Avoiding Hazards during the Holidays

The holidays are here and our homes have become more hectic as we have friends and family over to visit.  With more people means more electrical items being used and this can result in more potential hazards.  At Pacific PreferredInsurance, we would like to offer you some helpful hints to keep you clear of these potential holiday hazards.

The addition of extension cords during the holiday is one sure way of adding the potential for a fire if misused.  It is best to check each cord to insure they are in good working condition.  You want to specifically look for frays or kinks or even small burn marks, which will be an indication that the cord is susceptible to a fire and should not be used.  As we mentioned in the opening of this article, the holidays bring an increase in foot traffic in our homes, so be sure to keep extension cords out of those paths, as holiday guests may easily trip over these.  It is also wise to never use rugs to conceal cords, because this too can be a fire hazard.

I remember growing up in the Northeast and we had a natural wood burning fire place in our home.  My dad always reminded me to use only well seasoned natural wood or man-made wood logs specified for in home use only.  My mom always reminded me to never throw Christmas wrapping paper in the fire place.  These two lessons have remained with me throughout my life.  Also remember to have proper screens in place to stop embers from flying out of the fire place and into your home.  Now, for those of you living in Southern California, this might not be applicable, but many Californians go up to the slopes in the winter months and this could be helpful when renting a cabin.  

Did you know, each year there are a reported 164,000 ladder related injuries?! Be sure that when using a ladder this year to put up those Christmas lights you use one that is the correct height for the job and that you are using a nonmetal latter, metal ladders of course conduct electricity. Reaching or stretching may cause you to fall. Be sure that the feet of the ladder are positioned evenly from the wall and that the ladder itself is standing on a solid surface. 

If not properly managed, bringing in a fresh tree to your home can become a huge fire hazard.  Do things right and you will enhance the mood of the holiday while being safe.  Some things to remember are to be sure the needles are soft to the touch and secured to the tree.  Ensure that your tree stand holds at least one gallon of water and maintain the water level at all times.  

While preparing your holiday meal there are additional dangers of being burned due to the large number of family and friends trying to help in the kitchen. Steer children clear of the kitchen, most burn accidents happen to small children. Be aware of your surroundings and keep the traffic around hot foods to a minimum. Taking these preventative steps will keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday season.

Wishing you and your family a safe and joyous holiday season,

Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency

Hybrid Vehicles Can Pose Greater Risk to Pedestrians and Cyclists

Hybrid vehicles have better fuel economy, lower emissions, lower fuel costs, increased energy security, and more fueling flexibility.  But, I bet you didn’t know they were more hazardous to pedestrians and cyclists.  That’s right, that hybrid vehicle that has many benefits does have a safety hazard that you should be aware of.

In fact, The National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration has weighed in on the safety risks of driving hybrid and electric vehicles. Their conclusion was that hybrid and electric vehicles are more hazardous to pedestrians and cyclists. Electric engines are near silent compared to combustion engines and don't give the same audible warning as previous cars, especially when traveling at low speeds. Children and the visually impaired are often cited as being the most at risk, and the low noise engines are reported to be putting many pedestrians at higher risk of an automobile collision.

Although new technologies can usher in new risks, moving vehicles have always posed dangers to pedestrians. In 1899, Henry Bliss was run over by an electric cab, giving him the dubious distinction of being the first US auto fatality. But in the same era, horse drawn carriages were taking quite a toll: In New York in 1900, 200 pedestrians were killed by horse drawn carriages.

Car manufacturers are reacting to the new threat by adding artificial sounds to hybrid vehicles to warn pedestrians. The Nissan Leaf EV now makes "wooshing" sounds despite its near silent engine, and Ford held a Facebook poll for users to vote on which artificial engine noise their new car should make, having posted a series of potential noises on YouTube. The noises ranged from more traditional engine sounds to futuristic spaceship noises. These fake engine noises are still being rolled out so they may not stick around since reactions appear to be mixed. 
 

