by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info |
Is the new technology in your car helping you or hurting you? California Casualty is very interested in making sure your vehicle is safe for you and your family.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the technology could lead to an era of virtually zero highway deaths and could cut traffic congestion, suggested Mark Rosekind, an administrator for NHTSA. David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power states that automakers are focusing on giving consumers the new features and technology they want. The mechanical problems that are traditional have vanished. Thanks to the newest vehicles of today, the quality is better than ever.
Some of the latest features include:
- Advanced Backup Cameras– Being able to see all angles while in reverse
- Automatic Steering- Helps keep the vehicle in the lane, should you become distracted.
- Smartphone Vehicle Management- Locates the car, starts the engine, or call for roadside assistance.
- Self-Parking Systems- System uses sensors, cameras, and other technology to automatically park the vehicle.
But could they be more harm than good? Recent smartphone technology in these cars could enhance distracted driving. Kim Komando, a digital expert, also says that the new computers in cars can make them easier to hack. How safe is it if you have a car that can drive itself? Who is to blame if in an accident? Is it the driver or manufacturer?
Here is a list of actions to take before purchasing a vehicle with new technology.
- Research the vehicle– The more you know about the vehicle will reduce the stress of buying.
- Ask the seller- Ask the seller, whether it be private or dealership, to see all the features that the car can do before purchasing.
- Check your coverage– Check in with your insurance company to see about accidents caused by technology, and how it affects your policy.
Getting a new vehicle is exciting, that is why it is important to know the facts of serious purchasing.
by California Casualty | Firefighters |
How do you start your day?
It seems most of us (myself included) love to get the morning (or evening if you work shifts) started with a good cup of coffee or tea. As you go through your day, have you noticed just how many mugs have a slogan or saying on them. It seems that what’s on our cup often gives a glimpse of who we are and what we think.
After doing a little research, we’ve assembled a list of some of the best sayings we’ve found on firefighter’s mugs:
- I do battle with the Angel of Death forty hours a week. And what do you do for a living?
- All men are created equal then some become firefighters.
- You Might Know Where You Are, God Might Know Where You Are, But If DISPATCH Doesn’t Know Where You Are Then You and God Better Be On Good Terms.
- Do NOT Make Me Use My Paramedic Voice!
- Volunteer Firefighters Do It For Free.
- Firefighters: The Hotter It Is The Quicker We Come.
- Firefighters do it with a big hose.
- I still play with trucks.
- EMS: Hours of boredom occasionally interrupted by minutes of sheer terror.
- I Hate Being Sexy But I’m A Firefighter So I Can’t Help It.
- Hug A Firefighter And Feel Warm All Over.
- Firefighters can take the heat.
- Firefighter By Day, Zombie Slayer By Night.
- I’m The Firefighter Your Mother Warned You About.
- FIREFIGHTER: Being Awesome Is Just Part Of the Official Job Description.
- Beak the Speed Limit, Carry an Ax in Public, Run Red Lights; Oh Yeah, Make Sure You’re a Firefighter
What does your favorite mug have on it? We’d love to see; feel free to share it with us.
And just like a comforting cup of hot coffee, California Casualty is a perfect complement to your day. We’ve been protecting American heroes for over 40 years providing auto and home insurance matched to your professional lifestyle. That means these exclusive benefits not available to the general public:
- Waived or reduced deductibles for vandalism or damage to your vehicle parked at work
- $500 coverage for personal items damaged in or taken from your vehicle (including turnout gear)
- Rates guaranteed for a full year (not six months)
- Free identity theft protection with each policy
- Fallen Hero survivor benefit
- Multiple payment options including EZ Pay and holiday or summer skips
- Superior customer service satisfaction rating – 99 percent with claims satisfaction of 96 percent
Call a California Casualty advisor today to learn about all the professional discounts you qualify for as a firefighter at 1-(866)-441-4635, or visit www.calcas.com/firefighters.
