The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 9, 1952, Page 6

Page 6 THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Tuesday, December 9, 3952 Auto Insurance Rates Are Up In Fiorida Due To High Claims And Wreck Frequency By HAROLD PARR TALLAHASSEE (® — The fre- quency of accidents and high dam- age claims are making it difficult and costly to get automobile liabil- ity insurance in Florida. Ed Larson, state insurance com- missioner, said the problem has reached the critical stage, and there’s no solution in sight. Boiled down to its essentials, the problem is this: Insurance compa- nies are becoming increasingly re- luctant to write automobile liabil- ity policies, and in some cases flatly refuse. Some of the larger companies, especially among the mutuals, are pulling completely out of Florida, despite rate increases approved by the insurance department during wees year. rvice personnel stationed in Florida find it extremely difficult to get auto liability policies at Teele rates, Larson said. ‘ar owners under 25 virtuall are eliminated from coverage ‘4 their own names, and persons who permit their cars to be driven by persons under 25 are looked upon as poor risks. The insurance department re- cently amended its assigned risk regulation to include servicemen stationed in Florida so that sol- diers, sailors and airmen would not be completely shut out of the picture, Under the assigned risk pro- gram, the insurance companies di- vide among themselves policies on those persons who are considered bad risks. But the person covered under an’ assigned risk policy has to pay a special premium, amount- ing to 10 per cent for servicemen. The insurance department also has worked out an arrangement with some companies whereby servicemen stationed in Florida may obtain short term liability coverage, usually four months, if they can prove their driving rec- ord has been good. Claims have reached the point where the insurance companies contend they cannot afford to write liability insurance even at today’s rates. The accident frequency is mounting steadily, the companies say, and the claims are steadily rising. Even a minor accident is likely to involve a stiff claim due to the high cost of labor and materials, Modern automobile design also is a major factor in repair costs. A dented fender may mean rebuild- ing one entire side of a car. _ Juries have become increasing- ly generous in personal injury damages awards, the companies say. Verdicts running into many thousands are common now ond awards running into hundreds of thousands are not uncommon, they | Say. The insurance department con- cedes there is evidence to support the reluctance and even outright refusal of the companies to write new auto liability business. But the department believes it has the responsibility of assuring insurance coverage for the motor- can afford to pay. How to do it? Some insurance men say com- pulsory insurance would help—a state law making liability insur- ance a requirement for obtaining auto tags and drivers’ licenses. A law making the junking of cars over a certain specified age mandatory is another suggested answer, A law requiring all cars to be equipped with speed governors to make highway speeds in excess of 45 or 50 miles an hour impossible is another suggested solution. The insurance department is not enthusiastic about compulsory in- surance, holding it would deprive many low income bracket people whose driving habits are safe and sound of the use of automobiles. Neither is the department warm to suggestions of restrictive legisla- tion. . “The best possible solution would be that which could come from the motoring public itself. If every Person who drives a car would exercise reasonable care and good judgment when at the wheel. the liability insurance problem soon ing public and at a price people! Sonar Staff Officer would take care of itself,” Larson said. Colorado has beaten Arizona three times in as many football oe LT. RALPH G. DERMOTT THIS HANDY DIRECTORY OF Official U.S. Navy ‘rhoto New Staffer.