers in the United States it is preparing to repair the brakes on thousands of Prius vehicles there, according to an e-mail sent by a company executive. It was unclear whether Toyota planned a formal U.S. recall.

"We will make an announcement soon on the action we plan to take," spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said, commenting on media reports that the company has decided to issue a Japan recall. Takeuchi did not confirm the reports.

Toyota decided Saturday on a recall in Japan covering its latest Prius model and has notified domestic dealers, Japan's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, reported without naming sources. It said Toyota would announce the move early this week after consulting with the Japanese government. Japan's Kyodo News agency and TV Asahi carried similar reports. Kyodo said at least 170,000 vehicles in Japan would be subject to the recall.

Phone calls to the section at Japan's transport ministry dealing with recalls went unanswered Sunday. Two Toyota dealers reached in Tokyo referred queries to the company's head office.

The brake problem affects about 270,000 Priuses that were sold in the U.S. and Japan starting last May. The company blames a software glitch and says it has already fixed vehicles that went on sale since last month.

Bob Carter, a Toyota group vice president, sent an e-mail message Friday night to U.S. dealers saying the automaker is working on a Prius repair plan and will disclose more details early this week. At least 100 drivers of Prius cars in the U.S. have complained to the government that their brakes seemed to fail momentarily when they were driving on bumpy roads. The government says the problem is suspected in four crashes and two minor injuries.

Public awareness of the problem "has prompted considerable customer concern, speculation, and media attention due to the significance of the Prius image," Carter said in the e-mail. "We want to assure our dealers that we are moving rapidly to provide a solution for your existing customers."

Besides a full-fledged safety recall, the company could simply ask owners to bring their vehicles in for repairs, since the brakes are not failing completely. The lag occurs as the car switches between brakes for the gas engine and the electric motor — a process that is key to the hybrid's increased mileage.

Toyota has acknowledged receiving dozens of complaints about the Prius in Japan.

There is high-level government concern in Japan about Toyota's quality problems. Cabinet ministers have expressed alarm and urged the company to move more quickly to ease consumer worries.

Media criticism of Toyota has intensified since a news conference on Friday by Toyota President Akio Toyoda in which he offered an apology for the defects, but few details about what the automaker would do about the Prius.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100207/...95b3RhdG9hbm5v

[The Longhorn]

Jesse Helms' Ghost:

.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Prius drivers beware...que va environ, vient environ

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/toyota_recall