John Calton: Florida : Would a high risk driver for DUI or aggressive driving who requires FLFR44 car insurance or Sr22 as it is called in other states, be eligible for some safety features discount like air bags?

Response : John, in Florida you require FLFR44 insurance which is similar to SR22 car insurance but has higher limits. Most of the insurance companies would consider a discount for the safety features of a vehicle when they are rating the insurance. However, honestly more than the discount given by the insurance company the safety feature is more an added feature that acts as a life saver for you. Let me give you some statistics given by the NHTSA:
“Airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal crashes. NHTSA estimates that by 2006, more than 177 million passenger vehicles were equipped with airbags, including 162 million with dual airbags. NHTSA says that frontal airbags saved 2,788 lives in 2007. From 1987 to 2006, 22,466 lives were saved by the devices. Airbags, combined with seatbelts, are the most effective safety protection available for passenger vehicles. Seatbelts alone reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent. The fatality-reducing effectiveness for air bags is 14 percent when no seatbelt is used and 11 percent when a seatbelt is used in conjunction with air bags. Side airbags that protect the head, chest and abdomen reduce driver deaths by an estimated 37 percent, according to the IIHS. Side airbags without head protection, which protect only the chest and abdomen, are less effective but still reduce deaths by about 26 percent, according to a 2006 study. Head-protecting side airbags reduce driver deaths when cars are struck by SUVs and light trucks, probably because when cars are struck in the side by these higher riding vehicles, heads are more vulnerable.”

Thus in case of drivers who are in the habit of alcohol consumption or are aggressive dirvers who speed, these safety features are certainly life savers.
Be safe and drive safe.
Thanks.

Ben : What is SR22? Can fatigue driving be considered high risk driving?

Response : Ben, Let me tell you that SR22 is a form which shows that the person has isn’t a type of insurance, but rather proof that you have certain types of insurance. This is based upon the financial responsibility laws that are prevailing in the state where the person lives. Secondly SR22 car insurance is required financial responsibility when you are involved in a car accident and have insufficient limits as per the state requirement or you are convicted for drunk driving.

Fatigue driving is done by most of us virtually at some time or the other. To discourage the fatigue driving, usually fleet drivers have to maintain a log and show that they have not done a stressful driving. When a person is involved in a car accident repeatedly to fatigue driving, the insurance companies would qualify them as high risk drivers or high risk as per their insurance. Once you face such a situation than it would be best to go and take a quote from the specialty insurers.

NHTSA statistics show that at least 100,000 crashes and 1,500 deaths each year are the result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. The National Sleep foundation also conducted a survey which should that 100 million drivers, close to half of American adult drivers, drive while drowsy and nearly two out of ten admitted to having fallen asleep at the wheel. This survey was conducted in 2002. New Jersey has taken very strict measures for this and has passed a law in 2003 that equates falling asleep at the wheel with reckless driving. In this state if a driver falls asleep and kills someone in a crash, he or she can be charged with vehicular homicide and serve up to ten years in jail and pay fines. Four other states have considered this legislation but have not passed such laws.
Thanks.
Kamlesh

Judlie : I was recently held for DUI and was asked to produce a SR22 car insurance certificate. I am now very worried since I cannot afford this high auto insurance rates for DUI SR22 car insurance. Any help would be welcome.

Response : Julie, these days the Internet has become a great medium for anyone looking for a car insurance provider to help them file an online SR22 certificate, and hopefully get their driving privileges reinstated as quickly as possible. While there’s no shortage of insurance carriers all promising you cheap insurance online, you should certainly not expect everyone to be able to live up to that promise. So how do you pick the right one? Here are some essential tips and information to help you out:
1.First, realize that even a supposedly ‘cheap’ SR22 insurance policy is still likely to be more expensive than a regular car insurance coverage. This has a lot to do with the level of risk the driver represents (getting his driver’s license suspended and all) so instead, aim to get an affordable SR22.
2.Look for car insurance companies that are speciality underwriters and specializes in coverage after a DUI conviction or any other offense that has cost you your license. You would get better rates and deals with them compared to the general-purpose insurance carriers. Infact the personal lines underwriters would not even want to accept your risk.
3.Internet is the best way to shop for affordable coverage and it is even becoming better in the sense that you can get multiple quotes at the same time. There are lot’s of car insurance websites that can help you shop for relatively-cheap policies online. Rates can vary significantly from one company to another so always do a comparison before taking a policy.
4.Taking defensive driving classes, adding additional safety and security features on the car, driving less, and anything else that you do to lower your risk as a driver can contribute to ease-up the costs of maintaining an the policy over the long run.
5. If you cannot give up driving get the ignition steering lock inserted so that the car will be locked if you are drunk and you will never get into a DUI conviction again.
Plug in your details here and am sure you will find an affordable SR22 car insurance quote.