- Re ports For Sonar Duty ‘ts. Reporting to the staff of the U S: Fleet Sonar School recently w Lieutenant (jg) Ralph G. Derme USN. *-A native of Philadelphia, Penn: Lt. j.g. Demott entered the Nay Service in January, 1948 and r ceived flight training at Pensacol Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texa before being designated aviator i 1948. Since then he has been atta to the Fleet Airborne T; ing Unit at Norfolk, Va.; at familiarization course fo: at the Submarine School, } don, Conn.; and served with ai: Viator: Crash Of Cuban Plane Up For Investigation HAMILTON. Bermuda, @ Cuban government and airline off ‘icials opened an _ investigation ‘onday into one of the island re- iblie’s major air disasters—the cash of a new DC4 airliner Satur- ay in which 37 persons died off ermuda. Three women and a man who irvived the plunge into the sea of the Cubana Airlines plane were reported making satisfactory prog+ 's [ress at the King Edwar’ VIL Hos ew Lon-| pital here. Of the dead, seventeem rj bo had been recovered early anti-submarine squadrons at Nor- | to: folk and Quonset Point, R. I, Twenty victims were still miss Immediately prior to reporting |ing. The plane, loaded with Spam to the Sonar School, Lt. j.g. Demott/iards, Cubans and Mexicans, was attended basic instructor's school | homeward bound from. Madrid. in Norfolk, Va. “Cubana Airlines President Sergio He is married to the former! Clark said his company hoped to Betty Lorraine Weaver of Hall, Penna. Mill | raise the ill-fated aircraft from its -foot dept to find out why it iropped into the ocean about three The kiss is believed to be a/ minutes after an apparently nor- form of polite or ceremonial salute |mal takeoff from Kindley Airfield by tasting. |here, INSTRUCTION ba. buone sys DIAL PHONE SYSTEM EFFICIENTLY First — Look up the telephone num- ber. Dial service necessitates changing all numbers here. (Let's say the number is 2-2599.) Second — Lift the telephone and listen for dial tone. This is the steady hum that tells you the cen- tral office equipment is ready to re- ceive your call. REMEMBER: Never dial until you hear the dial tone. Third — Start to dial. The number you want is 2-2599. Put your finger in the opening over the figure “2” — the telephone is kept off, of course — and turn the dial around to the right as-far as you can. Then lift your finger and let the dial turn back without touching it. Fourth — Now dial the rest of the number — the "2," the “5,” the “9,” and the “9,” just as you did the “2.” SOON — unless the line is busy — you'll hear a sound something like this: “burr-r-ring (pause) burr-r-ring (pause) burr-r-ring (pause) burr-r ring (pause).” This is the RINGING SIGNAL. It tells you 2-2599 is being tung. (You should let this ringing continue for a reasonable length of time, to give the people you're calling a chance to answer. If the line you are calling is in use, you'll hear the BUSY SIGNAL. This is a “buzz - buzz - buzz” — louder and quicker than the Ringing Sig- nal. When you hear this, just hang up and try again later. POLICE DEPT. 2-6913 | FIRE DEPT. NO. 1 STATION. 2S POINCIANA STATION. 