The Insurance Super Blog

Following are a number of tips to avoid auto accidents – and to avoid the hassle and heartbreak that they can bring.

1. Be a qualified driver. There is a reason why each individual has to go through written and practical exams before they are issued a driver’s license. The rules of the road are absolute – you have to know how to recognize road signs, the necessities of driving, and how to follow them.

2. Keep your car in optimum condition. Your car is should be a well-oiled mechanism to minimize the risk of auto accidents. Remember that a malfunction in one part can affect the car’s overall condition. Tires should be well-inflated, brakes should be reliable, even your windshield wipers should be in an optimum condition.

3. Forget road rage. The other driver’s always the idiot, but that doesn’t mean you have to stoop to his level. If you get cut off or if someone grabs the parking space you’ve been waiting for, just take a deep breath – and move on.

4. Keep your distance. Tailgating is always a bad idea. A rule of thumb is to make sure that the car in front of you is about three seconds away. This will give you enough time to avoid it in case it makes a sudden stop.

5. Use your signal light. Let the driver behind you know in advance if you’re about to turn left or right. This could help avoid rear end collisions.

6. Get enough ZZZ’s. Studies show that sleep deprivation is a major cause of accidents. The microseconds you fall asleep behind the wheel could be fatal.

7. Pay attention to the road. Stop fiddling with the CD player or watching that movie on your car DVD player. Distractions such as these will compromise you if a child suddenly darts out onto the street or if the car in front of you suddenly stops.

8. Hang up. Hands-free devices notwithstanding, research shows that talking to someone on a mobile phone while driving impairs road concentration.

9. Secure your items. A sudden stop can upset the odds and ends in the passenger’s seat. And if you’re holding a cup of freshly brewed coffee while driving (a bad idea), this could give you a bad scald as well.

10. Observe speed limits. Whether you’re driving on the highway or negotiating a hairpin turn, excessive speed can spell disaster.

11. Heed the weatherman. Driving in adverse climatic conditions like typhoons, snowstorms, hurricanes, etc., can obviously do major damage to your car – and you.

12. Beware the truck. Maintain a healthy respect for and keep your distance from these kings of the road. They are not able to brake as quickly as your family sedan or sports car.

13. Observe the signs and signals. A stop sign means a full stop – not a rolling one – and a yellow traffic signal doesn’t mean you should go faster. Just stop. Those minutes spent idling could save your life.

14. Resist the munchies. Something as innocuous as nibbling on a bag of chips could take the driver’s attention away from the road and surrounding traffic.

15. Don’t drink and drive. It’s almost a cliché, but a lot of people still do it. And a lot of the time, they and their families reap the grim rewards.

These 15 tips to avoid auto accidents are by no means comprehensive. But if these tips and other traffic safety strategies are kept in mind until they become second nature, then driving to get from point A to point B will be safer and more enjoyable.

“A penny saved is a penny earned.” Throughout the years, that’s still a wise saying. Why pay more when you can get it just as well for a lower price? Many people don’t realize it, but there are numerous avenues that one can pursue to reduce the amount of money paid for car insurance. Let’s look at the top 8 ways to save money on auto insurance.

1. Do some comparison shopping. Because of the increased competition among insurance companies, various insurance packages are offered at varying prices. You will find that you will usually get different quotes from different companies even for basically the same types of insurance. You can then choose which one would serve you best at the price you can afford.

2. Be a safe driver. The cleaner your driving record is, the more likely an insurer will give you a lower quote. Drivers with a history of speeding, accidents, and other traffic violations are seen as high-risk by insurance companies and accordingly given higher rates.

3. Keep an eye out for discounts. Most auto insurers offer discounts in one form or another. There are various criteria for eligibility: the car you drive (does it have enough safety features?), where you live (lower rates for rural residents vs. urban residents), your occupation (teachers, engineers, military personnel, etc., are eligible for discounts at some companies), and many, many others.