by California Casualty | News |
“Move over; it’s the law!” That is the urgent message from public safety groups across the U.S.
Here’s why; many of us freeze and don’t know what to do when we see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road with its lights flashing. Not moving over is breaking the law, and could endanger a first responder, tow truck driver or highway worker’s life.
Traffic incidents are the number one cause of in the line of duty deaths for law enforcement officers and highway workers. On average, an officer or highway worker gets hit by a driver every day in the U.S. They include Colorado State Trooper Cody Donahue, struck and killed November 2016 by a distracted truck driver as he investigated an accident, and Johnson County Kansas Master Deputy Brandon Collins died when a driver slammed into the back of his cruiser in January of 2017. They are just a few of the hundreds of law enforcement officers, firefighter/EMTs and highway workers injured or killed every year while trying to help others.
Because of the human toll, every state in the U.S. now has a “move over” law mandating that drivers approaching a stationary emergency or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights must move to the next adjacent lane if it is safe to do so or to slow down significantly if unable to move over.
A recent poll found 70 percent of Americans have not heard of “move over” laws and didn’t know what they should do. That’s why jurisdictions across the country are stepping up education and enforcement about their “move over” requirements as the summer driving season gets into full swing. The odds are that you’ve seen a tweet, a Facebook post or a variable message board promoting the “move over” law in your area.
Penalties vary, but drivers who fail to slow down and move over can get a ticket.
Rather than get a ticket or cause a serious accident, California Casualty is asking you to slow down and move over when you see an officer, paramedic, firefighter, tow truck driver or road crew with their lights flashing on the side of the road. You could save a life.
by California Casualty | Safety |
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It’s a good reminder that we all need to be more aware of what we are doing as we motor along America’s byways and highways. However, you’re not alone if you get a pit in your stomach every time your teenager grabs the car keys and heads out on the roads. Many parent’s biggest fear is that something might happen while their teen is out driving.
Sadly, there is a reality behind that fear; getting behind the wheel is one of the most dangerous things a young person can do. Teen drivers are much more likely to be texting or using a device while driving than any other age group. They are also more prone to dangerous interactions with their passengers. Accident rates for all drivers have gone up the past two years, but drivers aged 15-20 years old were more likely to be involved in crashes attributed to distracted driving, which is the leading cause of death for people in that age group.
Here are some startling statistics that show why:
- At any given moment, approximately 660,000 motorists are using or manipulating a cell phone
- 70 percent of people ages 16-19 and 88 percent of ages 19-24 admitted in an insurance industry survey that they regularly text while driving
- At 55 miles per hour, the average text takes a person’s eyes off the road long enough to travel the length of a football field
- 60 percent of teen crashes involve distractions behind the wheel
- Teen driving deaths increase around prom and summer season
Most of these are preventable tragedies. Sadly, they impact thousands of families every year like Amanda C., a California teen who survived a previous crash while texting and driving, but not a second similar crash a year later. Seventeen year old Alex B. from Texas lost her life when she rolled the truck she was driving while texting, and 21 year old Casey F. from Pennsylvania was killed instantly when a distracted driver hit her while she was crossing the street.
Ironically, an analysis of the last messages in fatal crashes attributed to texting found many common words such as: “love you;” “home soon;” “need to stop texting, unsafe;” “send me the directions;” and “OK.”
So what can you do to protect your teens?
- Enroll them in a safe driving course
- Follow the graduated driver licensing rules: no driving at night and no or limited passengers for the first six months or for a full year
- Require seat belts and safety restraints be worn at all times
- Enforce a no cell phone/texting policy
- Urge young drivers to observe all speed and safety regulations
- Provide a vehicle that offers the best protection in crash tests
- Set a good example for them to follow
A great resource is Impact Teen Drivers. The nonprofit educates teens about the deadly consequences of distracted driving. They offer evidence-based, peer-to-peer programs and information to empower young drivers to make good choices behind the wheel. They also hold a twice a year Create Real Impact contest, rewarding students ages 14-22 for their creative messages discouraging distracted driving. California Casualty is committed to making our roadways safer and we are a major sponsor of Impact Teen Drivers. We urge you to learn more at www.calcas.com/impact-teen-drivers.
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info |
What’s more romantic than Valentine’s Day? It’s the day of love, and no other day has as much meaning for those true to the heart. Don’t make the mistake of forgetting your special person on February 14; 53% of women said they would end their relationship if they didn’t receive a Valentine’s gift.
With that in mind, The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will shell out almost $20 billion to show their love this year. While the average bill will come to $146 for flowers, candy and other goodies, $4.4 million will be invested in jewelry.