2-2626 Appliances Auto Dealers Home Appiance en ia 605 SIMONTON ST. DIAL 2-3621 Studebaker 1130 DUVAL ST. DIAL 2-2401 Julian Appliance Store 125 DUVAL ST. M DIAL 2-2251 engi Lucas Electric DIAL 2-2851 Sales and Service 215 DUVAL ST, DIAL 2-3822 Roy's Key West Auto Parts Co. Overseas Radio & Appliance Co. 617 DUVAL ST, DIAL 2-3251 121 DUVAL ST. DIAL 2-3501 Yates Refrig. Service Your Bendix Dealer 800 WHITE STREET DIAL 2-3351 Auto Dealers DIAL 2-3951 Wilson's Monroe Motors, Inc. Ford . . Lincoln . . Mereury TH WHITE ST. DIAL 2.5631 DIAL 2-3951 1g Teen Chevrolet Co. Stell's Chevrolet , . Cadillac . . ile .. Buick. . 319 CAROLINE ST, DIAL 2.6743 DIAL 2-2721 The Twins Garage Automotive Electric Auto Electric 105 SIMONTON ST. Auto Parts & Accessories Simonton Street Body Works 121 SIMONTON ST. Auto Trim Shop 134 SIMONTON ST. Beauty Nook Pontiac 421 SIMONTON ST, Beauty Salons Frances Beauty Salon 1010 GRINNELL ST, DIAL 2-3741 Bottling K. W. Coca Cola Bottling Co. 101 SIMONTON ST. DIAL 2-6643 Children’s Apparel P' Bottling Co. 611 AMELIA at SIMONTON DIAL 2-6742 Nights & Sundays DIAL 2-5865 Mason's Old Fash. Root Beer 611 AMELIA at SIMONTON DIAL 2-6742 Nights & Sundays DIAL 2-5865 Fruit Flavors oll AMELIA at SIMONTON DIAL 2-6742 Nights & Sundays DIAL 2-5865 Overseas Cycle Store Repaired 1030 EATON ST. Bicycles Sold, Rented, Building and Home Needs Bldg. & Home Needs K. W. Venetian Blind Co. Window, Doors, Jalousies, Awnings DIAL 2-5531 Key West Floor Covering Co. 132 DUVAL ST, DIAL 2-2512 Children’s Corner Simonton and Fleming Sts. DIAL 2-2352 Cycle Stores Band B Cycle Shop Cushman Scooters 822 FLEMING ST. DIAL 2-7511 Furniture Stores Altman’s Furniture Co. Furniture & Furnishings 900 DUVAL ST. DIAL 2-5941 123 D''VAL ST, Eisner Furniture Co. New and Used Furniture POINCIANA CENTER DIAL 2-6951 Marine Supplies Thompson Enterprises, Inc. HARDWARE DIVISION Cor. Caroline & Grinnell Sts. DIAL 2-3132 Opticians Keys Optical Service 423 SIMONTON ST. DIAL 2-7522 Long‘s Furniture Store Furniture & Furnishings 800 FLEMING STREET DIAL 2-5843 Maxwell Furniture Co. Furniture & Furnishings 909 FLEMING STREET DIAL 2-6031 Laundry & Dry Cleaners ‘| Island City Gas Co. Dr. J. A. Valdes Optometrist 619 DUVAL ST. DIAL 2-7821 Optometrists Gordon N. Keene “See Keene for Keen Sight” 824 DUVAL ST. DIAL 2-7622 Columbia Laundry & Dry Cleaners 617 SIMONTON ST. DIAL 2-5646 Printers The Artman Press CITIZEN BLDG. GREENE ST. Poinciana Dry Cleaners 218 SIMONTON ST, DIAL 2-7632 DIAL 2-6016 Key West Supply Co. Glidden Paints .. Plumbing . . Hardware 211 SIMONTON ST, DIAL 23123 Electrical Equipment and Repairs White Laundry 1200 WHITE STREET DIAL 2-7733 Marine Supplies DIAL 2-566] Key West CITIZEN DIAL BUSINESS... 2.5661 Chicks Of Commerce DIAL 2-2010 Weather Bureau DIAL 2-2011 OR 2-6922 Public Utilities City Electric System Cor. Simonton & Eaton Sts. DIAL 2-5651 Nights — Sundays DIAL 2-621) Safeway Travel, Inc. 606 DUVAL ST. DIAL 2-5111 Simone’s Tours. 510 SOUTHARD ST. DIAL 2-5722 Key West Gas Co. 419 FLEMING ST. DIAL 2-2411 Emergency = Nights — 2-2878 Wholesale Houses 417 FLEMING ST. DIAL 2-6731 Opez Emergency - Plant — 2-4323 Liquors, Inc. Wines, Liquors, Budweiser Beer 207 DUVAL ST, DIAL 2-5732 Services ALBURY’S KEY SHOP 212 DUVAL STREET DIAL 2-2621 PASST B 1 RIBBON Monroe Beer Distributors, Inc, 4 2-7721 Sheet Metal in Tropical Sheet Metal Co. Jalousies Manufactured 124 SIMOMTON ST, DIAL 2-3923 H. Ramos & Co., Inc. Wheiesalers DIAL 2-7642 Theatres San Carlos Theatre DUVAL ST. | DIAL 2-3419 Tires And Tubes Saunders Wholesale, Inc. 216 SIMONTON STL DIAL 2-2478 i MiP Women's Apparel Navarro, Inc. Plymouth . . Dodge . . DeSoto Chrysier 41 DUVAL ST. DIAL 2-704! Pierce Bros. Gen. Hardwere Merchandise COR. FLEMING and ELIZABETH STS. DIAL 2.5922 Key West Electric Repair Co. © FRONT STREET DIAL 26131 Dick's Tire Servic Disth. U. S$. Roya! Tires 929 TRUMAN AVE. DIAL 2-2842 Leona Specialty Shop 19 DUVAL $7, DIAL 2-6011