There is a reason that auto insurance exists. I think a lot of time we think it is nothing but an excuse to pad the wallets of the executives. It is easy to think this, since insurance companies often post huge yearly profits. As cynical as people have become, it is easy to forget how important auto insurance is. Firstly, it is required pretty much anywhere you want to own and drive a car. Secondly, being properly insured will ensure that you are protected when you are in an accident.
Auto insurance is important anywhere you drive, it is especially important in urban areas. Syracuse is such an area. It is a city of about 140 000 located in northern New York state. It has it’s own set of difficulties that drivers have to face.
Syracuse is currently at the stage of growth where public transportation is just beginning to gain a foothold as a major issue. As of 2000, only about 7% of the population commuted using public transportation. This percentage will likely grow along with the city, but it is still important to note. Conversely, almost 80% of people commuted via driving. This can lead to very busy and dangerous rush hours.
Syracuse’s lack of public transportation isn’t the only thing that contributes to the dangers on their roads. Syracuse acts as almost a highway crossroads in New York. Four interstate highways run through or near Syracuse (81, 90, 690, 481). Two US Highways run through syracuse (11, 20), and lastly 3 New York State Expressways also run through the area (481, 690, 695). The highways make it easy to commute, but of course they bring their own set of dangers – with large volumes of traffic, and high risk vehicles like transport trucks.
Lack of public transportation and the high number of highways are not unique to Syracuse. Those are problems facing drivers in a lot of similarly sized cities. Syracuse does have something else that drivers need to deal with that other cities might not…climate. Syracuse is a city that receives a large yearly snowfall, again this isn’t unique to the city, however the extent of the inclement weather very well might be.
The metro area of Syracuse has the highest average amount of snowfall of all large US cities. It boasts about 115 inches per year of snowfall, with their record being 192 inches. In 1993, one single blizzard in the area, dumped over 42 inches in a 48 hour period.
No one should be driving without insurance, it is against the law after all. It is also against common sense. In an area like Syracuse, it is even more important to have insurance, and to make sure your coverage is sufficient. The bare minimum will get you on the road, but is that what you want if your car is broad sided in a snowstorm and you miss significant time at work? Probably not.
Insurance in Syracuse is no laughing matter, make sure your coverage matches the dangers you face. Syracuse is a wonderful place to live, and being safe and secure will make it that much better.