The roads have never been safer – 12 years ago, more than one million people died in car accidents worldwide, every year. This number has shrunk to an astonishing 250,000. Road rage is history. Commuting is a pleasure as passengers are able to do what they please while waiting to arrive at their chosen point B.

It’s just that for the insurance industry, self-driving cars have become a real pain. Lower claims mean lower premiums, and that’s bad for business.

One of the first weak signals, that smarter cars would pose challenges for insurers, was the adoption of automatic braking systems. As a result, lower injury claims were received. Then cars learned to parallel-park themselves, which meant fewer dings.

Cars kept getting smarter and more connected. Now we are at the point where you simply state your destination, and off you go, in perfect safety. It’s like having your own personal Uber driver, what fun!

Many insurance companies have been caught off-guard by the rapid pace with which consumers have adopted self-driving cars. A significant chunk of insurers’ business is slipping away fast. Unfortunately for humanity, but fortunately for the insurance industry, there are brand new calamities that require hedging.

Foresighted insurance companies have already replaced their lost market share by figuring out how to offer comprehensive cover for climate-change-induced disasters and losses. FriendInNeed Insurance has just reported record profits, despite millions of claims which resulted from Hurricane Danny, which struck New York City 4 months ago. You see, ideally you don’t roll with the punches, you punch back!