Their survey also found:
- 20% will give a valuable gift of jewelry (ring, bracelet or necklace)
- 15% will just give a gift card
- $681 million will be spent on pets
If the romance moves you to give a ring or another piece of expensive jewelry (keep in mind the average engagement ring costs around $5,000), make sure that you have it adequately protected. While your homeowners or renters insurance provides limited coverage for burglary or loss, high priced items need special insurance, often called scheduled personal property, to cover the amount they are worth. Scheduled personal property comes with no deductible and pays even if that diamond ring or necklace is damaged, lost, or accidently gets run through the garbage disposal. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America recommends that you get a written appraisal of that special piece of jewelry to establish its value just in case it is lost or misplaced.
by California Casualty | Health |
If you have a dog or cat, you know what a joy they are. Their love and loyalty enriches our lives.
Now, many experts say there is proof that life with a pet may actually provide these health benefits:
- Reduced allergies – more and more studies suggest that infants and children that grow up in a house with furred animals have a reduced risk of allergies and asthma later in life
- Lower blood pressure – numerous studies find merely being around a pet can lower your blood pressure, with the greatest pressure drop coming when you pet them
- Better heart health – dog owners have a lower risk of heart disease and those suffering from heart disease had better recoveries and survived longer if they had a pet
- Increased companionship – pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression, Alzheimer patients were calmer when pets were present, and many elderly people reported a better quality of life because of their pets
- Decreased weight – those of us with pets tend to go to dog parks, take regular walks, hikes or runs with their dog, and were less likely to be overweight
Many families also have therapy and companion dogs to warn about food ingredients someone may be allergic to, while others can warn diabetes patients when they are suffering from low blood sugar.
And, knowing that your dog loves to take trips with you to dog parks, hiking trails and other dog-friendly areas, California Casualty now includes coverage with every auto policy* that pays for vet bills if Fido or Rover gets hurt in a covered auto accident.
However, these pet passenger safety tips can help you avoid the heartache of an injured loved one:
- Keep them in the backseat away from airbags
- Put them in a crash tested dog crate or safety harness
- Lock power windows to prevent them from accidently from opening up or closing on them
- Always have water on hand
- Take breaks every two or three hours to let them stretch and take care of potty business
- Never leave them unattended in the vehicle, especially on warm or hot days
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info |
So did you take some time off this Labor Day? It’s the last hurrah of summer and one of the last chances to get in a vacation before winter. Getting away could also save your life.
Numerous job-site studies have found almost half of all American workers don’t use their vacation time, despite the fact that over 60 percent say work stresses them out. Stress can be a killer, causing heart disease, digestive disorders, lack of sleep, high blood pressure and weight gain. Health experts warn that not taking your vacation time can be dangerous to your health.
That’s compounded by employers demanding more from their employees, who often clock in well over the standard 40 hour work week. A government study found that job stress leads to more accidents, absenteeism and even violence in the work place, resulting in $300 billion dollar cost to U.S. businesses each year.
So why would we skip vacations? Many of us say we can’t afford them – monetarily or because of work demands. However, research shows workers who take time to de-stress and relax actually save businesses billions of dollars by reducing health care costs and through increased worker productivity.
With that in mind, Expedia looked at the research and came up with 12 reasons why you need to take your vacations:
- Time off boosts brain power, improving memorizing new skills
- Time away from work fully recharges a depleted brain
- Being away from work allows the brain to connect and consolidate, creating better problem solving
- Workers who take time off live longer (reducing risk of disease by 21 percent)
- Time off helps the heart (men who skip vacation increase their risk of heart attack by 30 percent)
- Relaxation prevents coronary heart disease
- Vacations improve worker quality
- Time off stimulates creativity
- Worker performance increased the more vacation employees used
- Vacation time helps prevent depression
- Time off improves sleep
- Taking vacations improves attitudes and motivates employees to achieve higher goals
For those looking for one last great summer adventure, Expedia has collected data and released a list of the top 10 destinations for Labor Day 2016:
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- New York
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- San Francisco
- Denver
- Seattle
- Las Vegas
- Charlotte, NC
If Europe has been on your travel radar, the strong dollar compared to the Euro has made many trans-Atlantic destinations even more affordable this year.
And, if you are packing the car and hitting the road for the three day weekend, you are not alone. Fuel prices are some of the lowest in decades this Labor Day. That means more Americans will be on the nation’s highways and byways and unfortunately traffic crashes are expected to rise. The National Safety Council is urging all drivers to remain attentive, avoid alcohol before taking the wheel, get plenty of sleep, never use a cell phone or other devices while driving and have everyone in the vehicle wear their seat belts.
Don’t let a flat tire or heat drained battery detour your fun if you choose to drive to your Labor Day destination; check out our list of summer auto care tips.
So, where is your favorite place or thing to do for Labor Day? Let us know so we can share it with others.
