by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info |
Our streets and freeways are coming back to life after having been empty for months. Now that we’re all getting back on the road, we’re getting re-acquainted with driving etiquette, traffic laws and sharing space with other drivers . . . which makes this a great time for a safe-driving refresh.
Here are 10 top driving errors and how you can easily correct them.
- Incorrect Speed
DON’T: drive too fast or too slow. Drivers often go faster than the posted speed limit (which is incredibly dangerous near schools and in residential areas) or drive too fast in extreme weather conditions or congested traffic. On the flip side, driving well below the speed limit can cause unsafe conditions for you or other drivers.
How to Correct: Make sure to abide by speed limits and also adjust speed according to your specific environmental conditions.
- Improper Lane Changes
DON’T: make unsafe lane changes. Changing lanes without double-checking for other vehicles can often lead to disastrous results. Blind spots, speed, and distraction all increase the risk of a collision.
How to Correct: Make it a habit to check mirrors, use turn signals, and do a full head check before changing lanes.
- Following Too Closely
DON’T: tailgate other cars. In the event of a stop or crash, there is not enough reaction time to avoid a crash.
How to Correct: Always stay several car lengths behind the traffic in front of you. A good rule of thumb is the 3-second rule. Using a fixed object as your guide, count the number of seconds (one-one thousand, two-one thousand…) between when the car in front of you passes it and you pass it. Add extra time in unsafe weather conditions or when roads are slick.
- Improper Turns
DON’T: avoid turning too wide. When you turn wide from the middle of the road, you risk colliding with pedestrians, bicyclists and other cars on the right.
How to Correct: To make a proper turn, use your turn signal about 100 feet before the turn and hug your car to the right as you slow your speed and complete the turn. This two-step process alerts other drivers around you and prevents others from moving in between your car and the curb.
- Passing Errors
DON’T: pass another vehicle within 100 ft of a railroad crossing or intersection, on a hill or curve, if you are in a “no passing” zone, or if there is oncoming traffic.
How to Correct: Passing another vehicle requires extreme caution, as you are briefly in the lane of oncoming traffic. To pass correctly, first make sure you have a long clear sightline of the other lane and that it’s free of oncoming traffic for a safe distance. Once you pass, don’t turn back into the right-hand lane until you can see the entire vehicle you just passed in your rearview mirror.
- Right-of-Way Violations
DON’T: assume you always have the right-of-way. Forty percent of all crashes involve intersections, so it’s prudent to use caution every time you approach and cross an intersection.
How to Correct: Make sure you fully stop at stop signs, obey the signals, and yield properly. Whenever there are other cars, be sure to scan the intersection — look left, straight ahead, right, and back to the left again. This gives you the time and visibility to pass safely through the intersection.
- Sudden Stops
DON’T: slam on your brakes, unless there is a valid reason.
How to Correct: Practice defensive driving and stay aware of your surroundings. Remember that any sudden movements will create a chain reaction behind you, and no one is anticipating your moves. To avoid any surprises, make sure to watch the road for pedestrians, animals crossing, or debris. In the event of an emergency, pull off to the shoulder and turn on your hazards.
- Riding the Brakes
DON’T: keep your foot on the brake while you are driving.
How to Correct: Keeping an overanxious foot on the brakes can create a “little boy who cried wolf effect” — making the driver behind you stop paying attention to your taillights and increasing the chance of a collision. Riding the brakes also wears them out much quicker. Save your breaks and ride smart.
- Not Using Your Turn Signals
DON’T: ignore your turn signals. Turn signals are an important safety feature that alerts other drivers of our intention to turn or change lanes. This gives them time to react safely, gives you the space you need to move and just generally be alert to a situational change.
How to Correct: Use your turn signals every time you are behind the wheel.
- Leaving the High Beams On
DON’T: drive with your high beams inappropriately. Incorrect use of high beams can be extremely dangerous. They can temporarily blind the drivers in front of you and those in oncoming traffic.
