Vehicle Safety

VEHICLE SAFETY

6 Driving Safety Tips to Stay Protected on the Road

1. Stay focused on defensive driving

• Keep 100% of your attention on driving at all times.
• Use defensive driving techniques and be aware of what others around you are doing and expect the unexpected.
• Don’t use a cell phone or any other electronic device while driving.

2. Practice safe driving tips

• Build time into your trip schedule to stop for food, rest breaks and phone calls or other business.
• Adjust your seat, mirrors and climate controls before putting the car in gear.

3. Prioritize car safety

• Secure cargo that may move around while the vehicle is in motion. Don’t attempt to retrieve items that fall to the floor.
• Have items needed within easy reach, such as toll fees, toll cards and garage passes.

4. Make the time for driving safety

• Pull over to eat or drink. It takes only a few minutes.
• Practice defensive driving and give yourself time to react. Keep a 2 second cushion between you and the car in front of you − 4 seconds if the weather is bad.

5. Slow down

• Don’t speed − it gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident.

6. Think safety

• Always wear your seat belt and drive sober and drug-free.

Find additional safe driving tips from Nationwide
Following these safe driving tips can lead to safer roadways for everyone and the prevention of more car accidents. You can also learn more about driving while distracted and how these driving safety tips may help protect you.

Driving Safety Tips to Avoid an Accident

Here are some tips to follow when behind the wheel:

• Don't allow children to fight or climb around in your car (they should be buckled in their seats at all times). One accidental bump or too much noise can easily distract you from concentrating on driving safely.
• Cell phones can also take your focus away from the task at hand: arriving safely at your destination.
• Avoid driving when you're tired. Be aware that some medications can cause drowsiness and make operating a vehicle very dangerous.
• Always use caution when changing lanes. Cutting in front of someone, changing lanes too fast or not using your signals may cause an accident or upset other drivers.

Driving Safety Tips

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What should I do if I’m in a car accident?

If you're involved in an accident, first make sure no one in the car is injured. Next, check on the passengers in the other vehicle; or, if necessary, make certain that no pedestrians are hurt.
Then, take these five things into account:

1. Stay at the scene. Leaving can result in additional violations or fines.
2. Call 911 or the police as soon as possible. They'll dispatch medical personnel and a police officer immediately to the scene of the accident. Wait for the police to complete an accident report.
3. If you're on a busy highway, stay inside the car and wait for the police or an ambulance. It's dangerous if passengers stand along a busy street.
4. Don't get into an argument or a fight with the other driver. Simply exchange contact and insurance information. If possible, also get the name and phone numbers of witnesses.
5. Call your insurance provider to report the claim. Your agent will ask you to send any paperwork you receive regarding the accident and will give you instructions as to where you can get your car fixed.

What should I do if a police officer stops me?

If you notice that a police car is following you with its emergency lights flashing, pull over to the side of the road safely and quickly. Wait inside your car for the officer to approach and talk to you and also be prepared to:

• Turn on your interior light at night and keep your hands where the officer can see them, preferably on the steering wheel.
• Don't reach under your seat or into your glove box. This may cause the officer to think you're reaching for a weapon or hiding something.
• Give your license and registration to the officer if asked to do so. If the officer asks you to step out of your car, do so without sudden or threatening movements.
• Stay calm − don't become argumentative, disorderly or abusive − and never attempt to bribe the officer.
• Present your story in traffic court if you feel you’ve been unfairly treated. You may be represented by a lawyer, if necessary, you'll be heard by a judge or magistrate.

What should I know about speeding and other traffic laws?

Some roadways are designated as low-speed zones. These might include roads in areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as school zones and streets that have many intersections. Driving over the speed limit can put you and others at risk of harm.
6 things that will keep you safe and help you avoid a ticket:

1. Basic car safety encourages you to obey the posted speed limit at all times. Speeding tickets are costly, and penalties for speeding can include fines, court appearances and loss or suspension of your driving privileges. Also, depending on your insurance policy, speeding tickets can impact your rates.
2. Never pass a stopped bus displaying a stop sign to its left; that's a signal that children are crossing the street.
3. If you hear a siren coming behind you, it’s an indication that a police or fire truck is speeding by you, toward an emergency. If it is safe, pull to the side, stop and wait until the vehicle goes by.
4. Horn honking is reserved for emergencies. It's considered rude to use your horn for any other situation.
5. Completely stop at stop signs and look for other drivers and pedestrians before you cross.
6. Use care when parking your vehicle. Always look for tow away zone or handicapped signs these areas are reserved for vehicles with special permits. Also, certain streets may have parking restrictions, and failing to follow instructions at a parking meter may result in a fine.

Some of the variables that may affect safe driving, like the weather, can't be controlled. However, by staying alert, taking precautions, and following our safe driving tips you can avoid potential car accidents and tickets.

