Seat Belts Save Lives

Most motorists are aware that seat belts and child safety seats can save lives; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 15,000 lives are saved each year by proper seat belt use. Buckling up every time you drive or ride in a car makes good financial sense as well; failure to wear seat belts can lead to costly traffic tickets and fines and may raise auto insurance premiums as well. Seat belts are one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your family when you’re out on the road.

While statistics indicate that 81% of all drivers and passengers buckle up faithfully every time, nearly 20% do not. The reasons given range from minor discomfort to forgetfulness to the short duration of the expected trip; some people even believe that seat belts can be dangerous in the event that the vehicle is submerged under water or engulfed in flames. In fact, less than one tenth of a percent of all automobile accidents involve deep water or sudden bursts of flames. Even in those rare cases, seat belts can protect drivers and passengers from impacts that can stun or render them unconscious and unable to react to save their own lives.

Statistics show that drivers who wear seat belts are more likely to maintain control of their vehicle in the event of an accident; this can prevent a chain reaction that can make an already bad situation far worse. When used every time, seat belts and child car seats can reduce the chance of fatal injury by nearly 50% and even lessen the severity of injuries sustained in the accident. The facts add up: wearing a seat belt can not only save you money on auto insurance and traffic tickets; seat belts can save your life and the lives of those you love.

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Getting Your Vehicle Prepared

One of the biggest problems vehicles face in hot weather conditions is overheating. To prevent this from occurring, make certain your radiator is functioning properly and that it is filled before you hit the road. If you are planning to travel over a long distance, you might also want to consider traveling during the early morning and late evening hours in order to reduce the amount of stress being placed on your vehicle.

Before you start your trip, you should also check all of your tires to make sure they are properly inflated. Remember that heat makes molecules spread apart, so your tire pressure may read a little higher than normal when the weather is hot. This is okay so long as they are not significantly overinflated. It is better to have your tires slightly overinflated than it is to have than underinflated during hot weather conditions.

Keeping You and Your Passengers Safe

In addition to making certain your car is in proper working order, you also need to take some steps to ensure the comfort and safety of you and your passengers. To do this, you should first check to make certain your air conditioning is working properly, as being cooped up in a vehicle without air conditioning can be quite uncomfortable and potentially dangerous when the temperatures are high. To that end, you should also never leave any passengers unattended in your vehicle, as cars can heat up to very high temperatures within a short period of time.

To further ensure the comfort of you and your passengers, you should also select clothing that is made with light-colored, natural-fiber fabrics and you may even want to consider wearing sunscreen to keep your skin protected from the sun’s rays. Placing window shades in the window is also a good idea if young passengers will be traveling with you and, of course, keep plenty of drinks on hand so everyone can stay properly hydrated.

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“While we were surprised that Generation X scored so highly,” said John Hallal, who is spokesperson for NRMA Insurance.  “The figures are a concern for all age brackets.”

Obviously, cell phone use while behind the wheel is a concern for everyone on the road.  Regardless of the technology used, research has shown that drivers who use their cell phones while driving are at a greater risk of being involved in an accident.

“And although many mobile phone users do tend to use hands-free technology while driving, the conversation always has the potential to distract the driver from what is happening on the road,” continued Hallal in the press release.  “We are therefore reminding NSW drivers that a busy lifestyle should not compromise safe driving habits.  If you lose focus while behind the wheel, even if it is only for a split second, the consequences can be serious.”

Another surprising finding was hat men are more likely to use their cells while driving than females.  In fact, 36% of the men responding to the survey admitted to talking while driving, while only 29% of females made the same claim.  Nonetheless, for the safety of everyone on the road, both of these figures should be greatly reduced.

“We are encouraging all drivers to stop in a safe place to make a call or send a text and then continue the drive with your mind focused on negotiating the traffic,” advised Hallal in the press release.

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Although the air bag industry is enjoying a good amount of business, automobile companies are also routinely looking for improvements in technology.  Therefore, the industry is still continually looking for ways to further improve upon airbags and become more competitive.  Namely, airbag companies are looking for methods to create Smart Airbag Systems with motion control systems and occupant protection systems. 

With the help of Smart Airbag Systems, your car can actually sense an impending crash as well where your occupants are located and even the nature of the accident.  By making these determinations, the system can then determine which type of airbag should be deployed and how quickly it should be deployed as well.  So, as the airbag industry works to determine how to best latch onto the growing demand for its product, consumers stand to benefit by the results.

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According to Gursten, lawyers have no problem with proving liability as well as with finding insurance.  Yet, they do have difficulty with obtaining personal injury damages, but this is an important component because it helps force businesses to look more closely at their safety policies.

“Lawyers are performing a critical and unacknowledged service in taking on these companies in an environment where state and federal agencies are not aggressively enforcing the rules,” said Gursten.  “Until the government can devote more resources to tackle the problem, lawyers bringing lawsuits to protect drivers will be the only reason dangerous trucking companies will choose to implement safety procedures.”

