We’ve all had that uncomfortable feeling of being tailgated. It’s not just an annoyance. It’s a dangerous behavior that can lead to an accident. But just how risky is tailgating and what can we do about it? Read on.
What is tailgating?
When you’re too close to the car in front of you, you’re riding “on its tail,” or tailgating. Tailgating is an aggressive behavior that can be mistaken for road rage, and even lead to it. Interestingly, even though drivers who tailgate seem to rush ahead, tailgating has little effect on getting there faster.
Why do people tailgate?
There are many reasons why people tailgate. Here are a few of the most common ones.
Aggressive drivers tend to tailgate. These are the same folks who speed and cut it close when making lane changes. They also can quickly escalate into road rage episodes.
Drivers who are impatient or frustrated may tailgate. They’re in a hurry and they want to get past the traffic to their destination.
Intoxicated or drowsy drivers may tailgate without realizing it. Their state of mind causes them to misjudge the distance to the car in front of them.
Young drivers sometimes tailgate. They do not fully understand the safe distance between cars and/or the consequences of this risky behavior.
Distracted drivers may tailgate because they’re not paying attention to the road. They’re on their phones or fiddling with something in the car.
Almost always, drivers who tailgate have a false sense of security. They think they can stop in time. Yet it may take longer than you think. Stopping distance is directly related to the size and weight of your vehicle. A large truck will take much longer to stop than a small car. Sharing the road with vehicles of all sizes is important. You need to give yourself an adequate cushion of safety so you have enough time to react and stop your vehicle.
What are the effects of tailgating?
At the very least, you can make the driver in front of you nervous by tailgating. You may even cause them to drive too fast or shift lanes quickly which can cause an accident. They also may tap on their brakes to tell you to back off. That can trigger an accident or road rage incident. In a worst-case scenario, they can stop short, causing you to rear-end them. You may even cause a chain reaction of rear-end collisions.
Rear-end collisions make up about 23% of all crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These types of collisions cause approximately 950,000 injuries and 2,000 deaths each year.
Who is liable for a tailgating accident?
In nearly all cases, the driver who is tailgating is the person at fault in a rear-end collision. Note that a single at-fault accident could raise your insurance premium.
Learn the 3-second Rule.
If you’re alert and focused on the road, it takes you about 2 seconds to react to a roadway hazard. That means a safe following distance is at least 3 seconds or more.
Use the 3-second rule as a starting point. You can measure the distance in seconds this way:
Find a landmark such as a mile marker or telephone pole.
Start counting once the car in front of you passes that landmark.
Count slowly until your car reaches the same landmark.
That is the number of seconds that you are traveling behind the vehicle in front of you.
You will want to increase your following distance when the weather is bad. It’s recommended to use 4 seconds for wet weather and 10 seconds for snow and ice.
How should you react if you are being tailgated?
The last thing you want to do is to be rear-ended by a tailgater. If you are being followed too closely, you will want to take evasive action.
Don’t engage or look at the tailgater.
Don’t tap your brakes to tell them to back off. This can be construed as hostile and can cause the driver to react.
Change lanes and allow the driver to pass.
Maintain your distance from the driver. Keep as far away as possible.
Be aware that your car’s crash avoidance system could cause you to brake automatically and suddenly. That may play a role in future tailgating incidents.
Your car is one of your greatest investments. Keep your car well maintained and protect it with the right insurance.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Some days it seems we’re practically living in our cars. Having the right things on hand can make our lives that much easier.
As you’re going from soccer practice to dance and back again, make sure you have the kid-friendly “must-haves” in your vehicle. In honor of Child Passenger Safety Week, we’ve also included some important items to keep everyone safe.
Essentials
Stock the basic travel items to keep everyone clean and comfortable.
Wipes: These include wet wipes to clean hands and faces as well as disinfecting wipes for surfaces such as car seats. Up your game with stain remover wipes for those “oops” moments.
