GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Futuristic innovations are taking the world by storm, and the automobile industry is no exception. The most recent trend that has caught an upswing among car enthusiasts is self-driving or autonomous cars. While progress has been slow, it is still exciting to imagine a world where driving is hands-free.

While the concept is likely to do away the requirements of the drivers, what about the need to buy new car insurance? Will the revolutionary technology make insurance obsolete, or will auto-insurance companies alter their products as per the evolving market needs? Read on to learn all about the impact of driverless cars and their impact on the insurance industry.

What exactly is a driverless car?

It is an autonomous vehicle, meaning it can move from one location to another without help from a human driver. Self-driving vehicles, or driverless cars, manifest the machine-driven future we've envisioned. It is believed that they will make our lives easier and more productive.

But are they covered under your car insurance?

A top American consulting firm predicted that vehicle collisions would drop dramatically by the middle of this century. The insurance market is expected to be negatively impacted. Since claims related to autonomous cars are expected to decrease, insurance rates will go down. However, you will still need liability insurance because autonomous vehicles can also be driven by hand.

Apart from this, the insurance industry may also see a significant drop in business as the demand for theft protection coverage falls. Cars will be equipped with a 'kill-switch,' which prevents anyone but the owner from starting the engine, and a modern GPS tracking system may make it fully theft-proof. Car owners may feel safer without theft insurance, so the insurance premiums will also decrease as a result.

However, this is also another side of it!

Some experts think introducing self-driving cars will not affect the car insurance business much just because these cars have better safety features. These days, there is already a wide range of vehicles that feature a variety of cutting-edge technologies thanks to the rapid evolution of the car industry in recent decades. However, that has not resulted in noticeable shifts in insurance premium costs. Various collision-avoidance features are available in modern cars, despite which the number of reported accidents has remained relatively high.

How will insurance companies adjust to new conditions?

Although it is currently challenging to predict how driverless cars will affect car insurance businesses, it is likely to assume that the transition will be slow enough to allow the insurance industry adequate time to adapt. There are three main areas where insurance companies can improve in the future, according to certain reports.

1. Heightened cyber security risk:
Driverless cars will observe an increase in the use of hardware and software in cars, posing a cyber security risk. There may also be an increase in the likelihood of cybercrimes such as theft, ransomware, hacking, and the improper use of data about cars. In the not-too-distant future, car insurers will be able to start offering coverage in this area.

2. Technological concerns:
There is a significant risk of catastrophic loss due to software faults, memory overflow, and algorithmic flaws in automotive-related sensors and processors. Insurers will typically cover these types of losses with additional features.

3. Infrastructure insurance:
Factors such as cloud server systems, signals, and other safeguards that will be set up for the protection of vehicles and drivers will give a substantial yearly revenue potential in premiums. The need for public infrastructure insurance and security is bound to increase.

In conclusion, the automotive and car insurance industries are changing tremendously, and this transition will likely to drive the automated future. Until we have more information about innovations, it is ideal to buy new car insurance in case you don't have one to safeguard your current asset.

Click HERE to buy new car insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Do you ever feel like your eyes are burning, have redness, sting, or blurred vision, especially when reading? You might have dry eye syndrome.

A healthy tear film for the human eye is extremely important to retain good vision. People with dry eyes are unable to maintain a healthy coating of tears. This medical condition can hinder your day-to-day activities if not addressed in time. Here, you can learn about dry eyes, including symptoms, causes, prevention, and more.

What is dry eye syndrome?

Human eyes require a tear film to coat them, as it keeps the eye's surface clear and smooth and maintains good vision. When the eyes hardly produce tears, they are more likely to develop dry eyes. People suffering from dry eye syndrome cannot maintain a normal layer of tears to coat their eyes. This syndrome can also cause bacterial infections and a scar on the cornea.

Symptoms of dry eyes syndrome.

The most common symptoms of dry eye syndrome include pain, redness, and burning in the eyes. However, some people may experience other symptoms such as blurry vision, water tearing, eyes getting tired more quickly than usual, stringy mucus, and the feeling of having sand in their eyes. People with this syndrome often have difficulty sitting at a computer or reading a book for a long period.

Learning the signs of dry eye syndrome allows you to check whether you or someone around you has this medical condition. Get medical treatment if you find any symptoms of dry eyes syndrome.

What causes dry eyes syndrome?

Anyone, regardless of gender and race, can develop dry eye syndrome. However, older people are more prone to this eye condition. Also, women who have gone through menopause are at higher risk for this condition. Other causes include:

● Using contact lenses for a long time

● Being in the wind

● Breathing smoke

● Being in a very dry environment

Some medical conditions include rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease can also cause dry eye. You may also develop dry eye syndrome if you take sleeping pills, cold medicines, diuretics, heartburn medicines, antidepressants, or beta-blockers. Get your eye tested to avoid dry eye syndrome. It would also help you renew your health insurance online and enjoy no-claim benefits.

How to prevent dry eye syndrome?

You can prevent this eye condition by following these tips:

● Stay away from warm or dry rooms. If you use a heater or radiator in winter, ensure the required moisture in the room

● Avoid using hair dryers as much as possible

● Use artificial tear ointment before bed if you have dry, scratchy eyes in the morning

● Wear glasses to protect your eyes from the drying wind

● Consult your eye doctor about adding omega-3 fatty acids from foods like seafood to your diet

● Renew health insurance online to save money on doctor consultations and eye treatment expenses

What are the treatments available for dry eye syndrome?

Generally, people visit an ophthalmologist to diagnose their eyes for dry eye syndrome. They conduct various tests and provide different treatments. Some treatments include lacrimal plugs, artificial tears, medication, LipiFlow, surgery, and home care.