While the ostensible danger of silent vehicles is to pedestrians, drivers can also be at risk of not hearing a hybrid, increasing the potential for collisions. Plus, responsible drivers need to be hyper vigilant about the safety implications for pedestrians. Striking a pedestrian is a highly traumatic event that can result in injury or death. Depending on fault, it can also result in criminal charges or lawsuits. The liability portion of your auto insurance offers some financial protection should you strike a pedestrian. According to the Insurance Information Institute, liability insurance is compulsory in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Only New Hampshire does not have a compulsory auto insurance liability law. The chart on this page offers a breakdown of minimal liability limits for auto insurance by state.

If you live in California and have questions about your auto insurance coverage, why not with a Pacific PreferredInsurance agent today?

Five Mistakes Good Drivers Make and How to Steer Clear of Them

Don’t become a victim of one of the 6.3 million car crashes that occur each year. Here are five critical mistakes good drivers make and what you can do to avoid them.

Mistake No. 1: Overconfidence

Why it matters: Think you’re a good driver? So do 99 percent of people on the road, according to a National Safety Council survey. Never mind that 93 percent fail to follow basic safety practices like turning off cell phones or obeying the speed limit.

What to do instead: Acknowledge your vulnerability. And even with advanced vehicle safety features, don’t take it for granted that your car is going to protect you.

Mistake No. 2: Multi-tasking

Why it matters: A 2004 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows that driver distraction preceded almost 80 percent of crashes.

At 60 mph, you can cover a lot of ground fast — 30 yards per second or the length of a football field in the time it takes to un-wrap a hamburger. If you veer off course, you’d better hope there isn’t a bicycle, pedestrian or vehicle in your way.

Driving under the influence of anything, including everyday distractions, is every bit as debilitating as drinking and driving, experts agree. That includes talking on a cell phone, hands-free or not.  Drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to get into a crash, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And a hands-free phone doesn’t reduce the risk.

What to do instead: Think of yourself as an airplane pilot — check controls and settings before you take off.  “Train your eyes to look 12 seconds out so you can concentrate on what’s ahead,” suggest experts. “And remember: smart drivers just drive.”

Mistake No. 3: Failing to Secure Loose Objects

Why it matters: Loose items, from pets to pop cans, cause 13,000 injuries in accidents every year, according to the National Safety Council.

Remember high school physics? In a crash, your car comes to a sudden stop, but anything not battened down keeps moving at the same speed. At 30 mph even the smallest object becomes a dangerous projectile. Think of your 4.4-ounce cell phone as a deadly missile aiming for your toddler with a force of 11 pounds, or two bricks. Or imagine your 60-pound black lab hurling against the back seat with the might of 1,200 pounds.

What to do instead: Put your junk in the trunk. Luggage, laptops and other heavy objects are best stowed in a closed compartment or under a cargo net.  Never place objects on or near the airbag module; even a tissue box is nothing to sniff at when an airbag deploys. Keep pets secured in a latched cargo crate or with a doggy seatbelt.

Mistake No. 4: Drowsy Driving

Why it matters: More than half of American motorists admit to driving while drowsy and one in five say they actually nodded off or fell asleep at the wheel during the past 12 months, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

What to do instead: Pay attention to your body. Constant yawning, a nod of the head, heavy eyelids, blurred vision and lane drifting are warnings you may be on the verge of falling asleep.  If you’re tired, stop driving. Rolling down the window, drinking coffee and cranking up the stereo are only temporary fixes. You’ll feel more refreshed if you take a 20-minute power nap. During long trips, stop to stretch every 100 miles or two hours. Drive with someone else in the car whenever possible.

Mistake No. 5: Thinking Green Means Go

Why it matters: One in three Americans admitted to driving through a red light or stop sign without coming to a complete stop in a 2005 poll commissioned by Volvo Cars of North America in partnership with the National Association of Police Organizations and the National Sheriffs’ Association.

That means that even if you’ve got the green, you could be right, but you could be dead wrong.

What to do instead: Yield anyway, even if you have the right of way. Look both ways and then look both ways again. Know what it takes to bring your vehicle to a complete stop.

Pacific Preferred Insurance Agency insists that you don’t trust anyone.  We often think that the other driver will do the right thing, but unfortunately they often don’t and we often don’t.  This results in 138 people dying each day in traffic crashes on our streets and highways.