Tissues: Travel packs are easy to store. Not only are they good for the sniffles, but they can also double as napkins after eating, or toilet paper if you’re in a bathroom that has run out.
A towel: Dry off, clean off, or use to cover a hot seat. Towels can even double as a blanket or a napkin in a pinch.
Scissors: These are helpful in case you need to cut a seatbelt in an emergency. In non-emergency situations, use them to cut open items that won’t easily tear.
Pro Tip: Use a laundry basket for the things going from the car into the house and back again. It’s especially useful for sports equipment.
Clothing
Keep some extra things for everyone in your family.
Ponchos and/or umbrellas: You’ll want these for when you’re caught in the rain. You can find inexpensive disposable ponchos that do the trick.
Extra pair of clothes: Include a change of clothes with underwear, and a plastic bag for dirty or wet things.
Flip flops: It’s easier storing these than shoes for those times when your child splashes in muddy puddles. They’re more forgiving in size and you buy them on clearance.
Coats, sweatshirts, and blankets: These are great when the air conditioning is blasting, or the weather turns colder unexpectedly.
Snacks and Water
Sometimes plans change, or things take longer than you expected. This way, you’ll avoid the question, “can we stop somewhere for dinner?”
Snacks: Stock child-friendly snacks and update even nonperishable ones regularly.
Self-serve containers: Invest in spill-proof cups and containers that enable toddlers and young children to serve themselves.
Water: Choose reusable bottles, filled with fresh water to keep everyone hydrated. Water is also helpful when someone has sticky hands or sandy/dirty feet.
Trash bag: You want a place where the kids can throw their trash. Disposable plastic or paper bags are good options. Make sure to empty them often.
Entertainment
Keep them occupied with their favorite activities so that you can stay focused on the road.
Shoe box of toys: Let them decorate a shoe box and choose their favorite toys for the car. Include crayons and add some coloring books to your bag of books, below.
Reading: Pack a bag of books for every age level. Consider audio books for longer trips.
Power converter: Charge everything from phones to kids’ tablets to portable DVD players.
Restaurant backpack: Stopping to eat? Fill a backpack with toys and activities for kids to use at the restaurant.
Safety
We recognize Child Passenger Safety Week each September. It’s a reminder to keep safety in mind when we’re on the road.
LifeVac anti-choking device: Enjoying snacks in the car? This rescue suction device can save a life in a choking emergency.
Safewise seat alarm: This device detects when you open a back door before starting the engine. It sounds a chime, then issues escalating reminders so that you won’t accidentally leave a child behind in a hot car.
First aid kit: From band aids to antibiotic ointments, chances are you’re going to have to take care of minor injuries on the road. Make sure your first aid kit is fully stocked with the items you need. Include a first aid manual for those situations where you’re not exactly sure what to do.
Emergency roadside kit: Make sure you’re fully prepared in case you get stuck or stranded. Flares, flashlights, and jumper cables are good things to have in your emergency car kit.
Teach your children safety in and around vehicles for added protection. Finally, protect your car with the right insurance. It will give you peace of mind as you take care of your most precious cargo—your children. Safe travels.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614.
Thump, thump, thump. The sound of a flat tire doesn’t have to ruin your day. Be prepared for a future blow-out or puncture by reviewing how to use a car jack safely. In honor of National Preparedness Month, we’ve prepared a step-by-step guide. Bookmark this or print it out for when you need it.
First, what kind of jack do you have?
There are different kinds of jacks, and they operate slightly differently. Know which one you have.
Chances are you have a scissor jack. These are the jacks that typically come with new cars. Their compact size allows them to easily fit in a vehicle’s trunk. They look like two pairs of scissors joined at the tips, creating a diamond shape. Scissor jacks are designed to get the job done but they’re not meant for repeated use over time.
