Distracted Driving

Eyes on the Road Folks!

My high school basketball coach was my driver's ed instructor and the main thing I remember was him constantly telling us 

"Pay attention, eyes on the road!" 

Teachers don't teach driver's ed any more. We paid $400 for my oldest son to go to a Drivers ed school and $150 for my daughter to do the "Parent taught" drivers ed. (Truth be told, that one is more self taught)  Both kids drove with me in the car for hours and hours before I would turn them loose on their own. They both heard those same words many times. "Pay attention, eyes on the road!" 

What is Distracted Driving?

According to the CDC, 9 people are killed each day and 1,000 more are injured in Distracted Driving accidents. 

There are 3 types of distracted driving:

• Visual: taking your eyes off the road;
• Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; 
• Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving

There are many distracted driving activities like eating, talking to passengers, changing radio stations, using your gps. The list is long. At the top of that list is Texting because it incorporates all three types; you take your eyes off the road, your hand off of the wheel and your mind off of driving. It has become an all too common issue. And did you know the 3rd highest cause of accidents due to distracted driving is watching Netflix? Seriously.


Low gas prices have encouraged more people to drive more often and longer distances.  Growing cities (and their populations which means more traffic) have added to stop and start traffic accidents. Cell phone usage (while driving) has added exponentially to distracted driving. In recent years, distracted driving has caused almost 400,000 people to be injured in car accidents annually, with over 3,000 resulting in death. 

Aside from the human life/pain factor, there are the financial factors. Both the people involved in the accidents and the carriers are affected financially by claims. So carriers penalize bad driving history since they will be the ones paying out the claims, which generally pay you much more than you have paid in insurance premium. 

I know Three great reasons to pay attention and keep your eyes on the road!
You could die.
You could kill someone else.
It is expensive.

So let's all do each other a favor and

Pay Attention and Keep Your Eyes On the Road!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683  

Holiday Hazard - Driving out of town

DRIVING IN UNFAMILIAR AREAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS? DRIVE SAFELY!

Are you visiting family out of town for the Holidays?  Most likely, you want to avoid this Griswald family-like crash. Driving in unfamiliar areas can be hazardous. You may not know the streets or the terrain or how to drive in weather that is uncommon for your area. 
  * Make sure you limit the distractions. It is just plain stupid to text and drive. It is even more so if you are driving on unfamiliar roads. Many of us have made those drives with kids fighting in the back seat and people arguing over what is on the radio. But it is so important to stay alert and engaged while driving, especially in new places.
   * Know the traffic laws. Do your research before you leave. Some towns have roundabouts, bizarre junctions and different road signs that you are not used to. Know the speed limits as well.

   * Get to know your environment. Will there be icy bridges? Cattle in the streets? (Yes that can be a thing) Depending on where you go, the environment, including the weather, will dictate how you drive. Take it slower if you are at all unsure of your surroundings. 
   * Do you need to winterize your car? Or protect it from heat? Google how to do that properly in the state you are going to. Winterizing in Texas can be different than winterizing in Wyoming.
   * Have a map, in case your phone's map app doesn't work. If you haven't spent time in the mountains before, I can tell you - cell reception can be dicey.  

If you get lost, always remember to:
Pay attention to road signs. They can help guide you.  Avoid sudden changes in direction and illegal manuevers, such as a u-turn on an unfamiliar road. Use your turn signals/hazards. This will let other drivers know your intentions. Reduce your speed. This will give you more time to identify and respond to unexpected obstacles like fallen debris, potholes and curves in the road. 

Make sure to add a extra time to your driving plans.  There is nothing more frustrating than getting lost when you are already late! That anxiety just adds to the hazard of driving in unfamiliar areas!
   
Take your auto insurance with you. Even if you are driving a Rental. If you buy the Rental company's insurance, it will cover any mishap you may have. But that rental insurance can be costly. Your own personal insurance will cover your rental should anything happen, but it will count on your accident history. It is up if you want to buy the Rental insurance or use your own. 

It can be great to get out of town, but drive safely so it doesn't turn disasterous!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683