GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

The penalties for traffic defaulters have increased steeply with the passage of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill in the year 2019 in India. For instance, the fine for driving without a licence has been increased from INR 500 to INR 5000. Similarly, the penalty for over-speeding has increased from INR 400 to INR 2000.

Also, the police have been extra vigilant, and as a result, the issuance of traffic challans has significantly increased in the last couple of years. Do you wish to stay protected and avoid draining your hard-earned money by paying for hefty traffic challans due to over-speeding your vehicle? Let us see how you can achieve this and prevent over-speeding.

1. Be mindful of the speed limit:
Although fast driving seems thrilling to some people, driving over the speed limit has grave consequences. The speed limit has been put in place by city traffic police with many factors in mind, including the friction of the surface of the road and whether it has schools or hospitals nearby. Be careful and pay attention to board signages alongside the roads. Ensure to drive your vehicle within the speed limit as per the signage on the respective road.
Over-speeding might not only affect your life but also put the lives of others at risk. According to a report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2020, 71% of accidents were related to over-speeding on Indian roads, resulting in 66% of fatalities. Pay close attention to signboards when driving, or you might incur a fine of up to INR 4000.

2. Yellow lights mean slow down:
Everyone is in a hurry to reach their destination. Although jumping a light might seem like a minor offense at any given moment, it causes severe accidents in India. To deter the public from jumping a red light, fines have been levied that range up to INR 5000, and the driver can even be sent away up to a one-year prison sentence for this offense with the suspension of their driving licence.
To avoid such consequences, be prepared to stop right when the yellow light comes on, and stop a few metres before the stop line. Try not to block the zebra crossing and create inconvenience to the pedestrians.

3. Speed camera alert applications:
You will be surprised to know that there exist applications that can alert us of upcoming speed cameras from a few hundred metres in advance. Moreover, most of these applications are free and convenient to operate.
However, use these devices as a reminder that you are over-speeding your vehicle, not as an escape from speed cameras. Make a habit of following the speed limit set by the traffic police.

4. Never drink and drive:
Often drinking provokes you to do things you don't usually do when sober. And, one very common concern among drivers is rash & fast driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a punishable offense in India, and you will get a hefty traffic challan for drunken driving and over-speeding when intoxicated. Moreover, it can lead to serious accidents and cause property loss and lives.
Hence, do not drive when you have consumed alcohol or are heading out for a party. Book a cab to get back home if you are drunk, even if you came in your car. Otherwise, ensure that a non-drinking friend takes the wheel for you.

Another important thing is never to run away or escape the spot if a police officer finds you guilty of violating a rule and stops you. Always accept that you’ve made a mistake and support the officials doing their work.

You should always follow the above steps to avoid getting traffic challans and paying fines. Receiving challans is not a good feeling, and repeated mistakes can make you face severe consequences. So, be a responsible driver and ensure the above traffic practices that help you avoid getting fined due to over-speeding. In addition, car insurance online India can protect your car with adequate coverage against any possible damage due to an accident.

Click HERE to buy car insurance online India and stay protected while driving.

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.

India is home to some of the best healthcare facilities in the world. Be it some government hospitals or super-specialty hospitals, they are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled doctors. However, with the rising costs of treatments and healthcare, buying health insurance is necessary for everyone. Even with all the facilities, timely treatment is often not easily accessible, so people keep turning to premium healthcare.

Super-specialty hospitals promise premium services at the cost of steep expenses, and most people from middle-class backgrounds cannot afford these treatments. This is also the reason why most people invest in health insurance. But, with increased services, the cost of premiums will also significantly rise.

If you want to reduce your health insurance premium without compromising on the services, this article is just for you.

1. Start early:
Since most health insurance plans consider your age and medical history to calculate premiums, starting early can save you a lot of money on premiums. A younger body has a better immune system, and thus the risk of diseases or illness is significantly low. If you are someone who has already been diagnosed with age-related issues such as diabetes, blood pressure, or other heart conditions, then your premium amount will also increase. To ensure that you are getting a policy at the best rates, start early and invest in the best health insurance in India.

2. Online health insurance:
Online health insurance has a lot of benefits, but the most significant of them is how cost-effective it is. With online insurance, you can avoid broker fees and other administrative charges. You also can buy health insurance from anywhere, with the freedom to choose the desired policy by comparing multiple plans.