Hydraulic floor jacks are used by car enthusiasts. They’re also known as bottle jacks. They have a metal base with a lever extending to the side. They can be used repeatedly over time. However, their bulkier size makes them harder to store.
Step-by-step Instructions
Step 1: Park the car.
You saw the tire warning light or heard the thudding sound of a tire going flat. Safely pull over away from traffic. Don’t try to drive on a flat tire; it can cause harm to the wheel.
Make sure you are parked on solid ground. Don’t put a jack on dirt or grass. It will not be stable enough. (If you have to park on dirt or grass, use a thick, flat piece of wood to create a stable platform for the jack.)
Don’t use a jack on an incline. If you must, make sure you’re close to the curb. If you’re parked downhill, turn your front wheels toward the curb. If you’re parked uphill, turn your wheels away from the curb.
Put the car in park and engage the parking brake. If your car has a manual transmission, put it in first gear and engage the parking brake. Turn the engine off and put on your hazard lights.
Step 2: Secure the wheels.
For an added precaution, you will want to “chock” at least one wheel. A chock is a block or wedge placed against a wheel to prevent it from moving.
You can buy an inexpensive chock block or wheel wedge from an auto or big box store. If you don’t have one, you may use wood blocks or bricks.
If you’re lifting the front of the car, put the chock behind the back tire.
Do the opposite of the corner that you’re going to lift. If you’re lifting the front right wheel, then chock the rear left and vice versa.
Step 3: Set up the jack.
You will find your jack in the trunk or under the luggage floor cover.
Jacks are not labeled with “this side up.” Make sure that it’s not upside down when you place it on the ground. For a scissor jack, look for a larger flat base at the bottom and a smaller “saddle” pad at the top.
If you have a handle assembly, put the handle together. For scissor jacks, slip the included rod tool through the hole and turn to pull the sides of the scissor inward and the top and bottom of the jack apart. For hydraulic jacks, you will need to place the handle in the opening. To operate hydraulic jacks, simply pump the handle.
Practice without a load. You can use silicone spray if the jack is tight or jerky.
Step 4: Place the jack.
On most vehicles, there are 4 jacking points with reinforced metal to safely lift your car.
Look just behind the front wheels and just in front of rear wheels or consult your owner’s manual.
If you are lifting just one wheel, choose a jack point near that corner. Most likely, the right place is on the pinch weld (where the metal pieces are welded together) between the front and rear tires. There may be a solid square of metal underneath the car for your jack point.
Turn the handle of your scissor jack to the right (or pump your hydraulic jack). There will be some initial resistance, but the tire will eventually come off the ground.
Make sure the jack stays straight up. If it’s leaning, it will not be able to support the car correctly.
Pay attention to sounds. You may hear a pop or a thud if the jack shifts slightly. Check that it hasn’t slipped out of position.
Stop when the wheel is just a few inches off the ground. You don’t need much room to change a tire.
Check your jack. Give your car a gentle shake to make sure it’s secure. If the jack moves, then raise or lower it to the point where there’s no movement.
Step 5: Add jack stands (optional).
Jack stands will help provide additional support. They are essential if you are working under the car but optional if you are changing a tire and not going underneath.
Place your jack stand directly under the lifting point. Use the pin or screw to lock it in place, per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not use cinder blocks or bricks as a substitute for jack stands.
Step 6: Lower the car.
When you are done changing the tire, it is time to lower the car. Raise the car an inch or two so you can remove the jack stands.
To lower the car, turn a scissor jack counterclockwise or to the left.
For a hydraulic jack, open the relief valve to let the fluid drain. This will lower the arm. Make sure to open the valve slowly so you don’t drop the car down too fast.
Put the jack away for use at another time. Congratulate yourself on a job well done.
Your car is one of your greatest investments. Keep your car well maintained and protect it with the right insurance. Safe travels.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
It’s time to take teacher burnout seriously. We can plan for it, take steps to avoid it, and address it if it happens, and administrators are key in doing that. Here’s how schools can set teachers up for success and help everyone to avoid burnout.
