Page loading ... Please wait.

(ARA) - Every day, thousands of speeding tickets are issued to motorists on our nation's roads and highways. According to various sources, an estimated 40 million speeding tickets are issued each year (one for every five motorists) with an average fine of $150.

What can you do to avoid a speeding ticket? And what should you do if you're stopped for speeding? Here are some tips from FindLaw.com, the nation's leading online source for legal information.

Be familiar with speed limits. You should always be aware of the speed limits on the roads and highways that you drive. Being unaware or unsure is not an excuse. Also keep in mind that it's possible to receive a speeding or reckless driving ticket under special circumstances even when you're not driving faster than the posted limit, such as driving faster than severe weather would allow.

Give yourself enough time. One of the reasons many people speed is because they didn't give themselves enough time to get where they're going. Plan ahead and give yourself enough time to arrive early so you can avoid going over the speed limit to make up time.

Be aware of speed traps. Pay attention to signs alerting drivers to speed zones, especially when nearing schools, small towns or suburban neighborhoods - where the speed limit abruptly changes from 55 mph to 30 mph, for example. These are often areas where police step up traffic enforcement.

Say cheese! More than a dozen states use photo radar to issue motor vehicle violation tickets for speeding or going through a red light at an intersection. Is your state one of them? Cameras are strategically set up to record speed or other traffic violations, and are used by local police departments to free up police officers for other types of law enforcement work. Make a traffic violation and days later you'll receive a ticket in the mail.

Pull over. If you're stopped for speeding, it's important to cooperate with the police officer. Here's what you should do: Pull over quickly and safely, pulling over as far to the right as you can. Turn off your engine and put your keys on the dashboard. Roll down your window and put your hands on the wheel in plain sight of the officer. Do not get your driver's license and proof of insurance out - let the officer ask you to get them so he or she can see your hands at all times. Take off your sunglasses if you're wearing them. If you're stopped at night, turn on your interior light. Be friendly, polite and cooperative, and avoid arguing.

Let the officer do the talking. When you're stopped for a motor vehicle violation, let the officer do the talking. Don't say anything that can be recorded or used against you at a later time, such as in traffic court. Officers are trained to let you incriminate yourself by letting you admit to violations or admit that you were careless or negligent. Respond politely to an officer's questions, and never get into an argument with an officer.

Avoid a car search. If an officer asks to search your vehicle and you do not believe you have anything to hide, you could save yourself time and effort by letting the search proceed. If you don't want the search to proceed, you should state clearly that you don't give the officer your consent. Taking this path does not imply guilt, but it may mean that the officer will seek a search warrant or put you under arrest, if the officer has probable cause for his or her suspicions.

Paying the ticket. If you plead guilty to a traffic charge, the court will automatically require you to pay the maximum fine allowed by law and will record the conviction on your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) record for a period of years (varies by state). Pleading guilty to a speeding ticket can increase your insurance premiums. Also, traffic violations can mean you'll accumulate points against your driver's license (if you have other motor vehicle violations) that could lead to the loss of your driving privileges. If having a clean record matters to you, you may want to seek the help of an attorney who specializes in traffic violations.

Challenging a ticket. Speed limits and how they're defined can vary by state. It's important to know how your state defines speed limits before attempting to challenge them. There are limited defenses for challenging a speeding ticket. The three most common are: claiming that you were speeding because of an emergency; claiming that the officer misread your speed; or claiming that the officer mistook your vehicle for a similar one that was traveling near your car or motorcycle. You can attempt to challenge a ticket on your own, or with the assistance of an attorney experienced in traffic violations.

(ARA) - As the weather outside gets frightful, now is a good time to make sure your vehicle's tires are prepared for snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Sixty-three percent of Americans are concerned about skidding and icy roadways as the thermometer's mercury drops, according to a recent survey commissioned by Hankook Tire America Corp. To ensure safety and peace of mind as you venture out on a snowy day, here are some tire tips to consider:

* Buy your loved one a set of winter tires: The Hankook Tire Winter Gauge Index revealed that 84 percent of Americans would not mind receiving tires as a gift and 35 percent would actually love it. In these tough economic times a brand new car may not be in your budget; however a set of tires can be a more affordable way to upgrade your current car and keep your loved ones safe on the road.

* Plan accordingly when putting winter tires on: Winter tires, such as the Winter i*cept evo are optimized specifically for icy and snowy conditions, providing enhanced traction to prevent skidding. Put snow tires on your car one to two weeks before the first anticipated snowstorm of the season. Also check your tire tread before the first storm. Worn tread is the No. 1 cause of skidding. If the tread is low, consider replacing your tires with a winter tire.

