Automobile Insurance

Seat Belts Save Lives

Friday, November 5, 2010

Think drunk driving is the only leading cause of death in car accidents in Florida? Think again! Buckle up, Florida! Ejection from a vehicle is serious business in a car crash. Of those people ejected from a vehicle, 75 percent of them are killed. Seat belts save over 13,000 lives a year. Buckling up is the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and others in a crash. During times like the holiday season, where more crashes occur due to impaired or distracted driving, seat belt safety is even more of a concern.

A common misconception is that air bags alone save lives. Air bags help to save lives, but they do not act as seat belts and are not a replacement for them. Without a seatbelt, an abrupt or harsh movement could throw you into the air bag, injuring you or even killing you. So just be safe, Florida, and click it. Remember it’s not just you in the car. The passenger seat can sometimes be the most dangerous seat in a vehicle. Unfortunately, motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of death among children ages 3 to 14. The correct use of child safety seats or seat belts, however, is extremely effective and reduces a child’s risk of death as high as 71 percent! Out of these children that are buckled up, 73 percent of these child restraints are not used or implemented correctly, so make sure to follow instructions for securing your child in the car. Aside from child safety, make sure before you buy a car that the seat belt is right for you too! Ask about seat belt adjusters at the car company if needed.

Seat belt safety awareness is helping save lives. In 2006, seat belt use was at an all time high at 81 percent thanks to public service announcements. Click it or Ticket, which I’m sure all of you have seen on the roads of Florida, is the national safety belt use campaign which runs during late May. To find out more on how to safely buckle yourself, children, or other loved ones visit www.nhtsa.gov and click “4 Steps for Kids”, as well as the “Should pregnant women wear seat belts?” brochure. Both are guides that can make all the difference.

Does this all effect insurance rates? You bet! Be a safe driver this holiday season and always!

Texting While Driving - Take the Pledge with Jordin Sparks

Thursday, June 24, 2010

I know, you have probably already heard about the dangers of texting while driving. I hope you listen to this plea because it saves lives! A recent survey found that 77 percent of respondents admit to texting or sending mobile e-mail while driving - but did you know that texting while driving can increase the risk of a car accident by 23 times?!

The American College of Emergency Physicians has also reported a rise in texting-related emergency room visits. According to a recent press release by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention (mostly distracting activities such as cell phone use, and drowsiness) within three seconds before the event.

Allstate has decided to start their own campaign to get the word out about the dangers of texting while driving, especially since car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens and any parent of a teen knows how attached teens can be to their cell phones. They are calling this the Thumbs Up Pledge or "X the TXT." Allstate will donate $1 to the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) for every Facebook "Thumbs Up" pledge supporter

Singer Jordin Sparks is currently on a 30-city tour along with her mom, Jodi Sparks, to promote the Thumbs Up Pledge. "Everyone is susceptible to distractions behind the wheel. Our kids learn about what is acceptable driving behavior from us and as parents, it is important that we lead by example and make this a family issue," said Jodi Sparks.

I was able to meet Jordin Sparks recently and took the pledge. Join me along with Jordin Sparks and sign the pledge to stop texting while driving - commit to being smarter behind the wheel and keep your friends and family safe!