Motorcycle Safety: Avoid the Middle of the Lane

One way to keep your rates down and stay safe, just avoid accidents completely.

Debris builds up in the middle of the lane.


 




* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarilly an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Kasey Kahne and Stop Texts, Stop Wrecks

Some of you may know Kasey Kahne as the driver of Nascar's #5 race car sponsored by Farmers Insurance.

Saw this on Facebook.  It does make the
point about texting and driving.

While he looks to set records for speed on the track, when on the road with the rest of us, driver's safety is paramount.

See his new public service announcement for "Stop Texts. Stop Wrecks." below.

Platinum Elite Marketing wishes you safe travels as you go to work, school, and out to have fun.  Please pull over to the side of the road if you really need to read or send a text message.

Our Farmers agents happily pay auto claims when we need to, but like you, we don't want to pay more often than we need to.  Please avoid distracted driving.

Even worse, we hate paying life insurance and auto insurance claims at the same time.

Our past Kasey Kahne blogs:

Kasey Kahne Visits the University of Farmers.

Kahne Updates: #Farmers5.

Gearing up for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series.

Kahne Partners with Farmers Insurance.

Past Related Blogs:


Zero Tolerance for Texting.
Texting Documentary.
The Swoop & Squat.
Farmers Insurance Distracted Driving Commercial.
Distracted Driving: A Simple Kiss While Driving?
Insuring Old Cars vs. Classic Cars
Auto safety: Critters in the Road
Understanding Auto Insurance: Mom, the Chauffeur
Comp Coverage for Older Cars
Adding Umbrella Coverage to improve your Auto Insurance
Driving Safety: National Tire Safety Week
Caliber Collision: What to Expect in a Claim
The CHP's "Every 15 Minutes Program"



* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarilly an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Newest Farmers Insurance Commercial: NASCAR's Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne's #5 Farmers
 Insurance NASCAR

Farmers Insurance's newest commercial, debuting during the Daytona 500, stars Kasey Kahne, the driver of car #5 sponsored by the NASCAR driver.  He visits our University of Farmers and Professor Nathaniel Burke (J.K. Simmons).

Look for it during the race.

See our past articles:
Farmers Insurance sponsorship of Kasey Kahne and Hendrick Motorsports announced back in 2011.
Kasey Kahne gears up for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series.

Auto Safety: "The Swoop & Squat"

From Farmers Insurance, Feb. 2012


‘Swoop and squat’ - It’s no accident


No, this is not an exercise routine although it is a routine — a fairly common one designed to cause an auto accident. In 2010, The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that questionable claims from “staged” accidents rose 46 percent between 2007 and 2009.¹ (Most recent available at time of writing.) 

These staged accidents cost the insurance industry billions of dollars each year.


How it happens
In this staged scenario, you’re stuck in heavy traffic on a busy highway when another car cuts off the driver in front of you forcing him to slam on the brakes. You try to stop, but there’s no time and you rear-end the vehicle. There you have it — the perfectly executed swoop and squat. The first car “swoops” in while the second car “squats” in front of you. After the “accident” everyone in the car you rear-ended files bogus injury claims with your insurance company — complaining of injuries that may be difficult to diagnose such as whiplash. The well organized stagers even have physical therapists, chiropractors, lawyers and auto repair technicians working together to further exaggerate their claims.
  
Similar scams to look out for:

• Drive down — You’re trying to merge into traffic when a dishonest driver slows down and waves you forward. You proceed and then he crashes into your vehicle but, of course, denies he waved you into traffic. Guess who could be at fault for the accident? You.
  

Newest Farmers Insurance Commercial: Critters in the Road

Did you know...

There are over 1.5 million car accidents involving directly, or indirectly, deer every year, resulting in around $1.1 billion worth of vehicle damage.

Seems like a lot?  Consider this"

"In the 1980's the deer population was approximately 10 million. Today, there are more than 25 million. Losses due to deer and car encounters will only increase as the deer population continues to grow and urban habitats encroach upon rural environments." - SmartMotorist.com

Here's a preview of our newest commercial which will begin airing this week:

The Commercial stars J.K. Simmons as Professor Nathanial Burke explaining the hazards we all face when nature and development intersect.

