As your high school and college students head back to class this fall, you may be on the look out for a safe car for them to use. Not only do vehicles vary in size and color, but there are also important safety differences. Some vehicles are just safer than others. Consider the following safety features when shopping for a new or used car:
SIZE Physics dictates that larger and heavier cars are safer. Pay attention to the weight of the car to opt for greater safety.
ON THE ROAD EXPERIENCE High performance cars can tempt you to drive fast. Consider this if you have teenage drivers that will be using the car.
GOOD STRUCTURAL DESIGN Ask the dealer about a car’s safety cage. Some brands are better known for their safety than others.
RESTRAINTS Seatbelts, airbags and head restraints are standard on most new cars. Remember to consider this if buying used or vintage cars.
AYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS Also standard on most new cars. Make sure you know how to turn them on before driving off the lot.
ANTI-LOCK BREAKS Standard on most new cars, but remember to consider this if you’re purchasing a used or vintage car.
CRASHWORTHINESS RATING Find your comfort zone. Check highwaysafety.org to find out how the cars you’re considering rate.
If you are wondering if things are costing more than they did last year, you are not imagining it! Along with the woes of the economy, insurance companies are also having to make adjustments in what business they are accepting and how they can recover some major losses. There are many carriers changing the way they do business in California.
Why is full coverage auto insurance so much more than I remember? During the first year of the pandemic, most insurance companies offered a 15% reduction in auto insurance because drivers were staying home and driving less. Unfortunately, many allowed their coverage to lapse all together, leaving the insurance carriers without as much collected premium to cover losses. Now that many are back on the road, accidents are on the rise, carriers are short staffed and customer satisfaction is spiraling. Many well known carriers are asking for 6 months premiums to be paid up front instead of monthly installments and some are asking for larger premium commitments up front than ever before.
Did your home owners premium increase? It probably did! For homeowners, the replacement cost of your home definitely increased in the past year, and that will drive your premium up. Building costs, supply chain issues and labor shortages mean that if there is a significant loss in your home, it will cost the insurance company more than last year to make you whole, and they are passing that on to you! Check your statement for replacement cost or dwelling value and compare it to previous years.
If you have questions about your coverage or want to see if there is better pricing available don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re here to help!
California is facing another dry year and the state is bracing for an intense wildfire season.
Over 73% of California remains in Extreme Drought, with over 37 million Californians in a drought area. As dry conditions continue to persist, it’s not a matter of if but when a wildfire will be heading your way.
Tips for staying prepared during fire season:
CREATE DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOME Defensible space is the required space between your home and the wildland area that helps to create a buffer to slow the spread of wildfires to a structure. It also protects your home from inciting due to direct flames or radiant heat.
MORE TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOME AND PROPERTY SAFER DURING WILDFIRE SEASON: • Remove dead vegetation from plants and lower branches from tall trees. • Keep the gutters, roof and outdoor spaces free of debris like leaves and twigs. • Clear out window screens and attic vents. • Move firewood at least 30 feet from the house. • Use roofing materials with a Class A fire rating (the highest). • Install metal angle flashing at the edge of the roof. • Box-in eaves that have an open construction (i.e., where rafter tails are visible). • Install metal flashing where wood decking meets the siding (if the siding is combustible). • Replace single-pane windows with multi-pane, tempered glass windows with screens.
PUT TOGETHER AN EMERGENCY KIT Have your emergency kit ready and make sure to include: • Important documents or possessions • Medications • N95 masks • A first aid kit • Water and food to take with you • Tools including a flashlight, batteries, manual can opener, portable chargers for your phone/devices • Don’t forget to prep for your pets as well with extra water, food, bowls.
Be sure to sign up for local warning system notifications. You can do that by visiting the County’s Ready San Diego page here.
MORE TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOME AND PROPERTY SAFER DURING WILDFIRE SEASON • Remove dead vegetation from plants and lower branches from tall trees. • Keep the gutters, roof and outdoor spaces free of debris like leaves and twigs. • Clear out window screens and attic vents. • Move firewood at least 30 feet from the house. • Use roofing materials with a Class A fire rating (the highest). • Install metal angle flashing at the edge of the roof. • Box-in eaves that have an open construction (i.e., where rafter tails are visible). • Install metal flashing where wood decking meets the siding (if the siding is combustible). • Replace single-pane windows with multi-pane, tempered glass windows with screens.
From concerts to carnivals there are plenty of family-friendly places to close out the long weekend with a fireworks in North County. Check out our top picks…
City of Vista Independence Day Celebration at 1200 Vale Terrace Drive Brengle Terrace ParK Free 9 pm
Escondido July 4th Fireworks at Grape Day Park 321 N Broadway Free 9 pm
Lakehouse Hotel San Marcos 1105 La Bonita Dr Free 10 am Carnival 9 pm Fireworks
Legoland Red White and Boom 1 Legoland Drive Cost of admission 9 pm
Oceanside fireworks at SoCal Soccer Complex at El Corazon 3302 Senior Center Dr Free 9 pm
Poway Fourth of July fireworks at Poway High School Stadium 15500 Espola Road Free 9 pm
San Diego County Fair at Del Mar Fairgrounds 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd Cost of admission
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. We are looking to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and encourage motorists to reduce distractions behind the wheel. Generally speaking, distracted driving refers to any activity that may interfere with a driver’s attentiveness on the road, whether that entails changing the radio station or interacting with their smartphone.