3. Compare plans online:
There are many health insurance policies in the market and deciding on the one that suits your choices can be overwhelming. But in the long run, having an informed idea of various aspects of your insurance policy will be helpful. You can compare insurance covers, premiums, and add-on costs online. With the internet at your disposal, comparing various insurance companies is a smart way to ensure that your company is not overcharging.

Another great alternative is to use the online insurance calculator. Different companies have a calculator that helps you calculate the overall cost of your insurance. Once you enter all the covers you need, this calculator will give you a rough estimate of your health insurance plan. Compare different prices online to choose the best option for you.

4. Extended validity:
Most insurance plans have a validity of one year. However, some companies provide significant discounts on policy periods of two to three years. Not only you reap the benefits of fantastic deals but getting a policy that extends to three years also helps you evade the annual renewal costs on your policy.

5. Family plans:
Health insurance is mandatory not just for ourselves but also for our families. However, the cost of buying health insurance for every family member can add up to a lot. This is why insurance companies have initiated family health insurance plans. Family plans provide comprehensive coverage to your family members. A family insurance plan is a smart way to cut costs on individual premiums while also maintaining the scope of various covers.

These are a few ways in which you can ensure cost-effective insurance planning. Thorough research on different insurance companies and their policy plans can help you make an informed decision that suits your budget and provide maximum coverage. Remember that health insurance is essential, but what is more important is to take good care of your health. Regular exercise and healthy eating habits are a simple start to leading a healthy and happy life. Invest in the best health insurance in India for your loved ones to safeguard yourself against any expenses you might incur in hospital and medical bills.

Click HERE to buy the best health insurance in India.

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.

Car parking has always been a major challenge in most metro cities. The number of cars on the roads is constantly increasing while the parking space and the available supporting infrastructure have yet to develop at a matching pace.

A traffic challan for violation of parking rules is very pinching and bothering. What do we do if there is not much free legal space available for parking our car? The legitimate answer is understanding the car parking rules to avoid traffic violations.

Let us go through the five car parking rules that one must know.

1. Way of parking:
According to section 122 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a car owner should always park his car in a manner that does not cause any inconvenience to other road users. Also, the way of parking the car should not be dangerous, nor should it cause any obstruction to other vehicles and users of the road.
If there is a signboard depicting the correct manner of parking your car on the roadside, you should abide by it and park your car accordingly.

2. An abandoned or unattended car:
According to section 127 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, you cannot abandon your car or leave it unattended at a public place where you cannot legally park it.
A police officer with jurisdiction in that area can tow your car away or make it immobile by using methods such as clamping the wheels. Also, you or the person in charge of your car will be responsible for paying the towing charges.

3. Prohibited parking:
You cannot park your car in a no-parking zone or any spot where parking is prohibited, on a footpath, on the wrong side of the road, on private property without the owner's permission, alongside a parked vehicle so that you do not obstruct the traffic flow, in front of any gate that blocks the entrance to any place, in front of a school or hospital entrance, near a bus stop, a traffic signal, or a road crossing.
Also, your vehicle should not obstruct the view of a signboard. You are not permitted to park at a bend, at the top of a hill, or even near or on a bridge so that you do not obstruct incoming traffic.

4. Parking restrictions at home / society:
Even your housing societies or homes have car parking rules you must follow. You should park your car so that it does not obstruct or block your neighbour's gate.
It is illegal to park your car at the boundary of your own house if your parking style obstructs the neighbour's gate in any way. He may be unable to open the gate of his house fully. In such a case, he can file a case, serve you a legal notice and obtain an injunction restricting you from blocking his gate.

5. Blocking a parking lot exit:
You cannot park your car in front of another vehicle in a parking lot in such a way that his way is obstructed, and the owner of that vehicle is unable to take his car out. In such a case, he can call a cop, and you will have to pay a fine for blocking his way.

Parking fines differ from one city to another in India. Understanding the parking rules in your respective cities is crucial to avoid traffic violations. So, abide by these parking rules to avoid catching yourself in chaotic situations and save on fines and penalties.

Similarly, having a good car insurance policy will help you save on other penalties, as car insurance is mandatory to drive legally in India. Also, it will provide coverage in case of an accident, a mishap involving your car, or even if it gets stolen. Hence, go for the best car insurance in India and forget the stress of expenses involved in unexpected situations.

Click HERE to buy the best car insurance in India.

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.