What to do if you get into a car accident

We understand that getting into a car accident can be frightening and stressful, but the last thing you should do is panic; there is a series of steps you should take to ensure that both you and the other party leave the scene in good graces. How you react can help prevent future injuries, reduce costs, and accelerate the clean-up/repair process.

1. Safety always come first; make sure all injuries, no matter how minor, are taken care of. Call 911 for an ambulance if necessary. If it is a minor accident with no injuries, move both cars to the side of the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic. If your car is stuck and cannot move without the aid of a tow truck, turn on your hazard lights, exit the vehicle, and move to the side of the road. Ideally, you'll have flares or warning lights in your emergency kit in order to warn other cars.
2. Stay calm and civil. Know that an accident is just that - an accident. No one (not you, or the other driver) is at fault; don't even say "I'm sorry," because that too can be interpreted as an admission of fault and be used against you during the insurance claim or police report.
3. Exchange information with the other party. This includes name, phone number, local address, email, insurance company, policy number, drivers license number, and car license plate number, as well as the year, make, model, and color of each car involved. Never exchange your Social Security number. 
4. Photograph and document the accident. Use your camera to take pictures of any damage to either car; you want these photographs to demonstrate the entire context of the situation to file a claim, so be sure to take pictures from both close-up and afar. If there are witnesses, get their contact information as well, in case the other driver tries to dispute the situation. Have a written description of the time, location, road conditions, and process of the accident, including a diagram if possible.
5. Call your insurance company. Report the accident as soon as possible. This ensures that the company has your side of the story on file before the other driver files a claim, which puts you at an advantage.

Image credit: http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS343yTgTKaW81Yl1OoTukiYGtbwhMTLp4TZMMQwwvBsJqag5_2

How to Drive Safely at Night

Plenty of us hate driving at night - we're tired, we want to get home, it's dark, and, frankly, we just want to get home. However, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that while only 25% of driving is done at night, more than 50% of all driving fatalities occur then. Fortunately, as always, knowledge is power: understand the precautions you can take to heighten your driving safety... at all hours.

Reasons for higher risks after 6:00PM:

• Vision is severely limited
• The darkness decreases depth perception and peripheral vision, as well as color recognition
• Pupils dilate in low light, often blurring vision
• Glare of headlights from other vehicles can temporarily blind you, causing temporary blindness, dizziness, and confusion
• Most people are weary and tired, causes a lack of focus or irritation
• Roaming wildlife and intoxicated drivers are more prevalent at night

What you can do:

• Same precautions as during the day: put on your seatbelt, adjust your seat and mirrors, put away your personal electronics, go the speed limit, and always be alert
• Turn on your headlights. Make sure they are properly aligned (not uneven or pointed lower than necessary); if they are not, they will diminish road coverage and blind oncoming traffic. Clean road grime from your headlights often, especially if they are old, yellowed, and faded. You can buy a headlights polish kit to remove the haze. 
• Only use your high-beam lights when you are traveling in rural areas. Make sure they are off if you approach traffic or a hill, since they can blind other drivers.
• Dim your instrument panel and dashboard lights. If they are too bright, you may compromise your forward vision.
• Flip your rearview mirror. Some mirrors have night settings that can be turned on by flipping a small lever at the bottom. Lights in the glass will appear dimmer and thus less bothersome.
• Maintain a greater distance between you and the car in front of you. Distances are more difficult to gauge at night.
• Avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights. Bright lights will disrupt your concentration at night. Instead, look down at to the right, gazing at the white line on the side of the road or where the pavement meets the shoulder. Use that to track your lane instead of the left side; you can still see other vehicles with your peripheral vision, but wont' be bothered by the glare.
• Look for retinas. You can often see light reflecting off an animal's eyes long before you see the animal itself. When it comes to large animals such as deer, slow down as quickly as you can. If you try to steer around them, they may follow your lights and move in front of you.
• Take frequent breaks if you are driving at night for a long period of time. It will reduce fatigue and give your eyes recovery time.
• Schedule periodic vision checks. ALmost 90% of driver reactions depend on vision. Be sure to wear prescription glasses (especially if they have anti-reflective coating) or contacts as needed.

Picture courtesy: 416496806_640.jpg

How to Identify Reckless Driving

In the U.S. alone there are over 40,000 people killed every year on county, state and the interstate highways... and many of those deaths are directly the result of reckless drivers. In a 2003 driving poll conducted by The National Safe Driving Test, 91% of all drivers admitted to engaging in risky driving behavior over a six-month span.There is a variety of actions that can help identify a dangerous or reckless driver, and being knowledgeable and aware could increase the level of safety of the road, both for yourself and others.