A new Agency Forward study from Nationwide found drivers are practicing poor driving behavior despite fears of others driving dangerously. What’s worse, more than a third of drivers (34%) believe it is safe to hold your phone while driving.
Distracted driving poses major safety hazards and contributes to a significant number of accidents. In fact, more than 2,800 people are killed and 400,000 are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver each year—equating to approximately eight deaths and 1,095 injuries per day. To make matters worse, motorists’ driving behaviors have become increasingly risky since the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially heightening the likelihood of distracted driving incidents.
Distracted driving trends
Despite two-thirds of drivers (66%) saying that holding a cell phone to talk, text, or use an app while driving is dangerous, half (51%) reported doing this in the past six months, with Millennials doing this more than any other age group (67%).
Although fewer drivers have been on the road in the last couple years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of fatal accidents has soared. In 2020, a total of 38,824 deaths occurred on U.S. roadways. Taking a closer look at that total, it represents a fatality rate of 1.34 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, which is more than a 20% increase from 2019 and the highest rate recorded since 2007.1 In 2021, this rate surged an additional 18% in just the first six months of the year.2
This increase in fatalities has been linked to a rise in unsafe driving behaviors. Specifically, motorists may have gained a sense of false confidence in the presence of fewer vehicles on the road, prompting them to adopt dangerous habits. Nationwide’s latest research supports these concerning trends. According to this data, driving has become considerably more dangerous than it was before the pandemic, compared to 2020 data:
81% think drivers are more aggressive
79% think drivers drive faster
76% think drivers are more reckless
What’s particularly concerning is that 85% of motorists rate their driving as excellent or very good, but only 29% give the same rating to other drivers around them. While riding in the passenger seat, consumers have witnessed drivers engaging in a variety of distracting activities on the road this past year, including texting (35%) and checking social media (27%).
Fatalities are one the rise:
Nationwide Research Methodology Edelman Data & Intelligence conducted a national online survey of 1,000 U.S. adult (ages 18+), car-owning consumers on behalf of Nationwide. The study was fielded from March 4 to March 11, 2022, and has an overall margin of error of ±3% at the 95% confidence level.
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to check in with your insurance agent and make sure your coverage is up to date, while you’re at it see if you can save money by combining your home and auto policies.
Here are a few things inside and outside your home that should be inspected to determine if they are in good condition:
INSIDE YOUR HOME Electrical Outlets and Cords: Check electrical outlets and cords throughout your home for any potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Extension cords and power strips are not designed to be permanent fixtures and should only be used on an interim basis.
Fire Extinguishers: Check your fire extinguisher at least once yearly, including the hose, nozzle and other parts to determine if they are in good condition and that the pressure gauge is in the “green” range. Check the expiration date. If necessary, move your fire extinguisher to an accessible place so that you can get to it easily in an emergency.
Air Conditioning: Check around the unit for indications of leaks. Before turning it on for the season, have your air-conditioning system inspected and tuned up by a professional. Check the drain lines annually and clean them if they are clogged. Change the air filter.
Water Heater: Check for leaks and corrosion. Check your owner’s manual for any recommended maintenance.
Furnace or Boiler: Have your furnace or boiler cleaned or inspected annually.
Under Sinks and Around Toilets: Look for any signs of leaks or corrosion on pipes, supply lines and fixtures.
Plumbing: Check exposed pipes and valves in your basement or crawl spaces, if safely accessible, for signs of leaking or corrosion.
Appliances: Check supply lines for washing machines, ice makers and water dispensers, refrigerators, and dishwashers for signs of leaks or wear and tear.
Plumbing for Hose Spigots and Irrigation Systems: After opening valves for outdoor water supplies, be sure to inspect components for leaks. Don’t forget to check inside plumbing as well as outdoor spigots.
Dryers: Dryer lint can build up inside the vent pipe and collect around the duct. Clean both the clothes dryer exhaust duct and the space under the dryer. Use a brush to clean out the vent pipe. Look for lint buildup around the lint trap and clean it as needed.
Smoke Detectors: Daylight savings time is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Inspect each smoke detector to determine if all are in working order, and make sure to test them monthly. Ideally, there should be at least one smoke detector on each floor of your home, including outside of each bedroom, and one within each bedroom itself.
Light bulbs: Check each light bulb in every fixture for the correct recommended wattage and replace any burned out bulbs.
OUTSIDE YOUR HOME Roof: Check for any damage from snow or ice, and make any necessary repairs to reduce the possibility of leaks. If you have a skylight, check outside for a buildup of leaves and debris. Also, check the indoor ceiling for signs of leaks. Remember to put safety first any time you are on a roof. If you have any doubt, leave it to the professionals.
Gutters: Clean leaves and other debris from gutters and downspouts to keep water flowing and reduce the possibility of water damage.
Trees: Visually inspect trees for damage or rot, and remove (consider hiring a licensed professional) any dead trees that might blow over in heavy winds or during a storm. Keep healthy trees and bushes trimmed and away from utility wires.
Lawn Equipment: Make sure lawn mowers, tractors and other equipment are tuned up before using. Store oil and gas for lawn equipment and tools in a vented, locked area.
Walkways and Driveways: Repair any cracks and broken or uneven surfaces to provide a safer, level walking area.