How to Correct: Limit the use of high beams to situations where you need them — on dark roads that have infrequent traffic, turn them off as soon as you see oncoming headlights, and remember never to use them in foggy or snowy conditions.
Soon enough, it’ll feel like we were never away from our cars and roadways. But while we’re here — getting back to our driving “normal” — it’s a perfect time to re-incorporate those safety basics back into our driving practice.
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.
by California Casualty | Pets |
It’s no secret that we love our pets. A study done by The American Pet Products Association (APPA) found that 68% of households in the United States owned at least one pet. These furry family members not only keep us company, but they are also linked to many other health benefits like bringing happiness, lowering stress, and even increasing fitness levels.
So, when you decide it is time for you to get a pet of your own, it’s important to do your research on what to do before you bring a new four-legged (or 2 legged) friend into your life.
Whether this is your first pet or your 4th, follow these tips to make sure you and your family are ready for your new arrival.
Check Your Budget
American’s spend about $52 billion annually on their pets and that number continues to rise by the billion every year. Broken down the costs include pet fees, food, supplies, medicine, vet care, and other services like grooming and boarding. That’s not even including all of the extra toys and accessories you might buy or the cost of pet insurance.
Before you get a pet, make sure you factor all of the associated costs into your budget and make sure you will be able to keep and financially supporting it long-term.
Do the Research
Many municipalities, HOA’s, and rentals have strict rules regarding pets and different breeds of pets. Before you go out and search for a pet, get the proper approval first.
It is also a good idea to research the different breeds of an animal that will best suit you. For example, if you are active and want a pet to exercise with, you might want a larger dog that has a lot of energy, like a Border Collie or an English Setter.
Lastly, research highly-rated veterinarians or animal hospitals in your area. If your pet is extremely young, numerous vet visits are likely in your future, so find a vet that is close by and highly trusted. If you can’t find one reach out to an animal shelter near you, and they should be able to assist.
Make Sure It Will Fit Into Your Lifestyle
If the lifestyle you live has no room for a pet, do not get a pet. We cannot stress this enough. If your life is extremely busy and you are not home enough to take care of an animal or properly train them, do not get one. Animals need time and attention, just like humans, and it will take them a while to develop good habits; so if you don’t have the time or money, save getting a pet for the future.
Before you adopt or purchase a new pet, go together as a family to meet it and see if it would be a good fit. You can even bring older pets to see if they get along. If a meet and greet is not possible, introduce new pets to other pets slowly, and teach children how to properly interact with the new animal.
If you really want a pet but aren’t sure which one would fit into your family you could always reach out to your local shelter and ask staff members what kind of animal would fit your needs.
Pet-Proof Your Home
When you get a new pet, it’s safety becomes your responsibility. That means you will need to pet-proof your home. Get down to your pet’s eye-level and move objects that could cause them harm like, wires, cords, cleaning supplies, hazardous plants, food, plastic or glass décor, trashcans, etc.
If you are getting an animal with sharp claws, like a cat, make sure you have scratching posts available and use the right protection for your furniture.
You should also pet-proof the outside of your home. Make sure your fence is sturdy and no poles need to be replaced, check window screens, and pick up all trash and debris.
Find A Pet!
Go find your new best friend!
If you plan on adopting you can find a shelter near you on petfinder.com or adoptapet.com
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.
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info, Safety |
Unpredictable weather is a trademark of spring: 73° and deliciously sunny one day, 41°, and sideways rain the next.
Fluctuating weather during this time of year also plays a major factor in the development of severe spring storms. However, with the right preparation, you can be sure that your home and family are ready to withstand the worst of it.
Follow these preparation tips to be sure you are spring storm-ready.
Be Weather Aware — You can sign up for a number of free weather alert services provided by national or local agencies, weather channels, and power companies. Usually, alerts come to your phone via text message or app, but many have multiple delivery methods. And remember, radio is the old standby, especially in a power outage (so set your emergency radio to the correct station ahead of time).
