Along with hay rides, cooling temperatures, and brilliant foliage, Fall can bring some unexpected dangers to your commute. In late October and November, states across the nation see the fall mating season for white-tailed deer begin.
With this comes significant danger to drivers. During this time, deer become very active and unpredictable, covering large areas in search of a mate. A result of this is that drivers will often see groups of deer crossing roads.
This generates tens of thousands of deer-vehicle crashes every year, resulting in millions of dollars in damage. To help prevent this happening to you, please review the tips below:
If you spot a deer, slow down and pay attention to possible sudden movement. If the deer doesn’t move, don’t go around it. Wait for the deer to pass and the road is clear.
Pay attention to “Deer Crossing” signs. They are there for a reason. Slow down when traveling through areas known to have a high concentration of deer so you will have ample time to stop if necessary.
If you are traveling after dark, use high beams when there is no oncoming traffic. High beams will be reflected by the eyes of deer on or near roads.
If you see one deer, be on guard: others may be in the area. Deer typically move in family groups at this time of year and cross roads single-file.
Don’t tailgate. Remember: the driver in front of you might have to stop suddenly to avoid hitting a deer.
Always wear a seatbelt, as required by law. Drive at a safe and sensible speed, taking into account weather, available lighting, traffic, curves and other road conditions.
If a collision appears inevitable, do not swerve to avoid impact. The deer may counter-maneuver suddenly. Brake firmly, but stay in your lane. Collisions are more likely to become fatal when a driver swerves to avoid a deer and instead collides with oncoming traffic or a fixed structure along the road.
Report any deer-vehicle collision to a local law enforcement agency immediately.
We are in the height of prom season, with high school graduations right around the corner. This means that the chances of teens being involved in serious auto accidents increases significantly. Our friends at Impact Teen Drivers have been working tirelessly to raise awareness of the dangers that face teens who drive distracted or impaired, and to help shed light on some of these startling statistics, we want to share them here as well:
– Teen driver crashes are the leading cause of death for our nation’s youth
– The Fatality rate for drivers 16-19 is 4 times higher than the national average
– 48% of teens have reported talking on a cell phone while driving
It’s no secret that driving while talking on a cell phone or impaired by drugs or alcohol dramatically increases the risk of injury and death while driving. Please speak with your teens about the dangers involved – especially during this time of year, when the excitement of prom and graduations can lead to them making poor driving decisions.
I recently received an email from a co-worker that discussed some unique tips for safe driving in rainy weather. Spring is nearly upon us, and with it comes strong storms and heavy rains. Since we can’t always avoid getting out in the rain, I wanted to share a few interesting tips with you. If you try them out, please come back and let me know what you think!
1) If it’s raining heavily during the day, see how your vision can be improved by putting on your sunglasses. It will help cut down on the glare from the rain and “kickup” from other cars. Many people find that this is a very effective method to improve visibility in the rain.
2) Never use your cruise control in the rain. If you car begins to hydroplane while the cruise control is on, it can accelerate quickly if the tires lose contact with the road, resulting in a loss of control.
Two safety items I wasn’t aware of until today – please share them, who knows, you may save a life!
We’ve had a few posts concerning Impact Teen Drivers and our joint mission to educate teens on the dangers of distracted driving. To go along with that, we wanted to share this PSA from NASCAR Champion Eric Holmes discussing the dangers of distracted driving more in depth.
We’ve talked before about the dangers of distracted driving, which is something that is becoming an increasingly important issue amongst teenagers. Reckless and distracted driving is the number one killer of teens in America! At CalCas, we’re committed to making the roads safer for our nation’s teenagers, which is why we’re so proud to be involved with events like this.
California Casualty, founding sponsor of Impact Teen Drivers, the Arizona Highway Patrol Association and members of local public safety organizations came together to support a teen/parent driving safety fair held recently in Avondale, AZ. The safety fair was organized and coordinated by Impact Teen Drivers Executive Director, Dr. Kelly Browning with sponsors Bill McAnally Racing and Get Real Behind the Wheel. An interactive presentation to the class was followed by hands-on driving instruction on a course designed for teens and parents to maneuver and heighten the awareness of distractions that occur while driving. Eric Holmes, three-time champion of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and an active supporter of Impact Teen Driver program, and program sponsor Bill McAnally, of Bill McAnally Racing were on hand to talk to the teens and their parents. Teens were also able to see what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of Eric Holmes’ show car.
Along with hay rides, cooling temperatures, and brilliant foliage, Fall can bring some unexpected dangers to your commute. In late October and November, states across the nation see the fall mating season for white-tailed deer begin.
We are in the height of prom season, with high school graduations right around the corner. This means that the chances of teens being involved in serious auto accidents increases significantly. Our friends at 
recently received an email from a co-worker that discussed some unique tips for safe driving in rainy weather. Spring is nearly upon us, and with it comes strong storms and heavy rains. Since we can’t always avoid getting out in the rain, I wanted to share a few interesting tips with you. If you try them out, please come back and let me know what you think!