Sean Kingston: Oklahoma: How do I lower my quote for SR22 car insurance in Oklahoma? Obviously I have been convicted of DUI and my SR22 auto insurance quote is very high? Any suggestion or help would be welcomed.

Response: Sean, I understand the problems that you are facing. You are naturally trying to get out of a fix and paying dearly for a mistake of DUI driving. Expense need to be watched at any time and in this economic crisis they seem to be even bigger.

First let me give you a tip that you should not go for auto insurance coverage which are less than the minimum limits for the state and in fact take higher limits since you can certainly not endure any higher financial liability, in case you are involved in an accident. It is advisable not to compromise on the coverage just for a few dollars of cost.
Here are a few ways you can reduce your cost of SR22 auto insurance:
1) Go for a higher deductible: If you’re deductible is higher than the cost of auto insurance premium is reduced.
2) improve your credit rating: If you have credit rating points higher than 650 than you will be eligible for a cheaper SR22 auto insurance quote.
3) Get an ignition steering lock installed. This will prevent you from driving when you are drunk.
4) Go for defensive driving classes. This would ensure that you would not fall under the aggressive driver risk category.
5) Take up rehabilitation course for reducing your alcohol. As long as you are not able to overcome this, chances of drunken driving convictions would not be reduced.
6) Shop around for cheap Sr22 car insurance quote. Online you will find the best insurance deals. You will be surprised how much you can save.

Your aim should be to slowly move to the standard driver category so that you can get auto insurance quote from the personal insurers instead of the specialty insurer who give better and cheaper SR22 car insurance rates.

OKLAHAMA AUTO INSURANCE LIMITS:
Minimum Legal Requirements:
•Minimum injury liability for one person in an accident: $10,000
•Minimum injury liability for all injuries in an accident: $20,000
•Minimum liability for property damage in an accident: $10,000
•Personal injury protection (PIP) required? NO
•Uninsured motorist insurance coverage required? NO
•No Fault State? NO
Thanks.
Kamlesh Desai

Mark Ling : I have never had an auto accident not was convicted for DUI, however after I filed by bankcruptcy I was asked to go for high risk auto insurance which is normally applicable for DUI, agreesive driver or one who needs SR22 auto insurance. Can you let me know why?

Respnse: Mark, I understand your problem and do sympathize with you that you are labelled as “high risk” and need insurance from a specialty insurance company which underwrites SR22 auto insurance. Let me tell you that the insurance companies do base their rates on your credit rating.If the credit rating is bad the auto insurance would be high. In your case since you have already filled bankruptcy, your credit score is bad and so the normal personal lines insurer will not underwrite this insurance. The insurance company base their auto insurance rates on the statistics. It has been clearly proved that if a person has a good credit rating the chances of the person to claim under auto insurance are minmum. The chances of claim under auto insurance increase when credit rating goes lower. Secondly, the authorities might insist for a SR22 depending upon the state you live in since you will not be able to pay any liability of auto accident from your personal belongings, hence SR22 auto insurance form makes sure that you are insured.

I am sure you will be able to get out of the situation and once you are able to improve your credit rating you will be automatically get out of buying a SR22 auto insurance. For the time-being, I would advice you to shop around for cheap SR22 auto insurance quote. You can look up the quote given here and am sure you will get cheap Sr22 auto insurance.