Are you afraid to travel? Just as vacation season begins, themedia bombards with concerns about travel safety, with many worriedthat traveling in the U.S. will become more dangerous if al-Qaedatries to retaliate for last month's ambush and killing of Osama binLaden.

According to a recent survey by Chubb—which was conducted evenbefore the bin Laden raid—half of the 1,000 Americans surveyed said they wouldrefuse to go on a business trip, giving reasons related toterrorism (28 percent) and political or civil unrest (21 percent),or an infectious disease outbreak (19 percent). Respondents citedsituations such as the uprisings in Egypt and Libya as the reasonsfor concern.

And if you think the paranoia is restricted to air travel, thinkagain: Now railroads are under the microscope. With the Dept. ofHomeland Security suspecting that Amtrak could be targeted for actsof terrorism, and calls for a “do not ride” list for rail travel,it seems as though the carefree days of train travel arenumbered.

So what's left? Driving? Not likely, with gas still topping $4 agallon in most areas of the country.

If there is any good news in this prognosis (and for insurance,there always seems to be a silver lining to any black catastrophiccloud), it's that the demand for stand-alone terrorism insurancecould see a spike. According to a June 2010 report by Marsh, amongnearly 1,400 of its business clients, a greater percentage haveadded terrorism coverage to their commercial property-casualtyinsurance. The percentage of Marsh's clients that bought propertyterrorism insurance was more than 61 percent in 2009, 57 percent in2008 and 27 percent in 2003. It's probably safe to predict thatthis number will increase as terrorism backlash fearsintensify.

Speaking of coverage demands, this issue marksAA&B's third annual green insurance issue (see theJune 2010 green issue and the June 2009 green issue). Although we've always predicted bigthings for this product niche (and still believe in its promise),the ongoing recession has delayed that promise's delivery. In asurvey conducted as part of our coverage, our agent/broker readerswere almost evenly split when asked whether “the promise of greeninsurance products and services have been oversold” (seethe complete survey results). Only 26 percent of respondentssaid they were writing any green-related insurance products orservices, with most of that in green new construction propertycoverage.

However, slow growth doesn't mean green is dead. In our coverarticle, freelance writer Nina Lill talks to agents, brokers andcarriers about why they believe this coverage is poised to take offwhen the economy improves.

And don't forget, we're now accepting applications for theAmerican Agent & Broker and NationalUnderwriter 2011 Commercial Agency Awards of Excellencecompetition. Deadline for entries is only a month away on July1, so please check out our website forrules and entry application.