Understand the term DUI

It's a simple fact: drinking and driving kills people. Driving after drinking alcohol is known as Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
All 50 states have now set .08% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) as the legal limit for Driving Under the Influence, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For commercial drivers, a BAC of .04% can result in a DUI conviction nationwide. For those under 21, there is a zero tolerance limit; any amount of alcohol is grounds for a DUI arrest.
A DUI arrest can lead to expensive consequences, including spending time in jail, having your driver's license suspended or taken away and fines. If you hit or kill someone while you are driving impaired, the consequences are even worse.
It's also illegal to have an open container of alcohol in your car. If you're transporting alcoholic beverages, they should be sealed and in the trunk.
In some cities, law enforcement officials set up sobriety checkpoints along the road to deter and identify impaired drivers. Checkpoints are typically set up during holiday weekends or on dates when there might be an increase in drinking and driving. If you're stopped at a checkpoint, you'll be asked several questions and might be asked to perform a sobriety test (like saying the ABC's backwards, performing some physical movements or breathing into an alcohol sensor). If these tests show that you have high alcohol levels, the police may arrest you.

Driving tips for winter conditions

Car Seat Safety for Children

Getting the right car seat, installing it properly and using it in the right way is the best way to keep your children safe in the car. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are the number one killer of children 1 to 12 years old in the United States, so using the right car seat to increase child car safety is critical.
How do you choose the right car safety seat? Seemingly there are dozens of options – and your selection should be influenced by your child’s age, weight and height. Take a look at these tips from Parents Central, a website from the NHTSA, when selecting a car or booster seat:

• Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and choose a seat that fits in your vehicle and use it every time.
• Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.
• To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
• Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

To learn more about the different types of child car safety seats available and the latest guidelines for age, height and weight, visit Parents Central.

Avoiding accidents with kids in the car

According to Kids and Cars, each year a large number of children are left alone in vehicles.  Most people underestimate the potential consequences. Risks to a child's safety including kidnapping, heat stroke, setting a vehicle in motion, injury from power accessories, getting trapped in the trunk and even fatal car crashes.
Accidents can happen right in your own garage or driveway. Kids and Cars offers the following tips to ensure child safety and help prevent accidents in or around vehicles.

Everyday car safety and children

• Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.
• Put something you'll need, such as your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case, on the floor board in the back seat.
• Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind. This will soon become a habit. We call this the “Look Before You Lock” campaign.
• Keep a large stuffed animal in the child's car seat when it’s not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It's a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal is up front you know the child is in the back seat in a child safety seat.
• Make arrangements with your child’s day care center or babysitter that you will always call if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled.
• When a child is missing, check vehicles and car trunks immediately.
• If a child is locked inside a vehicle, get them out as quickly as possible. If they are hot or appear sick, call 911 or your local emergency number.

For more information on car safety for kids, visit the Kids and Cars website.

Learn How Much an Auto Insurance Lapse Can Cost

Here’s why it’s smart to stay insured

In tough economic times, everyone looks for ways to cut back. You could be tempted to let your car insurance expire, even for a short period of time. Unfortunately, a car insurance lapse can cause major problems for you. Here are several reasons why it’s important to stay covered.

Legal requirements

Most states require some level of car liability insurance that pays for another’s medical costs related to an accident or damages to another person’s property or vehicle if you’re at fault in an accident. If you own a car and you’ve allowed a lapse in auto insurance, you might be violating the law, even if the car is parked and not driven. If you do drive the vehicle and cause an accident, you’ll be cited and subjected to stiff fines or worse.

Financial consequences

Driving without car insurance is risky. If you’re responsible for an accident and don’t have insurance, you may be sued to pay for the damages – and end up paying for everything, including the lawyer, out of pocket.

Insurance rate increases

After an auto insurance lapse, your ability to get insurance at an affordable rate could be compromised. And, chances are, it will be at an increased rate. You may need to search for an insurance company that specializes in insuring risky drivers. Typically, high-risk insurers charge more for their policies, so complete, affordable coverage might be difficult to obtain.

Driving record impact

In some states, auto insurance companies are required to notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when you drop insurance or change companies. Once you have a lapse in auto insurance, it may be noted on your driving record. Your car could be seized and your license suspended.

What to Keep Handy in Your Glove Compartment

Glove compartments are great places to stash stuff on the go. Some overflow with leftover fast-food ketchup packets, hair bands and receipts from purchases long forgotten. Others hold simply a vehicle’s title and registration, two pieces of paper that are like gold to a car thief.
So what should you keep in your glove box? Check out our lists of must-haves and nice-to-haves – neither of which includes gloves.

The crucial stuff

• Critical medical information. Write down any medical conditions, medications and allergies for each family member in case you’re involved in an accident and can’t communicate these important facts yourself.
• Emergency contact numbers. Write them down, and while you’re at it, add them to your cell phone and put them in your wallet, too.
• Pen and paper. If you’re in an accident and need to exchange information, you’ll have something to write with – and on.
• Proof of insurance. It’s the law almost everywhere in the United States. But don’t store the car’s title (keep that at home) or registration (keep that in your wallet) in your glove compartment.
• Owner’s manual and recommended maintenance schedule. So you can figure out what those weird symbols on the dash mean.