Trim the Trees — Trim low-hanging limbs, as well as any branches hanging near your home or power lines that could snap off in high winds and cause damage.
Free Your Gutters — Remove leaves and other debris from gutters, drains, and downspouts (best done each spring and fall). This ensures that any deluge of rainwater is quickly diverted away from your home and foundation rather than potentially flooding it. Take the opportunity to check gutters for leaks, damage, and sagging; also make sure they’re securely attached.
Check the Sump Pump — If you haven’t had to deal with a flooded basement, thanks are due to your hardworking sump pump. To keep it in good working order, test it a few times a year, including before spring storms. Clear any debris and make sure it’s working and draining properly. Consider adding a battery-powered back-up pump, or a standby generator, in case of power outages.
Get Ahead of Leaks — Leaks are sneaky … and can cause damage quickly. If you’ve had any leaks in the past, now’s the time to seal them up—before the big rains start. Also do a preventive check on your doors’ and windows’ sealing (inside and outside), as well as in the garage and basement, then fix any gaps or cracks.
Secure Items — By the time the wind is bending trees, it’s too late to worry about securing items in your yard. As soon as storms are forecast, bring items like patio furniture into the garage (or secure them in place outside). Anything that can become a projectile should be moved inside. Also close and secure shutters around your home. Drawing interior blinds and shades provide yet another layer of protection against flying debris and broken glass.
Get Your Plans in Place — When the storms roll in, you’ll be glad you made plans ahead of time.
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- Storm Safety Plan — Create a safety plan with your family, and make sure everyone understands it and is on board. This would cover things like shelter-in-place locations in the home, evacuation routes, communication protocols if you’re separated, and a plan for your pets.
- Emergency Kit — Regularly check your kit and add, replace or discard items as needed. See our checklist here for a full emergency kit inventory. At the very least, prepare the following for storms: first aid supplies, flashlights with new batteries, two gallons of water per person, a hand-crank or battery-powered radio, a three-day supply of non-perishable food for your family and pets, and a two-month supply of any necessary medications.
- Be Ready for a Power Outage — Are you ready for a few days of no power? Charge all phones and electronic devices ahead of time. Make sure your generator is operational and ready to go. Fill your car’s gas tank (and some cans for your generator). For more tips, check out our power outage safety hacks. Finally, remember to use surge protectors when the power is being restored.
As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to safeguarding your home, the steps above can go a long way toward preventing costly damage, headache, and hassle. And there’s no time like the present to start!
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.
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Safety |
While we’ve all had some extra time at home to tidy up our houses and yards, we can’t forget about our vehicles! It feels like forever since we’ve been out on the road, and we’ve really missed our cars. Although we aren’t driving nearly as often right now, we will be soon, and that is why it is important to make sure our cars are clean and running properly.
Make sure your car is in prime condition for the next time you are behind the wheel by following our interior and exterior Spring Cleaning Car Care Checklist:
Cleaning the Interior
- Remove Trash: Cars fill up quickly when you have kids and are always on the go; receipts, water bottles, wrappers, etc. Make sure the first thing you do is pick up all of the trash on the inside and place a bag that can serve as a trashcan for the next time you have to throw something away.
- Shake out Mats: Remove all large pieces of trash or debris from the floor mats of your car. After, take all of the mats out of your car and shake them out in an open area, and then lay them in a clean spot. To make cleaning easier in the future, look into purchasing heavy-duty rubber mats.
- Clean Vents and Ducts: The best way to do this is with pressurized air, but if you don’t have it you can use a dusting cloth or a wet wipes
- Vacuum: Try and get every part of your vehicle that you can, this includes floorboards, seats, under the seats, trunk, cup holders, and any other space that is large enough. Don’t forget to vacuum the floor mats before putting them back in your car as well.
