Monthly Archives: <span>November 2016</span>

Auto Safety Agency Wants Cell Phone Makers to Lock Out Most Apps While Driving

The government wants smartphone makers to lock out most apps when the phone is being used by someone driving a car. The voluntary guidelines unveiled Wednesday are designed to reduce crashes caused by drivers distracted by phones. The National Highway …

U.S. Says GM Can Delay Recall to Prove Airbag Safety

U.S. auto safety regulators are allowing General Motors to delay a large recall of potentially defective airbags, giving the company time to prove that the devices are safe and to possibly avoid a huge financial hit. The unusual move by …

Japan Quake and Tsunami Reminder of 2011 Catastrophic Event

At first, it was 2011 all over again. “It really came back. And it was so awful. The sways to the side were huge,” Kazuhiro Onuki said after northeastern Japan was jolted Tuesday by a magnitude-7.4 earthquake, the strongest since …

Quake Hit Oklahoma Town Sues 27 Energy Firms

Residents of a town hit by Oklahoma’s strongest earthquake have filed a class-action lawsuit against dozens of energy companies, accusing them of triggering destructive temblors by injecting wastewater from oil and gas production underground. Pawnee residents filed the suit Thursday …

Apps Help With Thanksgiving Roadside Assistance

An estimated 48.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, an increase of one million travelers compared with last year, according to AAA. This represents the most Thanksgiving travelers since 2007. Driving remains most popular …

Fingerprints Biometric Security Not Foolproof

It sounds like a great idea: Forget passwords, and instead lock your phone or computer with your fingerprint. It’s a convenient form of security – though it’s also perhaps not as safe as you’d think. In their rush to do …

How Data Analytics Helps to Control Workers’ Comp Claims and Costs

Several challenges unique to workers’ compensation claims highlight the benefits of a robust data analytics system, according to a panel of experts who presented on the subject during Verisk Insurance Solutions’ Monday webinar series. Underwriting new risks, managing medical provider …

Advanced Weather Satellite Launches into Space, Promises Faster Forecasts

The most advanced weather satellite ever built rocketed into space Saturday night, part of an $11 billion effort to revolutionize forecasting and save lives. This new GOES-R spacecraft will track U.S. weather as never before: hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash …

Indiana Transportation Workers Remove Roadkill to Improve Safety

“10-4,” they say back and forth, acknowledging the instructions from Kenny Sheppard, a highway technician with the Indiana Department of Transportation. He’s driving a pickup truck south on Ind. 49 to their first stop of several in the Chesterton vicinity. …

NICB Releases Annual Holiday Vehicle Theft Report

When you’re making the rounds at the stores this holiday season, make sure your car isn’t on someone’s gift list. Unattended vehicles, especially those loaded with valuables, make attractive targets for thieves. New data released by the National Insurance Crime …