The convenient stuff

• A flashlight. To help you find that dropped french fry under the passenger seat.
• Napkins, travel wipes, tissues and hand sanitizer. After touching the gasoline hose at your next fill-up, you’ll be glad to have something to wipe the odor off your hands.
• High-energy snacks. Stash a few granola bars in the glove box so you can last through an extra-long rush hour.
• Plastic grocery bags. Smash a few into a zip-top plastic bag and use them for trash as the need arises.
• Lint roller. If you have pets, you know you can never have too many of these.

Some drivers even stow copies of their living will and power of attorney for health care in their glove compartments when they travel. That way, their requests will be close at hand in the event that something happens while they’re out of town. And they will likely still have room for a few stray hair bands.

Keep These Emergency Numbers Handy

These days, you can store practically all of your computer information on your cell phone – from your entire music collection to the latest dog-riding-a-skateboard video. You can also use your mobile device as a safety net in case of emergency. Take five minutes right now to tap these important numbers into your contact list so you'll be prepared if something happens.
ICE − This number, which stands for "in case of emergency," should be your emergency contact – a parent, spouse, close friend or whomever you want notified if something happens to you. Many emergency responders and hospital personnel know to look for this number.
Home − Your home phone number, if you have one. If someone finds your lost cell phone, he or she can call this number to let you know your phone is intact. Emergency personnel may also try it as an alternative number if there is no answer at the ICE number.
Police − In case you have an emergency or witness someone else who needs help, you can notify your local police station about the situation more rapidly if you already have the number stored in your phone.
State highway patrol − See a motorist stranded by the side of the road? Be a good Samaritan and call the state highway patrol for assistance.
Insurance company − If you’re in an accident, you can notify your insurance company right away and get roadside assistance or towing help if you need it. (Nationwide's toll-free number for claims is 1-800-421-3535.)
Your motor club − Membership in an auto club can get you out of a jam. Store their 800 number in your cell phone in case you lock your keys inside the car or get a flat tire. If you have Nationwide Roadside Assistance, that number is 1-800-421-3535.

A word about 911 and cell phones

While technology continues to improve, many wireless phones do not offer a way to determine a caller's location. If you call 911 in an emergency, be sure to mention your location, your phone number and what has happened.

Theft Protection Tips for the Valuables Inside Your Car

Auto thefts happen every day – but don’t make it easy for thieves to “smash and grab.” For instance, don’t park your car in a lot and leave your wallet or purse on the passenger seat. And don’t leave your SUV unattended with your CDs, cell phone or change visible in the console.
Not only will you probably lose your stuff that way, but you'll also make the auto-glass guy richer and spend weeks retrieving stray shards from your car's interior. While you can't deter "smash-and-grab" thieves entirely, you can take a few simple steps to minimize the likelihood you'll fall victim to this annoying and often costly type of theft.

What they can't see won't tempt them

Smash-and-grab practitioners aren't exactly criminal masterminds. Many are just casual opportunists, grazing secluded parking areas without much of a plan or simply acting on impulse. They see, they smash, they grab. And then they slink or run away. So keep your valuables either with you or out of sight. Things not to leave lying on the seat, dash or floor:

• Purses and wallets
• Laptop bags, briefcases and backpacks
• Shopping bags
• Cell phones, MP3 players and other small electronics
• Loose change and CDs
• Keys

Make them uncomfortable

Most theft is solitary work. The last thing thieves want is a crowd of onlookers with cell phones and pepper spray at the ready. So try to keep your car conspicuous:

• Park in busy lots and designated spaces, near pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
• If there's a chance you'll be away from your car after dusk, park in a well-lit area or near a lamppost.
• Choose a lot with an attendant over one without.

Make them work for it

The theft of small items from cars may yield the occasional bonanza (a wallet or laptop, for instance), but many thieves go for small items because of their inherent amusement value (your MP3 player or phone). What a thief wants is fun or a trickle of supplemental revenue for as little work as possible. By making your car a harder target for smash-and-grab theft, you make it less desirable. So:

• Always lock your doors and roll up your windows when you park.
• Activate your security system if you have one.
• Consider window tinting (if permitted by local laws), since it makes the act of casing your car more time-consuming and conspicuous.
• Avoid using the console or glove box as mobile lock boxes, since these are obvious to thieves, too.

Don't hand them the keys

A key on the dash or in the ignition may propel the weak-willed or enterprising into outright auto theft. And keep in mind that if you have a great hiding place for a key – say, in your wheel well or above your sun visor – a thief has thought of it, too. Many times.

Move personal items ahead of time

While the trunk is better than the passenger compartment for shopping bags and laptops, an experienced thief will often stake out a parking lot and watch you transfer your valuables. Move things before you get to your destination, and you're a step ahead of the game.

Be alert

See suspicious activity? Trust your instincts: Don't park there. And don't confront anyone yourself. If you're really concerned, report your suspicions to an attendant or the police.

Lewis Insurnace
2525 S. Lamar Ste 11
Austin, TX
78704

www.nationwide.com/joshlewis
www.austinhealthbrokers.com