Getting ready for winter driving
Posted on | February 7, 2010 | No Comments
Unless you retreat into a cave to sleep through the winter, you cannot have missed one of the most recorded Christmas songs of all time. Every mall in the country plays “Winter Wonderland”, usually the Bing Crosby and not the Ozzy Osbourne version, until you wish it was Spring. The myth of happy white Christmases is completely misleading. Unlike the southern states where the only problem is the dazzling sunshine, the northern states experience the annual covering of their roads with ice, sleet and snow, closely followed by the misery of melting slush then freezing over as the next cold front moves in. Trying to drive safely on the roads at this time is a nightmare. Nobody is ever prepared. Somehow, there is a mass amnesia as we all forget those defensive driving skills. That way, when the first snow falls, we can all panic as we move sideways across the road, pumping at the brake pedal without any effect.
Talk to an insurance company at this time of year brings depressing news. The number of claims arising from traffic accidents rise by nearly 40% in December through February. There is a spike on the first days of real snow in each area and people suddenly remember all the things they forgot. So what should you do to prepare for this annual festival of destruction on the roads. Well, the first and most basic rule of all is simple. If the journey is not essential, do not make it. The safest place on the first days of winter is in the safety of your own home with your vehicle safely parked off the road. Remember, if you have your vehicle parked on the street, it is a target for any other driver to crash into. Leave it with your friendly mechanic and take the chance for a few maintenance chores. If the snow looks set in, fit snow tires. If not, then have all-season tires with good treads to maximize the grip on the roads and carry chains with you. To improve visibility in sleet and snow, you need new windshield wipers. Have the brakes and steering checked, and retune the engine to give the best chance of it starting in the lower temperatures – there’s nothing worse than being stuck with a vehicle that will not start. Finally, pack an emergency kit and keep it in the vehicle. That way, if the worst happens, you can keep warm and warn other drivers away from you with hazard flares until help arrives. Ah yes. To speed the arrival of help, program the numbers of tow truck companies and garages in your area so you can be rescued. Membership of one of the clubs like AAA can offer good rates on emergency roadside assistance. Read more
Paying for your policy
Posted on | February 7, 2010 | No Comments
Looking around the US economy right now, all you see is the wreckage of dreams. Homes have been foreclosed, bankruptcy looms on private debts and the retirement 401ks have taken a serious hit. Life as we knew it has been turned upside down without anything in place to catch us as we fell. So how did we get into this mess? The economists tell us we have been living beyond our means. Credit was cheap and, with banks and credit card companies raising their borrowing limits, there seemed to be nothing we could not afford. There was no need for savings. Everything could be charged. If the limit was reached, the housing equity could be released as cash. Over a period of about twenty years, we switched from a country that saves to a country that spends on credit. In the period just after World War II, we had “prudence”. People mostly paid cash for what they wanted and, if they did not have enough, they saved. It was a revolution when, suddenly, everything could be paid for in affordable monthly instalments. In one sense, this is the easiest way to get into serious debt without noticing. When you only pay a few hundred dollars every month, it hardly registers the total debt is tens of thousands.
Insurance companies were the last of the hold-outs. For years, they insisted everyone should pay them a lump sum once a year. Then, slowly, there was a cave. First it slipped to every six months, then quarterly. Now almost every company across the nation accepts monthly. What’s the problem for the insurance companies? Well, they estimate the likely total cost of the claims they will have to pay over the next twelve months and divide that amount between all the policy holders as the premium. If the company has done its sums properly and everyone pays once a year, the company always has the cash in the bank to pay out on all the claims. If people pay monthly, they can easily change to another insurer. They can miss one month’s payment when the family budget is under pressure. That means the insurer may not have enough money to pay the claims. So, to encourage all you people with some savings (or some slack on your credit cards), they offer discounts if you agree to pay every six or twelve months. It gives them more security and saves you some money. Paying monthly costs you the most. Read more
Finding affordable insurance if you are a high risk driver
Posted on | February 7, 2010 | No Comments
Remember, the general rule always has exceptions. So when everyone tells you insurance companies load up the premiums of the inexperienced drivers and the drivers who have a bad safety record, that is true as a general rule. But this does not mean it’s impossible to find reasonably cheap insurance. All it means is you have to work harder to get results. So the first rule is, “Never give up hope!” There are always ways in which you can save on the premium and find reasonably good coverage. Who are you? You may:
- be a new driver;
- have been involved in multiple traffic accidents;
- have been convicted of driving while under the influence or other serious offenses; or
- have had you license suspended and/or your previous insurance cancelled.
The second rule is always to tackle the problem honestly. It is pointless to lie about your record. Even if the lie goes undetected when you buy the policy, every company makes thorough checks once a claim is made. If your dishonesty turns up, the company will cancel the policy and you will be left with no indemnity against the claim. Be open about your high-risk status and get two sets of quotes using the online search engines. You should aim to compare the prices on general policies with the premiums charged by the companies offering special policies for drivers with poor records. The bad news is the majority of general insurers will refuse to quote or quote high premiums. These are the companies only writing policies for people aged between 25 and 70 who have never had an accident in their lives. The quotes you get are still useful because you find out which is the lowest of the high quotes. The good news is there are a small number of companies offering a specialised service to high risk drivers. Ask for high risk auto insurance or nonstandard auto insurance and get their quotes. Read more
After accident behavior
Posted on | January 31, 2010 | No Comments
Of course, the environment can be a factor contributing to accident risk. Bad weather, rain, snow, strong wind – the likelihood of an accident to occur in such conditions is certainly quite high. But still, it’s much easier and cheaper to try to avoid an accident rather than having to deal with the consequences. Not to say that accidents are quite hazardous and can be deadly even if you’re not speeding. However, if you faced an accident, it really helps to remember certain things that will help you cope with the situation as effectively as possible. Here are some things to keep in mind that will actually help you.
It would be very good if you’ve had these tips printed and stored somewhere in your car, because it is so easy to forget everything when being in a stress situation. And having an accident, regardless of how serious it is, is surely a stressful situation.
First of all, you should do everything possible in order not to panic. Try to calm down and examine the situation. See what damage has your and the other party’s car sustained, ask if anyone’s injured. Other people’s health and life has priority than car damage, so if there’s anyone hurt call for medical assistance in the first place and then get busy with the vehicles. It may be a single scratch or a serious crash, so being cool-headed and able to evaluate and react accordingly is very important.
Cooperate with the police and tell everything they ask you too. Escaping the scene is not a very bright idea, because it will cause much more trouble and legal action when they find you. And it will be almost impossible to get car insurance coverage if your accident is not documented with the police. No matter who’s at fault in the accident, be there and tell everything as it happened. This will make it a lot easier and faster for everyone involved. Read more
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