* Check your tire pressure: Every 10 degree drop in air temperature can actually cause a vehicle's tires to drop up to 2 pounds per square inch (psi) in tire pressure. Improper tire pressure can result in increased tread wear and lowered performance, factors that are highly detrimental to one's safety in undesirable weather conditions.

* Have a kit handy: Because winter weather is unpredictable, it's important to be prepared. Always keep in your car a winter driving kit consisting of a spare tire, ice scraper, snow shovel and brush, booster cables, a flash light and a blanket.

* Check your tire carrying capacity and speed rating: Never overload your vehicle. Check the tire load carrying capacity indicated on the tire or owner's manual for the maximum recommended load. Also, when replacing tires, the speed rating of the replacement tires must be equal to or greater than that of the tire being replaced to maintain the speed capability.

It is vitally important to take appropriate steps to ensure your vehicle is properly prepared as we head into the coming months that bring snow and blustery conditions. Make it part of your routine to check tire pressure and tread wear, and keep yourself educated on ways to protect yourself, your friends, and your family.

(ARA) - With only a few weeks until the official start of winter, now is the perfect time to choose a snow thrower before the blizzards hit. With so many options on the market, which one is right for you?

"When choosing a snow thrower, you really need to take into account the size and surface of your driveway, as well as the type and amount of snow you typically receive each year," says Megan Peth, marketing associate at Yard Machines.

There are two types of snow throwers to consider when purchasing- single-stage and two-stage.

A single-stage snow thrower is ideal for light, powdery snow. The auger of a single-stage snow thrower pulls the snow into the unit and then pushes it out through the chute. For example, the 21-inch Yard Machines single-stage snow thrower is more compact and lightweight than the two-stage models and is made for easy handling and maneuverability. With a 123cc POWERMORE engine and an E-Z Chute rotation adjustment, this unit is ideal for clearing smaller driveways and sidewalks.

Two-stage snow throwers are designed to clear large areas of moderate to heavy snowfall. The auger of a two-stage snow thrower has serrated blades that chop up the snow, then the impeller throws the snow out through the chute, directing it to the desired location.

Two-stage snow throwers also have other heavy duty features. For example, the 24-inch Yard Machines two-stage snow thrower is self-propelled to easily move through the snow at a selectable pace. With a push of the button, the electric start 179cc POWERMORE engine provides the power to remove snow from a variety of terrains with ease.

While snow throwers are perfect for cutting down your time in the cold, they can also be dangerous. Here are a few safety and maintenance tips from Yard Machines to keep you and your snow thrower safe throughout the season.

* Always review the operator's manual before using your snow thrower to avoid serious injury.
* Before using your snow thrower for the first time, add fresh fuel, and then slowly and deliberately prime the unit. This should flush any broken-down fuel, and possible debris, through the system to get the fresh fuel flowing.
* Make sure to change the oil and spark plug each season.
* Run the unit regularly throughout the season even if it doesn't snow consistently.
* Try to throw the snow with the wind, as opposed to against it.
* Always inspect for general debris before clearing snow, and never throw snow at buildings or vehicles.

From earthquakes, fire and floods to tornadoes and tropical storms, the natural disasters that hit the nation this year broke records for the billions of dollars in damage they wreaked.

And while catastrophic weather events cost many consumers their homes, cars and businesses, damaged property can be replaced - provided it is insured. But for the insurance providers who must make good on those policies, weather-related catastrophes translated into billions of dollars in losses for which there is no reimbursement.

Insurers are in the business of calculating risk, and with storms and other severe weather taking ever-greater bites out of company profits, experts say it is only logical to expect insurers to seek an increase in revenues to keep pace with skyrocketing catastrophe losses.

Homeowner policies in areas at risk to hurricanes and other disasters have already seen significant rate increases in recent years, according to a study by the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Now some experts say auto insurers may soon try to recoup some of their losses in the form of higher premiums.

"This year has been particularly expensive for auto insurance companies," says Cesar Diaz, a veteran agent and http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/ founder. "Natural disasters have hit residents of many regions extremely hard, and many of those losses are passed on to their coverage providers. A lot of people these days are wondering how much is car insurance going to cost them next year or two years from now?"

Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute (III), says losses differ among coverage providers depending on their exposure in storm-struck areas. Those storms have cost insurers dearly.

Disasters in the first six months of 2011 inflicted $17.3 billion in insured losses, a 162 percent increase from the same period last year. That caused after-tax net income for auto, home and business insurers during the first half of the year to fall to $4.8 billion from more than three times that amount in 2010.

According to a report from ISO and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, overall profitability for those companies plummeted from 6.4 percent to 1.7 percent - the lowest for the first half of any year since ISO began quarterly recordkeeping a quarter-century ago.