Reduce extra roles.
Teachers put in plenty of hours. They’re responsible for lesson planning, teaching, grading, assessments, behavior management, confliction resolution, social emotional learning, and home-school communication. They arrive early, stay late, and bring work home. Be careful of adding anything extra to that already hefty workload. Before you ask a teacher to take on an extra role, from chaperoning the school dance to running the cooking club, ask some questions.
Is this extra role necessary?
What happens if this role is not staffed this year?
Is there anyone else who could fulfill this role (e.g., parent volunteer, community organization, etc.)?
If a teacher takes on this role, can you provide extra support in another area to free up his/her time? Can extra pay be offered for the extra role?
Give teachers flexibility.
Teaching requires educators to be onsite, but not all the time. Give teachers the flexibility to shift their workload to where it is comfortable for them. Foster a culture where it is acceptable for teachers to choose how to spend their non-classroom time.
Allow teachers to leave school when students are not in their care (e.g., run an errand during a free period or leave early for a doctor’s appointment).
Permit teachers to do their grading elsewhere.
Schedule virtual faculty meetings so teachers can attend from home.
Enable staff to participate in professional development days from home.
Schedule time for collaboration.
Educators benefit from sharing ideas and best practices. Schedule regular time where teachers can collaborate with colleagues at their grade level or subject area. This will inspire great work while providing a chance for educators to support each other.
Ask teachers to choose the times they would like to meet.
Provide substitute coverage for designated collaboration periods.
Don’t schedule meetings during teacher prep periods. That is taking away important planning time.
Don’t ask teachers to come in early or stay late for meetings.
Give teachers autonomy.
From curriculum standards to standardized testing, there is a lot in the teaching profession that is regimented. Allow teachers the autonomy in their classrooms for the parts of their job that are not mandated. This helps improve job satisfaction and retention. It also raises the quality of instruction.
No two educators are the same. Empower teachers to vary their approaches in the classroom even if they are teaching the same grade level or subject area as colleagues.
Involve teachers in goal setting for themselves and their grade level/subject area.
Ask teachers to identify key areas where they want to grow professionally. Provide support in those areas.
Give new teachers mentors.
New teachers benefit from an experienced hand to show them the way. Not only can a well-designed mentor program help them to be effective, but it can also be a factor in retention and future success.
Pair teachers with mentors teaching the same grade level or subject area.
Provide coaching guidance to the mentor. Consider a stipend for mentor work.
Schedule collaborative time, with substitute coverage so mentors can observe mentees and vice versa.
Schools that prioritize self-care create a workplace with happier, high-performing employees. Importantly, this is a schoolwide initiative. Administrators need to model the behavior that they want to see in their staff.
Set work boundaries. Let teachers know you won’t be sending or answering emails after 6 pm or on weekends. Ask them to do the same.
Encourage teachers to take breaks, such as walks around the school.
Provide programs and resources for self-care. Show gratitude on a regular basis.
Set parameters and norms around how staff interact with, listen to, and support each other.
Pro Tip: Allow teachers to text a colleague to relieve them so they may step out of the classroom for a few minutes if needed.
Survey your teachers.
Educators know what they need in order to thrive. Ask your staff where they need support, and then listen and act on their responses.
Conduct a formal survey to identify areas of need. Make it optional to share the respondent’s name to encourage honest feedback.
Plan regular check-ins with your staff. Have informal conversations at classroom doors, at lunch, in the hallways, etc.
Encourage an open-door policy for your teachers. Alternatively, set office hours so they can easily connect with you.
Plan for burnout.
Despite your best efforts, burnout can happen. Be prepared with clear policies so staff know that there is help should they need it.
Provide options for temporary leave or a sabbatical.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Before we know it, we’ll be going from relaxing summer days to busy fall schedules. With school, sports practices, extracurricular activities, meetings, and more, it can easily become overwhelming.