Gursten also states that winning big truck accident cases is essential in forcing trucking companies to abide by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations rather than putting profits over safety.

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Preparing for a Hurricane

If you live in an area where hurricanes are known to occur, it is important for you to properly prepare your car insurance coverage.  Simply by becoming familiar with your policy before disaster strikes will help you be better prepared for filing a claim and getting back on your feet if a hurricane should occur.

Before you become the victim of a hurricane, read through your policy and make certain you understand what is and is not covered by your policy.  You should also familiarize yourself with your deductible amounts and the procedure you are supposed to follow if your vehicle is damaged by a hurricane.  If you are uncertain about the coverage or if you would like additional items to be covered by your policy, discuss it with your insurance agent so you have the proper coverage in place.

Of course, preparing for a hurricane isn’t just about getting to know your car insurance policy.  You should also take steps to avoid getting your car damaged by a hurricane. Namely, take steps to keep your vehicle out of the path of a hurricane and park it indoors and on high ground that is located away from telephone poles and trees whenever possible.

Getting the Car Insurance in Order

If you notice some problems with your insurance coverage, you should discuss your concerns with your agent as soon as possible.  If you have comprehensive insurance in place, it should protect you from natural disasters such as hurricanes, which should also include damage caused by blowing winds, fire, flooding and rain.

In addition to having comprehensive insurance, you might also want to consider adding gap coverage to your policy.  With this coverage, you will receive insurance benefits equivalent to the amount of money you owe on your vehicle rather than the value of the vehicle.  This is highly beneficial if you still owe more on the vehicle than it its current value.  Rental reimbursement is also beneficial to have, as you will likely need a replacement vehicle to drive while your vehicle is being repaired or getting replaced.

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Apparently, the white van man is a driver who is aggressive and thoughtless toward other drivers.  As the name suggests, the name originated as the result of the driving habits of those who drove white-colored vans, but the term has been extended to apply to anyone who drives a van aggressively or at very high speeds.

According to a recent press release a bit of research was conducted in regards to the typical white van man and the researchers found that the average white van man is a 36-year-old married man with his own business.  These men also tend to stay close to home when driving and consider themselves to be non-aggressive drivers. 

Although the research was a bit tongue-in-cheek in nature, it is interesting to learn more about the people behind the terms.  I wonder what the vital stats are on the typical soccer mom?

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Referring to these pedestrians as “podestestrians,” the insurance company claims that those listening to their MP3 players are less likely to hear approaching traffic than other pedestrians.  This is partially because of the volume of their music, but is also attributed to the fact that many headphones are specifically designed to block out background noise.

According to data that Swinton has been collecting, there has been a significant increase in accident reports in which drivers report inattentive pedestrians as the cause of the accident.  In many of these cases, the pedestrians simply walked into the road without paying attention to where they were going.  As a result, drivers have had to stop suddenly, which causes the car behind them to rear end them. The problem is further compounded when pedestrians use their cell phones while listening to their MP3 players.

“This isn’t so much of a problem at major junctions, where traffic lights and crossings give visual guidance for when it’s safe to cross, but on quieter roads ‘podestrians’ can lead to drivers having to suddenly slam on their brakes,” said Steve Chelton, Insurer Development Manager for Swinton Insurance, in a press release.

“But when an absence of vehicle noise is combined with the visual distraction of texting you end up with a podestrian that’s even more ignorant to oncoming traffic. This greatly increases the likelihood of them causing an accident. “

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In an effort to help keep more drivers safe, LegalView has announced that it will be relaunching the truck accident information portal on its website (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/9/prweb1398744.htm).  The website, which strives to be the web’s number one source for legal information, will be providing updated facts and articles regarding truck safety through its relaunched portal. 

In addition to providing information about truck accidents and safety, the site also provides visitor with access to information about a variety of other legal issues, ranging from health issues to other vehicle-related legal information.  The site serves as a public service from the Legal WebTV Network, LLC, which was founded by a variety of law firms throughout the country.  Although the website does provide some very useful information, it is important to note that it does not serve to replace legal counsel if you find yourself involved in an accident or any other legal dispute

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The new glove line, which is called the Lightning Glove, has received acclaim around the world for its exceptional level of comfort and its groundbreaking design.  One of the benefits of the glove is its ability to prevent chemical irritations that commonly result with automotive workers as their hands sweat inside their gloves and combine with the chemicals that are found in other types of gloves used in the industry.

Development of the gloves required completing two years of research and listening to the comments and suggestions of numerous people within the automotive industry.  As a result, three different gloves were designed.  The Black Lightening glove is able to hold up against diesel fuel, gasoline and turpentine.  The latex used in the other gloves, the White Lightening and the Blue Lightening, makes it possible for those gloves to hold up against ketones, acetone and thinners.  In addition, the White Lightening glove is 8 millimeters thick while the Blue Lightening Glove has a 15 millimeter thickness as well as a long cuff measuring 12 inches long.

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