Kankakee Times

High-level state insurance and transportation officials attended this week’s Chicago-based sixth annual Connected Car Insurance USA summit, helping Illinois transition to future insurance industry models as the automotive insurance industry prepares for major shifts.

 

Illinois Department of Insurance acting Director Anne Melissa Dowling and Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn joined industry executives at the convention, commending Illinois as a potential leader in the field.

 

“This is a great opportunity for us to showcase Illinois,” Dowling said. “A fundamental change is on the horizon where companies are writing more product liability insurance than individual driver performance. Driverless technology has arrived, and Illinois is coordinating across agencies to be in the best position to ensure the safety of all those who use our highways and byways.”

 

Connected Car Insurance USA 2016 provided automotive industry executives with the most informative forum of its kind for nationwide stakeholders during its two-day Chicago conference this week with a line-up of eminent speakers from major U.S. corporations, associations, universities and related entities.

 

The event focused on the implications of the nation’s imminent shift towards more automated vehicles, touching on subjects from consumer response and data ecosystem transition to new models and brand affiliation, alongside major networking opportunities.

 

“As the country is embarking on exciting new changes in transportation, Illinois is poised to be at the forefront of a mobility revolution,” Blankenhorn said. “[Illinois DOT is] dedicated to working with our industry partners to make this a reality and ensure Illinois is a leader in technology, innovation and safety.”