- Organize: If you have certain items that you keep in your car at all times, like blankets, umbrellas, chairs, sports equipment, reusable shopping bags, coolers, etc. Take these out, make sure each item is clean and has a special place that will not cause clutter or take up too much space when you put it back in your car after it’s been vacuumed. Placing organization bins in your trunk can help out with this.
- Wipe Down: Use a wet wipe or dusting cloth to clean and wipe down your dash, front console, and anywhere else that dirt can hide. And then if you would like to go an extra step you can detail your dash by using a microfiber cloth and some polish or dashboard wipes to make your steering wheel and dash shine.
- Change Air Freshener: After your car is clean from top to bottom change out your air freshener to a nice spring scent and you are good to go!
Now that your car is clean on the inside, it’s time to make sure everything is up and running properly on the outside.
Cleaning & Checking the Exterior:
- Get an Oil Change: You should change your oil about every 5,000 miles depending on the year, make, and model of your vehicle and your own personal driving habits. This will help keep your engine clean and running properly.
- Check the Air Filter: Air filters should be changed at least every 15,000 miles. Air filters are inexpensive and will help you increase your gas mileage, reduce emissions, and allow more air to flow to your engine to help it run smoothly and prolong it’s life.
- Check Your Tires: If a car has been sitting for long periods of time, especially in colder weather, pressure can slowly leak out of your tires, so it is important to check your air pressure and make sure you have the right amount. While you are checking the pressure look at the tread on your tires, if it is low consider getting new tires altogether.
- Buy New Wipers: Spring is rainy season for most of the US, and when you are driving in the middle of a spring storm, it is important that your windshield wipers do their job. You should replace them once a year, so spring is the perfect reminder.
- Go Through the Car Wash: Dust, mud, pollen, bugs, and rain residue are all commonly found on cars in the spring. Make your car look shiny and new by taking it through the car wash and getting a polish or by giving it your own wipe down at home! Pro tip: don’t forget the tires!
Drive safe!
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.
by California Casualty | News |
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Customer Care Specialist, Sarena Means
Sarena has been with us for almost 4 years now and is based in our Colorado office.
Let’s get to learn Sarena!
What made you want to work in Customer Service at California Casualty?
I heard it was a wonderful company that’s proven its place in the industry by being family-owned for 4 generations and in business for more than 100 years, and it definitely is!
People love working here and stay a really long time. I was so impressed with the tenure here. I’ve never seen another company with higher employee retention. It makes for a great family-like environment and culture.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I love my co-workers, I’ve never worked with better people, and we also have great customers. They love us and we love helping them!
Also, in my position here at CalCas, I feel like I have a lot of opportunities to be heard. I may not always get what I want, but I don’t ever feel belittled by my managers, or that I don’t have anything of value to contribute. The management is always willing to listen to me and my concerns. I feel like I’m important at California Casualty, and they give me the opportunity to do what I do best.
What have you learned in your position at California Casualty?
Looking back, I actually didn’t really know much about our affinity groups. We offer a lot of service to our community heroes and I’ve learned more than I ever thought I would about Teachers, and Police Officers, Firefighters, and Nurses.
You get to really know these people and what matters most to them, and it gives you a deeper level of respect for them and what they do every day to help us.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
I love my family and really enjoy all things with them. Movies, games, Sunday dinners, outside in the sunshine, any and all of it.
Life is changing for us right now. Our oldest moved out in November after buying her first house, and our youngest is going through the Air Force Basic Military Training. That means my husband and I are very new empty nesters and haven’t figured out what that means for us. We’re adjusting to a new normal, but it’s an exciting time!
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
My name is Sarena and I’m often teased by customers on the phone about having the same name as the famous tennis player; coincidentally, I actually played tennis in high school. Obviously didn’t go pro, but it was definitely a love of mine for a few years.
I was in an American Furniture Warehouse commercial circa 1999.
I love the Marvel movies, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. I could watch any of the movies from any of the collections at any time and be completely entertained.
If you want to learn more about Sarena or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with her on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
