Avoiding distractions while driving could save your life

You’ve seen them on the roads; you might even know a few of them.

And you could be one yourself.

Distracted drivers in come in all shapes, sizes, ages and experience levels. Even if you’re not one today, you could become one at any moment — in the time it takes you to answer your cell phone or check the kids in the back seat when you’re driving through {neighborhoods}.

If you or someone else you know thinks you can drive just fine while talking on your phone, think about this: More than 450,000 people were injured in crashes that reportedly involved distracted driving in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than 5,000 of those people died.

Distractions on the road come in many forms, according to www.distraction.gov, a U.S. Department of Transportation website. There are three main kinds of distractions:

1. Visual – taking your eyes off the road
2. Manual –taking your hands off the wheel
3. Cognitive – taking your mind off what you’re doing

To help you avoid all three kinds of distractions the next time you’re behind the wheel of your car  here are a few tips:

• Put your phone in silent mode and store it away from the front seat or in a purse or bag. This helps reduce temptation.
• Have a passenger answer your phone or return text messages for you.
• If a call or a text can’t wait, pull over in a safe spot before using your phone.
• This one seems obvious, but finish shaving or applying makeup before you get in the car!
• If you’re emotional, wait until you’ve calmed down before hitting the road.
• Avoid road rage. You’ll be happier and safer.

Whenever you’re on the road, it’s not a time to multi-task. Focus on driving safely.

In Virginia and North Carolina, motorcycle enthusiasts are pretty fortunate: it usually doesn’t get bitter cold here, and even during those months when some areas are buried under several feet of snow, we can get surprised with a short string of days when the sun is bright and the temps remind you of spring. So unless you’re headed somewhere warmer for a couple of months (in which case – why aren’t you taking your bike with you?), a full winterization is not only overkill, it could rob you of the chance to take advantage of those intermittent warm days. So here is part one of what you might call “Winterization Light”.
Treat Your Gasoline
If you do only one thing, do this. Gasoline goes bad, in a manner of speaking, when it’s just left to sit. Not only does it tend to lose octane, it can actually gum up your carburetor or fuel injectors. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and a few bucks spent on fuel stabilizer is worth a couple hundred for a professional carb/injector cleaning. Start by filling the gas tank (a full tank helps prevent moisture from getting in the system as it sits), then adding a stabilizer per the instructions on the label. And remember: if you do get a chance to ride every now and then, top off the tank on your way home, taking care to add a bit more stabilizer when you park it.
Change Your Oil
Gasoline isn’t the only thing that breaks down over time: motor oil does as well, even when it’s not running through the motor on a daily basis. Most motorcycle owner’s manuals recommend oil changes either every few thousand miles or every few months for this very reason. And considering the low cost of purchasing oil and a filter compared to the cost of your motorcycle, it’s hard to argue this is a bad idea. So change your oil when you start parking more than riding, and change again when spring rolls around.
We’ll have the second part soon. In the meantime, if you need motorcycle insurance in VA or NC, get in touch with us. We’re glad to help.

There seems to be little argument that using a cell phone while behind the wheel has an effect on driving ability. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) studied the effects of “distracted driving” in 2009, releasing a full report in 2010. Distracted driving, as defined by the NHSTA, includes things like eating, drinking, speaking with passengers, adjusting the radio or climate controls, and of course, speaking/texting on a cell phone. According to the report, the administration attributed 5,474 traffic deaths in 2009 to distracted driving. Of those, 995, or nearly 20%, were related to cell phone use while driving.
There is still quite a debate about the extent that driving ability is diminished by cell phone use. One study measuring drivers speaking on phones versus those who were not showed that, while following distance was increased, braking time and braking force were decreased. Another study indicated that drivers took their eyes off the road an average of four out of six seconds while texting.
Of course, these studies and more have given rise to cell phone usage laws in 34 states, with a wide range of regulations and punishments. Virginia and North Carolina are among those 34 states, so as a service, we’d like to provide a summary of the laws for each:
North Carolina
• Text messaging is completely prohibited for all drivers.
• Email and internet use completely prohibited for all drivers.
• All cell phone use prohibited for those drivers under 18 who have a provisional drivers license, unless calling parents.
• All cell phone use prohibited for school bus drivers.
Virginia
• Text messaging is completely prohibited for all drivers. Fines are $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent offense.
• Cell phone use prohibited for all drivers under 18 years of age.
• All cell phone use prohibited for school bus drivers.
Help insure yourself against an auto accident: follow your state laws about cell phones and drive safely. And of course, contact Insurance Doctor for auto insurance quotes in Virginia and North Carolina.

Thirteenth: Not to sound like a broken record but check your tire pressure and fluid levels again. Top off any fluids that need to be replenished frequently like windshield washing fluid.
Fourteenth: Check your list from last week for anything that requires special attention. It’s embarrassing to see blue lights in your rearview because you forgot to stop to have your gas grill tank inspected.
Fifteenth: This is just personal preference, but I like to pre-load as much as possible the day before a long trip and use a checklist like this:
• Do I have everything I need?
• Did I pack too much?
• Do I have room for the stuff I know I am going to purchase on the trip?
• Is everything laded in a manner that allows me to get to the things I need when I will need them? For instance, if I am stopping overnight on a long trip, is my overnight bag on top of all the big stuff so I can just grab it and check in?
• Do I either have the EZ Pass or plenty of toll money handy for the trip?
• Do I have a small toiletries kit handy in case the rest area I stop at is missing something critical? hand sanitizer and a bit of TP is especially helpful when travelling with small children.
• Is there plenty of bottled water, snacks, etc. for prolonged stretches of road with no service areas?
I know this sounds like a lot but these simple tips really can make all the difference between having a vacation to remember and having one you will never forget – no matter how hard you try.