And those figures do not take into account the havoc wreaked by weather-related catastrophes since then - including flooding in the Midwest, wildfires in Texas and Tropical Storm Irene - caused billions of dollars more in damage.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states that economic damages caused by catastrophes are already approaching $50 billion this year, thanks to 10 major disasters that each caused $1 billion or more in losses. They include:

* Tropical Storm Irene, which swept along the East Coast from Aug. 20 to 29, inflicting more than $7.3 billion in economic costs in states from North Carolina to Vermont.

* Flooding in the upper Midwest in summer that breached Missouri River levees, inundated thousands of homes and caused an estimated $2 billion in losses.

* Drought, heat wave and wildfires in Texas and other states that caused an estimated $10 billion in damages, with losses expected to continue to grow.

Industry experts say insurers can expect to foot the bill for more damages before the year is out, as colder weather brings the threat of winter storms that cause cars to crash, roofs to collapse and other damages.

III predicts that an unexpected snow storm that struck the East Coast on the final weekend of October - the third catastrophe to hit that region in as many months - will lead to thousands more claims from auto and homeowner policyholders.

Insured losses from winter storms last year totaled $2.6 billion, according to a report issued in January by Munich Re, and III says winter storms caused $25 billion in private-sector insurer payouts from 1990 to 2009.

"Snow and ice storms are the third-largest cause of U.S. catastrophe losses, behind only hurricanes and tornadoes," says Worters, who points out that winter doesn't even officially begin this year until Dec. 21.

While auto insurers may be looking to hike premiums in order to counteract record-setting catastrophe losses, Worters points out that they must get the approval of regulators before they can legally implement rate increases in any state.

"Insurers for some time have recognized that rates in many ... states do not match the risk," Worters says, "and frequency and severity trends have to be included in the rate-making process."

At first glance, the dozens of vehicles chosen as top safety picks this year by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) appear to have little in common other than doing a good job of protecting drivers and passengers. The list includes everything from mini cars to minivans, luxury sedans and pickup trucks, all built according to their own design specifications by different automakers.

But one safety feature shared by each of those vehicles pops out: electronic stability control (ESC), a crash-avoidance technology that is a prerequisite for inclusion on safe vehicle lists compiled by IIHS and federal safety officials and one that became mandatory for all new cars made in the United States as of September.

Safety and automotive experts have long recognized that ESC systems - which use computer-controlled braking to reduce the risk of rollovers and other crashes - save lives and prevent injuries. Now insurance industry insiders are saying ESC can lessen the financial toll caused by some types of accidents and may even help motorists save money on their insurance premiums in the near future.

"Safety innovations such as ESC, which can improve driver safety and help reduce damages resulting from vehicle crashes, are a tremendous benefit to everyone," says Cesar Diaz, founder of http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/ and a veteran agent.

ESC's effect on insurance claims

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), ESC systems have had little demonstrable effect on liability claims filed by drivers who have damaged other cars in an accident. But HLDI found that losses under collision coverage - which pays for damage to a policyholder's vehicle caused by his or her colliding with another car or object or by flipping over - were from 15 percent to 17 percent lower for vehicles equipped with ESC than for earlier models that did not include the technology.

Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute (III), says lower policy rates can be expected at some point, particularly for SUVs, which have shown the greatest decline in crash involvement.

"So those vehicles would likely see greater rate reductions in auto premiums than smaller cars," Worters says.

While collision claims have fallen, it may be some time before consumers find price breaks for ESC while doing an auto insurance comparison in search of the best deals, she cautions.

Officials forecast significant injury avoidance from use of ESC

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle crash fatalities have steadily declined in recent years, with the roughly 37,000 roadway deaths reported in 2008, the fewest since 1961. The federal agency reported in 2010 that the introduction of "significant life-saving vehicle technologies like electronic stability control" into the nation's auto fleet have contributed to that decline.

NHTSA officials have estimated that ESC could save between 5,300 and 9,600 lives and prevent as many as 238,000 injuries a year in all types of crashes once all cars and other light vehicles in the U.S. are outfitted with the technology.

Agency officials project that ESC will reduce single-vehicle crashes of cars by 34 percent and the same accidents involving SUVs, which have a higher center of gravity and are more prone to tipping over, by as much as 59 percent.

ESC ensures vehicles are responsive

Federal regulations stipulate that all cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles weighing under a half-ton that are manufactured in the U.S. must now include ESC, but because the technology is only being phased in, not all vehicles on the road are currently equipped with it.

IIHS officials say ESC - which was originally introduced in sports and luxury cars but has since spread to other vehicles - is designed to help drivers stay in control of their vehicles on slippery roads and during high-speed maneuvers. ESC systems use sensors to continuously track how well a vehicle is responding to the driver's steering.

IIHS says those sensors can detect when a driver is on the verge of losing control due to taking a curve too quickly or otherwise straying from the car's intended line of travel, and ESC restores driver control by braking individual wheels automatically.