Distracted Driving: A Simple Kiss While Behind the Wheel?

Re-Print from SusanneRomoAgency.blogspot.com

A Peck and a Wreck: Amorous Drivers at Risk

Yeah, keep your eyes on the road,
your hands upon the wheel
— The Doors, Roadhouse Blues

A recent poll, conducted by GfK Roper, revealed that 29 percent of drivers surveyed acknowledged they’ve been amorous behind the wheel sometime during the past year. The numbers reflect the larger issue of distracted driving — with 93 percent of respondents reporting that they engage in it somehow, whether by texting, talking on a cellphone or kissing.1

Some interesting findings: Four in 10 licensed drivers admit that being distracted while driving caused them to do one of the following: swerve into another lane, slam on the brakes, get a ticket, almost get into an accident, or have a minor or major wreck. Interestingly, that number rose to 49 percent for drivers who have a college degree and 43 percent for drivers who earn at least $75,000 a year.1

Distracting activities while driving include:

• Using a cellphone 
• Eating and drinking 
• Talking to passengers 
• Grooming 
• Reading, including maps 
• Using a PDA or navigation system 
• Watching a video 
• Changing the radio station, CD or MP3 player

Taking action: In 2010, 12 states banned texting while driving and two banned the use of handheld cellphones. This brings the total to 30 states with texting bans and eight with cellphone bans, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Recently, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that, depending on the outcome of research being done by his agency, he might push for an all-encompassing nationwide ban on cellphone use while driving.2

Bottom line: Driving is a very serious responsibility that demands your full attention. Driver distractions can occur anytime, anywhere and anyplace so do your best to eliminate distractions: Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel.

end of article

Click for our past Driving Safety blog articles:

> Texting While Driving
> Zero Tolerance for Cell Phone Use
> Farmers Insurance's commercial on Driving Safety
> National Tire Safety Week
> Teens and the "Every 15 Minutes Program" / Auto Insurance Discount for Youthful Drivers

1 Source: Insurance Networking News, February 14, 2011.
http://www.insurancenetworking.com/news/
auto_insurance_distracted_driving_risk_management_Valentines_Day-27154-1.html

2 Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-08/
lahood-weighs-urging-u-s-ban-on-all-driver-phone-use-in-cars.html

* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarilly an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Driving Safety: National Tire Safety Week

Re-print from Why Farmers Platinum?

Source: Rubber Manufacturers Association


RMA's Tenth Annual National Tire Safety Week will be June 5-11, 2011. More than 22,000 tire and auto service outlets participated in 2010.

How Tire Smart Are YOU?

You already know that driving safely is important. And so is learning how to get the most out of your car by maintaining it properly. That includes the tires. Well-maintained tires make your car safer, helps it last longer, and saves you money, too.

But believe it or not, fewer than half of all drivers check the condition of their tires on a regular basis. Put yourself on the road to proper tire care by taking one or all of our tire safety quizzes.

Click on one of the links below to view the tire safety quiz of your choice and select the answer you think is the right one. If you want to study before your take the quiz, take a peek at our Be Tire Smart - Play Your Part Tire Safety brochure.

Take these Quizzes!

Tire Basics: Test Your 'Be Tire Smart' Knowledge The Pressure is On! How much do you know about tire pressure? Seasonal Safety - Watch out for slippery road conditions! Traveling Tips - Make sure your tires are ready for the road.

If you have any questions about National Tire Safety Week, please contact us at betiresmart@rma.org.

Click here to learn about the benefits of proper tire care.

For tips about tire maintenance and safety in Spanish, click here. 

RMA's Public Service Announcements

Listen now to RMA's important tire safety and maintenance messages

Brad Keselowski, NASCAR driver for Discount Tire car, talks about how proper tire inflation pressure can save you money and keep you safe.

Brad Keselowski, NASCAR driver for Discount Tire car, talks about the importance of proper tire inflation.

Don't play games with your tire pressure, locate your vehicle's tire inflaction pressure on the vehicle door edge and check your pressure once a month.

Don't flush your money away, check your tire pressure and be safe.

Bald isn't always beautiful, use the penny test to check the tread depth of your tires.