Purchasing car insurance is required by law in most states. Pennsylvania is one of those. It is mandatory for all drivers to carry liability insurance covering:
- $15,000 for injury/death to one person per accident
- $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person per accident
- $5,000 for damage to property per accident
For the most part, drivers abide by the rules and get covered. But, if you are among the 12-13% of those driving without insurance, we hope the following will convince you to reconsider that.
Reason 1. Bridges
Pennsylvania has over 30,000 bridges, the third-largest number in the nation. It’s almost impossible to commute or head anywhere without crossing a bridge or two. But bridges are also notorious for car accidents primarily because it only takes one to cause a chain reaction. This, combined with the fact that the state’s speeding tickets amount somewhere between 300,000 to 400,000 per year, makes it quite risky to drive around without insurance.
Reason 2. No inspections
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of the states that require annual vehicle safety inspections for any car going on the road. Yet, the third most common traffic violation in many of the counties is driving without a valid inspection. Wayne and Bradford counties are leading the list with 2500-3000 violations each. So, even if your car is properly checked and up to date on its repairs, the one heading your way may not be.
Reason 3. Potholes
You can’t avoid them; potholes are everywhere in the state. That’s mainly because of the frequent fluctuations in temperature both in the summer and in the winter. Summer days are constantly humid but vary between windy, rainy, and hot. During the winter, the temperature goes from freezing to mild to freezing, which creates cracks and eventually… you guessed it, potholes. There is hope with the new infrastructure plan; however, while that is getting sorted out, you are better off with some coverage.
Reason 4. SUVs
Did you know that 99% of all cars in Pennsylvania are privately owned, with SUVs being the most preferred type? If you are a resident, this probably doesn’t come as news to you. But what may is the fact that crashes between a small car and an SUV will likely lead to the death of the small car driver. Not only that, but while SUVs may have an advantage in crashes, they are at high risk for rollover accidents, particularly on icy roads or hill declines. In fact, 25% of the car-caused deaths in 2019 in the state were SUV and pick-up occupants.
Reason 5. Rural areas
Much of the state is rural (48 out of the 67 counties). Also, much of the driving is cross-county, where drivers often speed and the roads are not in their best shape. Just about as many deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents happened in rural areas as did in urban areas in 2019. On top of that, one will often see Amish buggies and farm tractors on the same roads that regular cars use, making the risk and possible fatalities of an accident that much higher.
We know we’re not painting a pretty picture but this is the reality. We’ll stop for now with our list of scary reasons, hoping we’ve proved our point. If so, contact us at Gilmartin Insurance or come into any of our 3 locations (Scranton, Pittston, Lehighton) in the state and let’s have a chat about your car insurance options. We promise that the conversation won’t be scary at all.