We’ve researched some effective ways to take control of our busy schedules. Follow these tips and, hopefully, you’ll find some much-needed time for yourself, too.
Stay on top of the little things so they don’t create last minute rushes.
Stop for gas before the tank is nearly empty. Do your laundry so you don’t have to search for that clean shirt. Go food shopping so you have items to pack for lunch. If you put off the small things, they can become big stressors and throw off your schedule.
Use the one-minute rule. If a task will take you one minute or less, do it now.
Hang up your coat. Put your dishes in the dishwasher. Put away all the groceries when you bring them home, even the ones that don’t need refrigeration. Putting off these smaller tasks will just add to your to-do list.
Make large tasks more manageable by doing them in stages.
If you have a big project at work, you probably break it down into smaller parts. Do the same with your household tasks. Clean the bathroom on Monday, the toilet on Tuesday, and so on. Break up larger projects so that it’s easier to fit them into your schedule.
Make sure everything in your house has a home.
You have five minutes before you must leave, and you can’t find your keys. When you declutter, it’s a lot easier to find the things you need at a moment’s notice. Do that not only for your house but for your car and workspace too.
Schedule tasks for the time that you are most productive.
Are you an early morning person or a night owl? Plan tasks for the times that you have the most energy or can focus the best. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish.
Plan for downtime as you wait for pickups or in lines.
Use waiting time for answering emails, reading brief articles, or doing other tasks that take 10-15 minutes. Prepare a list of smaller tasks that you can complete during this time. Some downtime, however, such as sitting in traffic is not right for multitasking. Don’t text and drive, even if your car is not moving.
Create a to-do list with time estimates.
Don’t rely on your memory. Prepare a daily to-do list. Include an estimate of the time each task will take. Star or highlight the tasks that take priority. Then make an informed decision about which tasks you’ll tackle first. Keep your to-do list in sight where you can easily see it.
Pro Tip: Plan the next day’s to-do list at the end of the previous day so you’ll be ready to go.
Reflect and reprioritize.
New tasks pop up all the time. Take a moment midday to reflect on your to-do list. See where you are and what you have yet to do. Update your priorities to tackle the most important tasks.
Create a master calendar for a visual representation of your schedule.
While a to-do list helps with tasks, a calendar displays your daily, weekly, and monthly commitments at-a-glance. Block out activities on your calendar. Color code your calendar by work/personal/family/child. Allow for travel time and make sure to include breaks/downtime.
Set aside different days of the week for different tasks.
Maybe Saturday is for errands. Sunday is for meal prep. Organizing your schedule in this way helps consolidate the same types of tasks. That way, you’re not running to the food store three times a week for groceries. It will end up being a big timesaver.
Reduce time in meetings.
Consider whether a meeting needs to be in person, or if it could be virtual (no travel time). Maybe it could be a call or email. If you do have the meeting, share the agenda in advance. Include times for topics and stick to the schedule.
Avoid distractions from tasks at hand.
Texts and emails can interrupt your workday and family time. Put your phone on silent or wear headphones. Wait until your break to check your phone. Considering checking email at a designated time (e.g., every hour or every couple of hours) rather than all the time.
Don’t be afraid to delegate.
You don’t have to do everything. Don’t accept more responsibility than you can realistically handle. See if there is someone at work or in your family who can take over some of your workload. Consider paying a professional to handle some of your tasks. There are services that handle errands, housekeeping, meal prep, and more.
Use digital tools.
There are many technology tools that can help you organize from calendar apps to digital to-do lists. Some popular tools include ClickUp, Google Tasks, Notion, RescueTime, and Todoist.
Schedule time for yourself.
You do everything for everyone. Make sure you make time to relax and recharge. Block off time for lunch. Schedule time for self-care, including favorite hobbies, time with friends, and time away. You’ll emerge refreshed and ready to take on a new day.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