• Rolling through stop signs. A lot of people don't come to a complete stop; they slow down, check for oncoming traffic, and then keep on going. However, know that the sign is there for a reason, and the only way to be 110% sure that there is no traffic is by coming to a complete stop.
• Driving too quickly. Speeding is responsible for 30% of all fatal crashes.
• Failing to keep up with traffic. Some people think that slower means safer, but drivers expect you to keep up with the flow of traffic. If you're going too slowly relative to everyone else, people behind you will try to pass you, which can easily lead to an accident. 
• Tailgating. The average car needs 120-160 feet to come to a complete stop. You should maintain that safe distance away from the car ahead of you, or even farther if you're driving at higher speeds. Change lanes when it is safe if you're the one being tailgated.
• Running yellow lights. Yellow means slow down. The red light comes shortly after; if you speed up at the yellow light, there is always a chance of accident.
• Not checking blind spots. People who get in accidents often say that the opposing car "came out of nowhere." However, that is only because the other car was in a blind spot. Always check your blind spots to be aware of your surroundings.
• Not wearing driving glasses. If you need prescribed glasses, wear them. Have sunglasses nearby just in case you need protection from the sun and the visor isn't enough; squinting doesn't help, and you might miss something.
• Not using signals. Using signals alerts drivers to your presence and intents, so that you can safely change lanes. Not doing so may catch other drivers off-guard and cause them to lose their focus on the road.
• Giving in to road rage. Driver aggression can be caused by a variety of factors and is extremely dangerous, causing drivers to drive with emotion rather than logic and reason. Always drive with a level head and keep your focus - for tips, check out this article, The Zen of Driving.
• Lack of etiquette. Always be conscious and courteous of other drivers. Especially when it comes to merging and lane changes, it is best to be polite and give the other car right of way.
• Multitasking. Anything from talking to your passengers to using electronic devices to eating to listening to music can distract the driver from the road. While it is certainly possible to drive and do something else at the same time, it is less safe to divide your focus in such a manner; always give your 100% attention to the road.

If you see someone driving recklessly - whether it be from texting, drunk/drowsy driving, being overly aggressive, or otherwise careless driving - report it by calling 911, but only call if you feel it's a dangerous situation. Simple motor violations do not warrant reporting; being a danger and placing civilians in harm's way, on the other hand, is.

Driving Safely with your Dog

While we love our dogs and want them with us all the time, or just want to take them out for a cruise, it is important to transport them in a proper manner that is safe not only for the driver and the dog, but also for other drivers on the road. Many drivers simply have their pets sit in the backseat, or even in the back of pickup trucks or in their laps. Here are some pet travel tips that can keep everyone, including your dog, safe and happy:

• Safely secure your dog while driving, either with a fitted pet travel harness, pet car seat, seatbelt, or properly secured crate. Never attach a restraining device to the collar. 
• Never let your car near your lap, since s/he can interfere with steering, block the driver's vision, or accidentally manipulate the accelerator, the brakes, and gear shifts. S/he can also become a safety hazard if the driver has to divert attention from the road to deal with the dog's behavior.
• Do not allow your dog to ride with its head hanging outside the window.Airborne debris can get into the eyes, ears, and mouth, and obstacles close to the car and potentially strike the head, causing injury or death.
• Unsecured dogs can be thrown out at high speeds if the car stops abruptly or gets into an accident.
• Never leave your pet alone in a parked car. Temperatures in confined spaces can reach over 100 degrees and cause heatstroke or even death during the summer time, and extreme cold temperatures in the winter can be just as threatening.
• Have your pet consume small amounts of food and water prior to the ride, but not too much due to digesting and urinary issues that may arise.

Picture courtesy: http://www.farmersalmanac.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/driving-dog-thumb-420x240.jpg

The Zen of Driving: How to avoid Road Rage

“Long conversations 

beside blooming irises –
joys of life on the road”

- Matsuo Basho

You're running late for work and someone cuts you off going 5 mph under the speed limit. You want to scream at them, rip your hair out, maybe even rear end them. But stop, take a moment, and reflect on the zen of driving. Life is about movement, whether inside a car or out, and sometimes it's all about what we do while moving, and not the speed or destination, that matters the most.

Take a deep breath, and let the world move around you. Trying to push something as big as the earth towards your end is a tiring endeavor. Relax.

Don't turn into this angry driver:

Here are some tips on chilling out, enjoying the ride, and avoiding temper tantrums while on the road:

Take it Easy

Just think of the Eagles' song and “...don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.” (But listen to this song enough, and you're bound to go a little nuts.) Instead focus on the meaning behind the lyrics. Sometimes the sound of driving can be monotonous. Likewise, listening to repetitive music will also stress you out subconsciously. Try to vary it on long car rides. Sometimes switching the radio off will give you time to think, focus, and calm down. When that gets old, switch the music back on again. Think of your life in movement, your surroundings and motivations constantly changing, the need to wake up and fall asleep everyday – let this rhythm guide your radio choices.

Talk to Other Drivers (or Yourself)

Ok, this sounds a little schizophrenic, but talking releases stress much in the same way that listening to music does. When a fellow driver does something you don't like, try talking to them as if they are your friend. Instead of shouting and cursing, this form of empathy through conversation (although one-sided and a little insane) is a great way to put yourself behind their wheel and see the road as one big driving community instead of a rat race. We all share the road equally, and we rely on each other for safety, much like the way we live life. No driver's an island. You will find empathy is a great way to siphon stress out of your life, even if no one hears it. Think of it like chanting a mantra.

Enjoy the Scenery

But not too much. Keep your eyes on the road there, buddy. Still, you're out on a trip, no matter how short or long, so you might as well breath in the fresh air. Even if it's a route you've driven a hundred times, there are still new things to be discovered, and new reflections to unearth. There is a reason poets call the natural world the root of all inspiration, so be inspired. Driving is a great way to see nature, and the variation of light as you hasten down the freeway might just make an artist out of you. Moderately enjoying your surroundings will take away the monotony of the road, prevent tunnel vision, and make you a safer driver in general. It will also calm you for the journeys ahead.

Still Stressed? Let's See How We Can Help You