Tag: insurance tips

Teen Driver Safety Tips

Getting your license is a major life event in our modern society.  Learning to drive gives emerging young adults freedom and independence.  With that freedom and independence comes a great deal of responsibility.  During drivers education courses, a lot of information is given in a brief period of time.  Most of this information is forgotten once the focus is put on the practical aspect of navigating an automobile.  Below is a list of basic driving tips young people can review now and later to ensure they are the safest driver possible.

  • Always wear your seat belt.   Seat belts save lives.  There is a reason this invention has become mandatory in the American Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.  Prior to the invention, more automobile accidents were fatal.  Extensive research for decades has proven the seat belt to be the most effective life saving device in the transportation world.  It’s there to save you and in most states it’s unlawful to avoid it.  So use it as a precaution.  Your life is worth the minimal effort.
  • Never text while driving.  This should not just be limited to sending text messages.  It also pertains to using the website or even a google map for directions when your attention should be on the road.  Nothing is so important that it can’t wait until you reach your destination.  If it can’t be avoided, pull over to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights.  This simple act of using our phones for everything has become such second nature to us.  The truth is that act can result in the end of your life or someone else’s.  There are many new apps available to help resist the temptation of using your phone while behind the wheel by restricting its use.
  • Never drink and drive.  Unfortunately driving while under the influence is still a major issue.  Alcohol impairs judgement and response time.  Nobody should get behind the wheel while intoxicated.  Laws have become more harsh because society’s tolerance for unnecessary death is diminishing.  About fifty percent of state laws prohibit young drivers from having any alcohol in your blood.  The other states allow only .02 percent blood alcohol content. This equates to less than 1/2 shot of liquor or  half a beer.  If pulled over and caught with any alcohol in your blood, you will face DUI charges and possibly many other criminal charges as well.  No amount of alcohol is worth risking your future or a human life.
  • Follow teen driving laws in the state you are driving.  Laws can now be found online and should be reviewed before getting behind the wheel.  Teen drivers should know driving laws by state, insurance requirements and drivers license requirements.  Each state is a different and it is  the drivers duty to know and understand the laws.
  • Minimize distractions.  There’s a reason some states don’t allow teen drivers to have other young people in the car.  Distractions while driving can be harmful and possibly deadly.  When getting behind the wheel, be prepared to focus your full attention on the task of getting to your destination without incidents.   Remember that you are traveling at great speeds in a huge piece of metal that weighs thousands of pounds.  It is capable of destroying brick walls, other thousand pound metal objects, and can very easily destroy a human being.
  • Take drivers education and defensive driving courses.  Check with your Department of Motor Vehicle division to find information about basic driver education and defensive driving courses near you.  Paying a small fee for these course will help you decrease your risk of accidents and may also keep your insurance premiums low.
  • Get good grades in school. There is a link to doing well in school and safe driving.  Being a good student and a safe driver proves you’re responsible and confident in planning your future.  The similarities include paying attention to details and staying aware of what lies ahead both literally and cosmically.  Making the effort now will pay off in the future.

Francie LeBow

Insurance Professional

8440 Wyoming Blvd NE

Albuquerque, NM  87113

Tel. 505.600.3147

 

Winter Safety Driving Tips

Winter weather can bring new challenges to even the most seasoned drivers.  To help you stay safe during the winter months, we’ve provided a list of tips that can help you be prepared for safe driving during the cold season.

  • Make certain your car is ready for the winter road. Check tire pressure when the cold weather begins.  Drops in temperature can change the pressure in your tires.  In addition to tires, car batteries, belts, hoses and radiators may be affected by the cold weather.  Getting a winter-maintenance check up will ensure the above are in good condition as well as car lights, brakes, heater/defroster and wipers.  It is also important to keep your tank full at all times in case of an emergency.
  • Check the forecast before hitting the road. Knowing what to expect and being prepared for the worst may be the most important thing you can do before leaving your home.  Check the anticipated temperature for potential freeze warnings, expected rain/snowfall, and winter storm warnings in the area you’ll be traveling.  If you are traveling long distance, check the weather in each town you’ll be passing.  Different geography will come with a change of weather.  Also program a radio station that provides traffic reports and emergency messages.
  • Keep a winter kit in your car. A basic survival kit should include a flashlight, batteries, blankets, snacks, water, gloves and boots.  In addition to your winter kit, these basic items should always be in your car in case of emergency: a cell phone charger, jumper cables, flares, an E-tool, and a first aid kit.  Many of these items can be found at an army surplus and are made to withstand extreme conditions.
  • Be prepared for the worst. Before you leave the house, have weather appropriate clothing on your body or, at the least, in the car just in case of an emergency.  Make sure your cell phone has a full battery. Bring medications.  Let someone know where you are going and when you are expected to arrive at your destination.  If nobody knows you are on the road, they won’t know to worry if you don’t return in a reasonable amount of time.
  • Adjust your driving for the weather. Give yourself extra time for traveling and drive slowly.  Accelerate and decelerate slowly on snowy and icy roads.  Avoid using the brakes as much as possible especially if you begin skidding on the ice.  Keep a greater distance between cars.  And finally stay home and off the roads if possible.
  • If you become snow-bound while on the road, stay in your vehicle. Put a bright piece of cloth on your antenna as a distress signal or keep a dome light on if it is nighttime.  Run the car only enough to keep it warm and functioning until help arrives.

Taking these steps to be prepared for an emergency is the most responsible thing you can do as a safe driver.  In the event an accident happens, just know you are not alone.  There are many businesses and good citizens who are available and willing to help.  During this cold and stormy season, we urge you stay safe and keep warm.

Francie LeBow, Insurance Professional

8440 Wyoming Blvd NE

Albuquerque, NM  87113

Tel. 505.600.3140