A picturesue drive – whether it’s across town or across the country – is a real treat during the fall when the colorful foliage is at its peak. Here are a few suggestions from some of the most trusted travel sources around:
As alluring as the scenery can be, the weather can be unpredictable this time of year as well, and leaves falling on the roadway can make for hazardous driving.
Click "Read More" below for a few precautions can make your fall road trip a success.
It’s back-to-school time again. We thought it might be a good time to review some of those circumstances that are unique to the school year, especially as they relate to your insurance coverage and liability.
From bus riding, to carpooling, to securing your child's belongings, you can find helpful information by click "Read More".
Drivers are distracted in many ways, including everything from dealing with children, pets and other passengers, to operating the car’s climate controls, audio or navigation device, and from eating to old-fashioned map reading. However, by far the deadliest distractions come from talking on the cell phone and texting while driving. Moreover, using your cell phone while driving has been found to impair your ability to drive your car just as much as driving while drunk.
No matter what your distractions might be, they all fall into one of the following three categories according to which of your senses are distracted by the activity, and texting and other cell phone use combine all three.
According to research done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over half a million people were injured and over 6000 people died because of distracted or inattentive drivers in 2008.
When so many injuries and deaths occur from such a cause – and the number is increasing, then it raises our collective awareness and repercussions occur.
Obviously, the situation threatens a rise in auto insurance costs because insurance companies must pay increasing numbers of payouts; and this could result in increased premiums for all of us. Therefore, insurers are taking part in the movement to control distracted drivers.
This growing problem has also captured the attention of industry because of the potential for lawsuits against employers for injuries and damage caused by employees who carry out their business by cell phone while they drive.
As a result, a cross-section of safety and industry organizations, including the NHTSA, have joined in a campaign against distracted driving. They are encouraging states to enact laws to prohibit texting while driving and have drafted a sample state law which was unveiled by U.S. Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, in February, 2010.
In fact, 19 states and the District of Columbia have texting laws in place covering all drivers, and others are pending. State laws vary, and below are some examples as reported by the Governors Highway Safety Association:
The public campaign to stop distracted driving – especially driving while texting and using a cell phone – is spreading, and the media is doing its part, as well. Here are just a couple of recent examples:
Whether you are a business owner, employer or just an individual concerned about your loved ones, you will want to minimize your risk by limiting your cell phone use and texting to non-driving time and by encouraging others who drive your vehicles to do the same.
No matter where you drive – from rural roads to suburban streets and even highways around our cities – the threat of a collision with a deer is real.
Deer collision accidents are on the rise, partially because the deer are being displaced from their natural habitat by urban sprawl but also because the deer population is growing.
In fact, the Insurance Information Institute reports that over 1 .6 million deer-vehicle collisions occur each year and these accidents cause vehicle damage, injuries and even fatalities at a cost in the neighborhood of $4.6 billion.
Learn more about deer collisions and how to stay safe during "Deer Season" by clicking "Read More" below.
Winter has really arrived. With recent temperatures dipping lower each week and the threat of ice and snow just around the corner, it’s not only unwise but unsafe to be unprepared for weather related driving problems this winter.
Be a smart driver -- brush up on these common sense rules for safe winter driving.
One more essential: Keep a Winter Driving Kit in your vehicle and stock it with: a bag of sand, salt or kitty litter, ice scraper, paper towels, shovel, snow brush, warning flares, window-washing fluid, a flash light, booster cables, a blanket, gloves and a cellular phone. You’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re prepared for an emergency.
The key to safe winter driving is to plan ahead, know your vehicle, adapt to the weather and road conditions and know about your auto insurance coverage.
Here at the Henry A. Latimer Insurance Agency, we can help you evaluate your auto insurance coverage to be sure it is adequate should you encounter an accident on winter roads. Why not contact us before your next road trip?
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