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info |
Maybe it’s a dangerous airbag, or a leak that could cause a fire or an electrical system that could shut down your vehicle while you drive – odds are good you or someone you know is driving a car or truck that is the subject of a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning that 51 million vehicles had some sort of a recall in 2015. That follows the record 60 million recalls the year before. The scary part is that upwards of 25 percent of them never get fixed. That means millions of cars and trucks – maybe one driven by you or a loved one – are still on the road with a possible hazardous condition.
There are many reasons why drivers aren’t getting defective vehicles to a dealer or mechanic:
- They are not aware of the recall
- The time and cost involved
- They just don’t care
An industry analysis found that Fiat, Honda, Ford, Toyota and GM vehicles were involved in almost three-fourths of the recalls in 2015, with the biggest factor being the recall of Takata equipped airbags. However, others were for leaks that could start an engine fire, defects that could make the vehicle lose control while driving, or seats that could collapse in a crash.
Wouldn’t you like to know if a car or truck that your son or daughter was driving had a serious defect. NHTSA thinks it’s important and has launched a new “Safe Cars Save Lives” campaign urging everyone to check for recalls twice a year. They hope the effort will reduce the number of unsafe vehicles on the road and ultimately save lives.
The website to check if a vehicle you drive has a recall is
https://www.safercar.gov/CheckForRecalls.
If you find a vehicle on the list that someone in your family drives, you should immediately:
- Contact the dealer and make an appointment to have the defect repaired
- Seek reimbursement if it was already repaired before you were notified of the recall (within a year); the automaker is obligated to reimburse you for the repair if it was done at one of its franchised dealers
- Submit work orders and a receipt for reimbursement if you had the repair done by an independent mechanic
The bad news is if ten years has gone by since the original recall notice, you might be stuck paying for the repairs yourself.
The good news is that driving a recalled vehicle shouldn’t affect your insurance rates, but you will want to get it fixed as soon as possible to make sure your family and other drivers around you are safe.
Another way to protect your vehicle and your precious passengers is to get an auto insurance policy comparison or review. Just call a California Casualty advisor today to make sure you are adequately covered at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
Sources for this article:
https://www.safercar.gov/CheckForRecalls
https://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/recalled-but-unrepaired-cars-are-a-safety-risk-to-consumers.html
https://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/nhtsa-launches-safe-cars-save-lives-campaign-01212015
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-15/drivers-ignoring-recall-notices-pose-hurdle-for-gm-s-ceo
by California Casualty | Educators |
Educators make a difference.
Every day they work hard to plant seeds in vibrant minds, helping grow a brighter future for California. They don’t do it for money or glory, and they certainly don’t do it alone. Their dedication is matched by supportive staffs and schools led by forward thinking administrators who push the envelope to incorporate technology and new ways of teaching.
We realize that all too often educators are the unsung heroes working hard to make sure our children excel. They give their time, encouragement, and frequently their own funds to make sure their students learn and achieve. Their reward is the satisfaction that they made a difference in a child’s life.
That commitment is embodied by Daniel Jocz, nominated as California’s candidate for the 2016 National Teacher of the Year. Mr. Jocz realizes that incorporating 21st century technology, like YouTube, in his high school social studies classes makes the content relevant, rigorous and engaging. Mr Jocz has taught for 11 years at the Downtown Magnets High School in Los Angeles where he is a department chair and associated student body advisor. Those who know Mr. Jocz say he instills a sense of success and pride that students take with them throughout their day and beyond school hours.
Another educator who digs deep to make lessons applicable and memorable is Tara Buford, an elementary school teacher in Escondido, California. She has a passion for learning and is committed to helping every child in her classroom. As a “life-long learner” herself, Tara wants to expand opportunities to make lessons fun and engaging for all of her students. “If I’m not having fun they’re not having fun,” she said.
Tara estimates that she spends as much as $1,000 a year of her own funds to make sure her students have the tools and materials they need to succeed. Her students benefitted in 2015 when she received one of California Casualty’s $2,500 Academic Awards. Tara was able to purchase electronic learning systems and games geared to preparing her classes for the Common Core curriculum.
