Insurance News - Thursday, May 30, 2013

Here are the leading auto insurance headlines from ONTARIO AUTO INSURANCE TOPICS ON TWITTER for Thursday, May 30, 2013:

• The Quebec Court of Appeal in Axa Assurances v. L.S. clarifies the threshold for voiding an insurance policy for material misrepresentation.
  
• California Auto Club voluntarily drops rates 4.1% due to lower claims, something we haven't seen in Ontario in a while.
• I think we all have experienced this: Nearly half of all drivers who hit parked cars don’t always leave notes.
• Is e-commerce appropriate for insurance considering the complexity of the product?
• Another study by J.D. Power, this one suggests that insurance websites perform better in policy servicing than policy shopping.
• Transportation Minister Glen Murray is considering a 1-metre passing rule for cars passing bikes though not in this legislative session.
• Big Move revenue tools proposed by Metrolinx will cost an average of $77 per GTHA family and include: 1% HST increase, 5 cent rise in GTHA gas prices, business parking levy, development charges. Implementing pay-for-use HOV lanes may be problematic if users include both single and multi-occupant vehicles.
• The minority Liberal government's budget motion passed by a vote of 65 to 36 yesterday.  The next step is the second reading vote on Bill 65.  The auto insurance reforms are still alive.
• Insurers and brokers are going to have a real tough time explaining how the 15% rate reductions will work based on this story.
• Not surprising that Rob Ford's troubles are hurting Tim Hudak's PCs in the polls.