Drive Forward: Auto Safety Tips

Fall is upon us; back to school is in full swing and developing and maintaining a regular routine is important. The balancing of personal and professional responsibilities can be challenging at times, but scheduling and following a strategy can help make things much easier.

The daily operation of a vehicle is more often than not a key part of helping to simplify your life, which means that doing it as safely as possible is important. Here are some considerations to be mindful of before getting behind the wheel:

'Don't Speed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains the consequences of fast driving quite simply: Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year. In 2008, speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, and 11,674 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.

Avoid Distractions

It isn't just cell phones that cause distractions; eating, applying makeup, fiddling with electronic devices or interacting with passengers also diverts a driver's attention in potentially deadly ways. Perhaps the best advice on driving distractions came from rocker Jim Morrison: "Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel."

Don't Drive Drowsy

A study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech reported that 20 percent of all accidents have sleepiness as a contributing factor. If a driver is tired enough to actually fall asleep while driving, the results are predictable. Even on a relatively straight highway, a sleeping driver will eventually drift off the road. Trees, utility poles, ravines and bridge abutments turn this into a deadly scenario -- and that doesn't even take other cars into account.' (source: howstuffworks.com)

Ensuring you have effective and functional auto coverage for your vehicle is an important piece of the puzzle as well. Read more about our auto insurance products designed to meet your needs, and let us earn your trust.