Make the Most of Your Memorial Day Getaway

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If you’re piling into your car or truck for Memorial Day fun, here are important tips to keep it from becoming a “Griswold Family” vacation:

  • Plan ahead – research the route and possible hazards and know the rules of the road in the new places you’re traveling to
  • Have your vehicle serviced – make sure it’s road-worthy by having fluids, tires, battery and other essentials checked and replaced
  • Prepare a safety kit – extra water, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, reflective triangles and sealant for flat tires can be trip savers in an emergency
  • Get plenty of rest – drowsy driving is dangerous. The effects of driving for 18 hours straight can equate to a blood alcohol level of .05; 24 hours straight is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of .10. Switch drivers or take a short nap if you feel tired
  • Always wear seat belts – safety groups estimate seat belts save 14,000 lives a year, yet as many as 10 to 20 percent of drivers don’t buckle in themselves or their passengers
  • Observe “move over” laws – every state now has a move over law requiring you to slow down and move over when you see an official vehicle with it’s warning lights on, to protect highway workers, first responders and law enforcement officers
  • Never leave children or pets in a vehicle – the heat inside a vehicle can reach dangerous levels in less than half an hour, even on 70-degree days

If you’re having a get-together instead of a getaway, remember these important safety tips:

  • Understand safe grilling – read grill instructions, check hoses, keep grills away from structures and never leave them unattended to avoid a disastrous fire
  • Check your deck – inspect and repair cracked boards, loose planks and rails, rusty hardware or rotted supports to prevent dangerous collapsing
  • Know pool safety – keep uninvited guests and small children out with full fencing, teach everyone in your family how to swim, never leave children alone near a pool, know CPR and consider removing slides and diving boards
  • Ensure you have enough liability protection – protect your assets with high liability limits or an umbrella policy in case someone sues if they get hurt at your home. Umbrella policies help pay for legal defense, medical costs and loss of wages

Whether you are home or away, some auto repairs may be more complicated. That’s why it’s important to have a reliable backup. Whether the battery let you down, your spare tire went flat or you locked the keys in the car, for as little as a couple dollars a month California Casualty’s towing and roadside assistance pays for:

  • Dead battery start
  • Flat tire repair
  • Lockouts
  • Fuel, oil or coolant delivery

California Casualty’s towing service also covers getting your vehicle to the nearest shop, even if you get stranded off-road in deep mud.

TAKEAWAY:

Contact our Customer Service department to add Express Road Assistance or to  purchase extra liability insurance at 1.800.800.9410 option 3, or email service@calcas.com.   

Read all the articles from the this edition of the Calcas Connection Newsletter:

Driver Safety Tips

by | Calcas Connection, Good to Know | 1 comment

Americans are driving more and there’s been a corresponding increase in in automobile crashes. As we go about the routine of driving our kids to school, battling traffic to and from work, or heading to weekend events, it’s easy to forget the simple things that can make the trip safer. Nothing is more important than the safety of you and your family, and here are some traffic and driving reminders:

  • Always wear seat belts – the most effective way to protect your precious cargo – even for a quick trip to the store or a neighbor’s house
  • Secure children and infants in appropriate car and booster seats at all times to reduce the risk of injuries by 70 percent – it’s also important to have seats inspected (as many as half of the children riding in vehicles are in improperly installed safety seats)
  • Pay attention to the roadway and avoid electronic devices, applying makeup or turning around to interact with passengers – actions that double your risk of a crash
  • Be familiar with areas where you are driving and obey road signs and local traffic laws
  • Slow down in bad weather – conditions can change rapidly
  • Practice defensive driving techniques
  • Keep your vehicle well-maintained
  • Check for recalls on your vehicles (safercar.gov/checkforrecalls)

Accidents and breakdowns happen when you least expect them. Now is also a good time to assemble a safety kit for your car or truck that includes a spare cell phone battery, first aid kit, blanket, fire extinguisher, jumper cables, reflective warning triangles and foam sealant for flat tires.

TAKEAWAY: Find a wealth of auto safety tips at our resources page, www.calcas.com/resources.

Read all the articles from this edition of the Calcas Connection Newsletter:

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