Dry eyes don't cause permanent vision loss. However, you should see a doctor if you suspect you are developing dry eyes, which can impair your vision. Follow prevention tips to reduce the risk of dry eyes. Make it a habit to wash your eyes regularly and indulge in quick exercise sessions to offer relief to the eyes. Renew your health insurance online to cover the expense of your other medical bills.

Click HERE to buy new car insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Honking while driving on the road is a serious topic and a primary source of noise pollution. Persistent noise from honking can lead to stress, annoyance, depression, and hearing impairment. It also causes road accidents due to sudden distractions. If you are wondering why people honk so much, you should understand the psychology behind it.

Reasons why people honk their horns so much.

Generally, it would be best to use a horn to avoid collisions, when necessary. However, drivers also honk for other reasons, such as

1. Honking by habit:
Most Indian drivers honk just because they feel like it, even if it is unnecessary. You may find honkers honking at turns, at blind corners, and at pedestrians walking or crossing the roads. Drivers also honk recklessly during a traffic jam to move the traffic. In this behaviour, the driver needs to show more awareness and patience.

2. Honking as a way to communicate:
In India, drivers use horn honking to communicate without words with other drivers on the road. Drivers use several horn-honking patterns, each with a different meaning. For instance, drivers use single honking when waiting outside their friend's house or when someone is in front of their vehicle, which means "I'm here".
The double horn means, "please don't be dumb", and the triple horn means, "I am upset that traffic has not moved". Some aggressive drivers use the repeater triple horn to tell other drivers that they are more important and ask them to get out of their way.
Another form of aggressive horn honking used by large vehicles is the big blast, meaning "I can do whatever I want because I am mighty".

3. Continuously honking at high speeds:
You may have seen a reckless driver going forward and constantly honking, leaving everyone behind. Such drivers are always in a hurry to arrive on time for work, meetings, or other events. However, irresponsible driving habits are dangerous and can cause more havoc on traffic.
You should avoid driving in a hurry or using a horn unnecessarily. While talking about safety, buying online motor insurance is essential to protect your vehicle from damages.

How to reduce unnecessary honking while driving:

● Most people need to learn the severity of unnecessary honking and its disadvantages. You should spread awareness about honking and noise pollution to your friends, family, and neighbours.

● Take driving lessons from renowned driving schools to learn the basics of honking etiquette, like avoiding honking at no-honking zones, near hospitals, schools, forest areas, etc.

● Unnecessary honking can also lead you to pay a ticket (challan). You should learn about when and where you should not honk.

● The government should impose strict laws against unnecessary honking and a maximum dB limit for large vehicles.

There are many reasons why drivers and riders like to honk so much. If you are like most drivers in India, you should learn the reasons behind drivers honking their horns and ways to reduce them. Once you understand the basics of honking etiquette, you should tell others to spread awareness.

In addition to honking etiquette, it is also essential for drivers to have motor insurance to protect them from fines and damage costs in the future. You can get online motor insurance quickly with minimum documentation and without the hassle of physically visiting the insurance company's office or paying a commission to an agent.

Click HERE to buy new car insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

An important choice to make is whether to lease or buy a car. Before making a purchase, consumers should explore the options available in various models. The level of safety in a car is paramount. According to a study, sixty-five percent of buyers said safety is essential when purchasing a car, truck, or sport utility vehicle. Modern cars have more safety features than ever before, but not all are created equal when protecting their owners in an accident. Consumers now have easy access to reliable information through car safety ratings.

What factors influence car safety ratings?

Various government safety agencies and car crash test organizations publish their safety ratings based on controlled safety trials each year. They are mainly categorised as:

● The ability of a car to avoid a collision, in general, is known as accident avoidance. The effectiveness of several individual components is reflected in an accident-avoidance rating.

● Cars equipped with airbags are pre-programmed to deploy the airbags automatically in the case of a collision. They act as a buffer between the rider or passenger and the car itself, reducing the likelihood of catastrophic harm. Typically, front, knee and side airbags are standard in top-tier safety-rated cars.

● Anti-lock braking systems save lives by preventing the wheel from locking up when the brakes are applied. The car's traction is improved, and skidding is prevented. In areas of the country that get a lot of snow and ice, anti-lock brakes come in especially handy.

● A driver equipped with electronic stability control can quickly swerve the car without losing control to avoid an obstacle.

● Protecting your head, neck, and back from the painful consequences of a rear-end crash. Rear-end crashes aren't usually fatal but can cause serious harm. During rear-end collision testing, head restraints play a significant role. Safety professionals simulate these impacts to determine how well head restraints prevent whiplash and other neck and spinal cord injuries.

● Anti-rollover protection: Pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs are more likely to roll over than shorter cars because of their greater centre of gravity. Safety agencies also examine the anti-rollover protection capacity of a vehicle in their safety trials.

Buying decisions influenced by crash-safety ratings.

Crash-safety ratings show the typical outcomes from accident data and inform drivers about their and other cars' safety. Customers who are not car experts should read up on buyers' guidelines and all the specifics regarding the car they are considering, such as its crash test ratings, safety features, tools, and accessories. As the car is a long-term investment, every prospective buyer should pay close attention to crash test results.

Be a responsible buyer and never settle for less. Prioritise safety and consider it to be the most significant advantage as a driver. To sum up, crash safety concerns the danger of death or severe harm to the driver and passengers of the car in the case of a crash. Therefore, it is essential to have car insurance.

Overall, modern cars are safer for their buyers. Still, several aspects, such as the state of the vehicle, the surrounding terrain, and the driver's actions, have a role. Regardless of the safety features of the cars, whether you're shopping for a new or used car, buy car insurance online should be your top priority to ensure an extra layer of protection.

Click HERE to buy car insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.