Don’t Drive Drowsy

We all have somewhere to go, or some place to be but please don’t drive drowsy! Did you know that driving drowsy can be just as dangerous as driving drunk? Each year, at least, 1,500 people die in crashes related to sleepy, fatigued or drowsy drivers in the United States of America. Also, at least 100,000 crashes are caused by drowsy drives. This is according to statistics gathered by the federal government. Driving drowsy can lead to impaired judgment or even loss of depth perception. If you become drowsy enough you may even fall asleep and drive yourself or run someone else off the road. When you drive drowsy you don’t only affect your self you have the possibility of affecting someone else. If absolutely have to drive while your drowsy keep your mind busy so that you won’t shut down and fall asleep. You can try doing some math out loud, listening to a book on CD ( It’s better if it’s a suspense story), or count something out loud. If these suggestions don’t work try some of your own, but always know your limits. Sometimes the best thing to do when your driving drowsy is to just pull over and take a nap.

Don’t Tailgate

All drivers have been tailgated or they tailgated someone. Don’t do it! It just isn’t safe. It doesn’t matter if your being tailgated or tailgating someone, it’s a dangerous situation for the both of you. If you are being tailgated just take your foot off of the accelerator for a few seconds most of the time the person tailgating you will get frustrated and go around. If this little trick doesn’t work then just move over let them pass you up and move back. It may be an inconvenience to you to be switching lanes, but switching lanes sounds like a much better option then getting rear ended if you need to come to a sudden stop. As a general rule made up by experts you should find a stationary object on the road. When the car in front of you passes that object start counting seconds. If you count three or more seconds you are not considered to be tailgating them. This is called the “Three-second rule”. It is recommended that at night or during bad weather yo should up the rule to six seconds.

Keep your Vehicle Safe

This tip may sound like a given but you would be surprised how many people don’t do their yearly car inspections, or even the monthly and weekly ones! All car owners should know at least the basics about owning a car. Before you go out for a drive these are some simple things to check for; Do you have enough gas? Are your windows and mirrors clean? Is your tire pressure correct? All of these things can lead to an accident. Don’t really think so? Let’s think about some problems that can possibly result from these simple things you can check daily. If you run out of gas on the freeway, that’s a dangerous situation. You can get a ticket from leaving you car alone or even worse someone may not realize how far out you are and hit you. Clean mirrors and windows sound simple enough but some people don’t check for that; let’s say you have a streak on you windshield that’s obstructing your view and you decide to clean it while driving. The few seconds that you take you eyes off the road you can end up hitting another car. The is the most crucial that a lost of people don’t do; check your tire pressure! Pressure that is too low or too high can affect the way the car drives or can even lead to a tire blowout. All these tips can be used the next time before you decide to go for a drive to help make you a safer driver.

If you have been convicted once before (anytime with in the last 10 years) then you could serve 90 days to a year in jail. Your fine could range from $1,000 to $1,900 and your license will be suspended for 2 years. You can apply for a restricted license but you have to have the IID already and you may still be denied. Also you will be required to get California SR22 insurance that is required for restricted license.
If you have been convicted twice before then you could serve 120 days to a year. You will be fined anywhere from $1,000 up to $2,000 and your license will be suspended for three years. You will then be labeled as a habitual offender. You will not be able to drive for a year and then can apply for a restricted license.

You get the point don’t you? So the choice is always yours but spending a little more on a cab ride home sounds a lot better then these penalties.

Dress for the Fall

You should always dress for the fall and not the ride. It doesn’t matter if it is 60 degrees outside or 90 degrees outside you should always wear your protective gear. For those of you who are newbies to scene you might think what is considered protective gear. It’s usually a thick leather jacket or jackets made from a fabric called hypertex. This jackets will protect you if you ever fall. Jackets aren’t the only thing that you should take into account, you should always wear your helmet, chaps, appropriate riding shoes, and gloves. Just don’t forget riding a bike is not like riding in car. When you ride on a bike you have to ride with protection on you not around you.

Brief your Passenger
This is something everyone should do, especially if your rider has never ridden on a motorcycle before. They must wear all the protective gear. Let them know that they should always mount from the same side as you, and inform you when they are getting on or off. Show them where the motorcycle will get hot so that they will keep caution of those parts and thus prevent injuries. Advise passengers that they should not try to drive the bike with you. Tell your passenger to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Drive Defensively
You should drive alert at all times. Pay attention at all times because what could be a small hazard to a car could mean a major hazard for you and your bike. Also ride you bike as if you were in everyone’s blind spot and keep adjusting yourself to make sure you are seen. If you do this all the time you have much lower chances of getting hit by accident because you couldn’t be seen. When you drive in the rain drive in the tire tracks of the vehicle in front of you, but don’t tailgate. The best piece information we can give you though is be extremely alert at intersection because that’s where approximately 70% of motorcycle accidents occur.

Always remember that driving a mortocycle is not the same as driving a car. If you remember this fact and follow our tips you should be just fine.

Taking your eyes off the road, even if only for a few seconds can be enough to cause a major accident. A simple safe precaution would be to put your phone out of reach while you drove or simply turned it off.

Even if you have been texting while driving and you feel comfortable doing it, you should stop immediately. An accident is bound to happen eventually. Resist the urge to text even when you are at a stop light or any other stop.

Like wearing your seatbelt, not texting while driving is a safe important habit to develop. If you simply set your phone to vibrate or off completely every time you drive, you will less likely become distracted by it.

There are always emergencies; however most calls and texts received are not. Don’t risk your own life or that of others by texting while driving. It can be worse than drunk driving and it has already been linked to many auto accident deaths in the US.

Drive safely.

- Your friends at Power Auto Insurance

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Before the first home payment comes, make sure one of the first things on your lists is getting adequate home owners insurance. Most of the time, you’ll be assigned one through the home loan buying process. However, it’s in your best interest to check what other home insurance providers are there.

It’s your responsibility to evaluate your policy to see what the exact coverage and deductibles are. You don’t want to find that you have a $500 deductible to get a simple plumbing problem fixed.

A quick call can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars on home owners insurance. Don’t let time go by paying the monthly home owners insurance payment without investigating other insurance providers first.

There can be dangerous drunk drivers on the road that you need to be on the look out for. Driving cautiously and being aware of other vehicles on the road can save lives and prevent accidents. Some digital freeway signs also display CHP phone numbers that you can call and report drunk drivers to.

Remember that the holidays are a time for joy and being with family. Make sure you drive safe and are aware of irresponsible drivers. Happy Holidays from Power Auto Insurance.

Even if the car is not in the best of shape, you need to make sure you have sufficient car insurance that will protect you and your vehicle in case of an auto accident. In addition to that, you will want to make sure you are covered for any liability if you are at fault for a car accident. The last thing you would want to happen is to have a major accident that would drain your savings account.

After all, being liable for an accident can wipe your finances clean if you aren’t adequately insured. In most cases, cars that are used have lost value and sometimes have lower auto insurance rates than newer ones.