California Casualty values the contributions of educators like Daniel and Tara. While we might remember a favorite teacher that motivated us, few of them get the public accolades they deserve.
That’s why we’ve teamed up for a second year to be the presenting sponsor of the California Department of Education’s (CDE) School Recognition Program that honors educators who inspire students to succeed, recognizes schools that continually show high achievement and celebrates the support staff that provide the backbone for quality education. California Casualty’s support makes possible the following 2016 California School Recognition Programs:
- Gold Ribbon Schools – honoring exemplary public elementary schools which demonstrate significant gains in narrowing the achievement gap
- Teachers of the Year – recognizing exemplary teachers and their contribution to quality education
- Classified School Employee of the Year – highlighting those who symbolize the profession’s commitment to education
- California Green Ribbon School Awards – recognizing schools that accomplish great things in the areas of sustainability and health
- California Blue Ribbon Schools – celebrating schools that promote and support the improvement of education
With a relationship that spans 65 years, we understand that great teachers often need help to accomplish great things. That’s why we do more than just provide the CTA Auto and Home Insurance Program; we give back to the communities we serve in meaningful ways that have real impact on their lives. These programs include the $2,500 California Casualty Academic Award, that helps offset the money that educators spend of their own funds for classroom supplies and equipment; the California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grants, given to public high schools in California that demonstrate the greatest need for their sporting programs; and the Impact Teen Drivers “Create Real Impact” contest, that awards students and schools that design the best interactive messages to prevent distracted and reckless driving – the number one killer of teens today.
Teachers and support staff do make a difference. Their devotion to our children is why the CDE’s School Recognition Program is so important, and why California Casualty is proud to be a sponsor.
by California Casualty | Safety |
It’s one of those days: you woke up late and you are running behind. As you head outside to start the car, you find it’s covered in ice. The extra 15 minutes it will take to scrape and warm it up are going to make you late for work or school. While it may not help today, these essential winter hacks might make your life a little easier the next time another cold front sends temperatures plunging across the country.
Autos:
- Spray a mixture of two parts rubbing alcohol and one part water on a windshield to instantly de-ice it (and also unstick frozen windshield wipers)
- Use WD 40 in to prevent frozen key holes
- Thaw frozen car door locks and handles with hand sanitizer
- Park your vehicle with the windshield facing east to help defrost it when the sun rises
- Use kitty litter or car mats to provide traction if you get stuck
- Put plastic bags over unheated side mirrors overnight to keep them ice free
- Place a blanket or sheet on the windshield to keep it ice free overnight
- Cover wiper blades overnight with old socks so they will be ice and snow free in the morning
Around the House:
- Coat snow shovels with non-stick cooking sprays – the snow will slide off easier (this also worked on the plastic sleds my daughter and I used for sliding down hills faster)
- Slip old bread bags or sandwich bags over socks to make them water proof
- Use closet shoe organizers for gloves and scarves
- Take lukewarm showers to battle dry skin
- Place tin foil on walls behind radiators and space heaters to reflect more of the heat back into the room
- Leave the oven door open after cooking – the residual heat will add warmth to the house
- Run ceiling fans clockwise to push warm air down to living areas
- Open curtains and blinds on sunny days to let the sun warm your home
- Put hot water bottles or warm pans on cold sheets to warm them before you hop in bed
- Place a tray with pebbles inside the doorway to drain icy, wet shoes and boots to keep floors cleaner and drier
- Use a solution of two parts rubbing alcohol and one part hot water to safely remove ice from outside steps and sidewalks
Oh, and for those of you living in more temperate climates, keep these handy in case Mother Nature throws one of her occasional frozen curve balls and you’re stuck in a personal scene from the movie Frozen.
What winter weather hacks do you use? Share them with us so we can pass them along too.
You don’t need any hacks to make sure you have insurance to protect your auto and home; just call a California Casualty advisor today for a policy review or comparison at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
Sources for this article:
https://www.wimp.com/easy-way-to-remove-ice-from-car-windshield/
https://www.weather.com/safety/winter/news/winter-lifehacks
https://pioneersettler.com/cold-weather-hacks/
