Holiday travel safety

Holiday celebrations can be fun times for family and friends to get together, but only when all persons have arrived and returned safely. Remember that during the holidays many drivers are distracted or in a hurry. This demands that you be more alert than normal to avoid an accident.

With the holiday season drawing near, motorists need to take a little extra care so that they arrive at their destination safely. Below are a few tips to make your holiday travels safer.

·         Before starting your trip, make sure your vehicle is tuned up and ready for travel. This is especially important for winter driving conditions.

·         Make sure you and your passengers are using their seat belts and small children are in their car safety seats securely. The rear seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride.

·         If possible, leave early to avoid peak traffic hours. If snow or ice is predicted during the time you plan to travel, change your schedule. It is better to reschedule holiday celebrations than to risk the lives of traveling family or friends. 

·         Make sure you are well rested and fresh before you start your travels. To say fresh and alert, take breaks. If you get tired, pull off the road into a rest area or business, get out of the car for some fresh air and maybe get a bite to eat and something to drink, or just relax until you feel revived. If that doesn’t work, find a hotel or campground where you can spend the night.

·         Try to keep your speed down and leave plenty of distance to vehicles around you so that you have time to react. Let impatient and aggressive drivers pass so that you control the situation.

·         Do not pass if you cannot see enough road to make the pass safely.

·         If there will be drinking at your holiday celebration, be sure to choose a designated driver who will remain alcohol free. 

·         Do not use you cell phone in anyway while driving. Pull over in a safe place if you need to use the phone.

To Find Collision Centers and Body Shops in Texas, visit:
www.CollisionRepairLocator.com

** Please note that this is for general information only **

Tire Safety

Tire maintenance is one of the most important safety items for you and your vehicle. Your tires are the only contact between your vehicle and the road.

Typical maintenance schedule for tires:

·         Check tire inflation once a month and before long trips. Remember to check the spare tire

·         Rotate tires every 5,000 miles

·         Visually inspect monthly, check for uneven tire wear, check for any object that may have punctured a tire and check for any bulges in the tires

·         Check tread depth every 10,000 miles

·         Alignment, if your vehicle pulls to one side or if the steering wheel is off center. You will need to take you vehicle to the repair shop and have them inspect it

When you check the tire inflation, do this when the tires are cold. The term cold does not apply to the outside temperature. A cold tire is one that has not been driven on for at least three hours. When driving, your tires heat up which increases the pressure inside the tire and this will give you an inaccurate reading.

Most manufactures place decals either on the driver’s door or the driver’s door opening showing proper tire size, inflation recommendations and weight limits of your vehicle. To check the tread depth, you can use the penny method. To use the penny method, take a penny and place Lincoln’s head upside down with Lincoln facing you. Now, stick the penny in the tires tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you probably need new tires.

Maintaining your tires will:

·         Help prevent tire failure and blowouts

·         Improve fuel millage

·         Increase the longevity of tires

·         Improve handling

As you can see, not only will maintaining your tires keep you and your family safe but you will also save money by improving your gas millage and tire replacement cost.

The above schedule is a good place to start but please note that tire maintenance can vary from manufacture to manufacture. You may want to check your owner’s manual or contact your dealer before adopting any schedule.

To Find Collision Centers and Body Shops in Texas, visit:
www.CollisionRepairLocator.com

** Please note that this is for general information only **

Dangers of cell phone use while driving

Do you text or talk while driving?

If so, this may change your mind.

Dangers of texting while driving:

According to a report released by the U.S. National Safety Council in January 2010, approximately 200,000 people experienced accidents caused by texting while driving.

Dangers of talking on cell phones while driving:

According to a report released by the U.S. National Safety Council in January 2010, 1.4 million people experienced accidents by talking on the phone while driving.

The U.S. National Safety Council also stated that at least 28 percent of all crashes involved drivers using cell phones.



Texas laws concerning cell phone use while behind the wheel:

38 states have bans on using cell phones while driving but at this time Texas has no such law.

Back in April, a bill (HB 242) was passed by the Texas Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry. The bill stated any form of text-based communication would become illegal while a motor vehicle is in motion.

Current Texas laws:

(HB55, HB2730, HB339)

§  Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using cell phone and text messaging.

§  Learners permit holders are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving.

§  School bus operators are prohibited from using wireless communication devices while driving if minors are present.

§  Drivers prohibited from using wireless handheld devices in school crossing zones.

Additionally, some Texas cities now have distracted driving laws

If you must use your phone while on the road, please pull over in a safe location before doing so. You may just save a life!



To Find Collision Centers and Body Shops in Texas, visit:
www.CollisionRepairLocator.com




** Please note that this is for general information only **

Common Steps to Take After an Automobile Accident

Steps to Take After an Accident

• If possible, move your car to avoid blocking traffic and to protect it from further damage.
• Call the police if somebody is injured or killed, if you can’t move your car, or if the accident involved a hit-and-run driver. Your uninsured motorist coverage usually only pays for a hit-and-run accident if you report it to police.
• Get the following information from the other driver:
• name
• address
• telephone number
• license plate number
• license number
• insurance company name (get the exact and complete name)*
• insurance policy number
• Give the other driver the same information about you.
• Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident.
• If you have a camera, take photos of the accident (most cell phones have cameras)
• Notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Your company probably has a 1-800 number to report claims. If not, call your agent. The agent or company will explain the claims process, including how to schedule an adjuster and get repair estimates. Also, give your agent or company the names and addresses of any witnesses and anyone injured.
• If you reported your claim by phone, follow up in writing as soon as possible to help protect your rights.
• Send the company copies of the accident report and any legal papers you receive about the accident.
• Cooperate with the company’s investigation. You might have to submit a proof-of-loss form or have a medical examination.

* If the other driver refuses to tell you the name of his or her insurance company, get a copy of the police accident report. The accident report should list the other driver’s name and insurance company. If the police did not investigate the accident, you can report the driver’s refusal to police. This could result in a report identifying the driver’s insurance company.

To Find Collision Centers and Body Shops in Texas, visit:
www.CollisionRepairLocator.com

** Please note that this is for general information only **