WILL YOU BE USING A SLEIGH THIS WINTER?
You may wish you had a sleigh, especially after being hit with the usually winter wonderland. Has your commute to your job been a pleasurable experience? Have you taken the time to compare auto insurance? This is a question often overlooked. Are you one of the thousands who do not take a few minutes to talk to an insurance associate to make sure you are getting the most value for your dollar? If not, you may be paying too much for insurance.
We at Integrated Insurance Agency do more than sell you insurance, we will do the comparison shopping for you. It is important to be fully covered in the event of an unforeseen accident, especially in which you may be at fault. Unfortunately, we live in a world where there are people who think they can make a quick, easy buck by suing you for injuries suffered and even injuries which may be fabricated. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, you need an honest, reputable company, like Integrated, to look out for your best interests.
Did you know, based on new media, icyroadsafety.com compiled data regarding fatal accidents due to icy roads was 458 during 2009-2010 winter season. In addition, Michigan was listed in the top 10 States for fatalities due to icy-road conditions. Did you also know that there are many false assumptions in driving and accidents caused by icy roads?
FACTS RELATED TO DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER
Fact #1 Careless drivers are not the main cause of serious crashes due to icy roads.
Compiled data shows that people like you and me, everyday people driving at normal speeds, are to blame. What happens is the driver unexpectedly encounters a slippery, icy road and crashes mostly because of no advance warning of the roads being slippery.
Believe it or not, people are not aware of how dangerous to life and property that the ice threat on the roads really is. With this lack of awareness, motorists tend to view hazardous, icy-road conditions more as an inconvenience.
FACT #2 I am a careful driver; I am a good driver.
Not even Mario Andretti would have the skill to control his car on icy roads at normal speeds on the highway. Serious and fatal crashes can be attributed to the driver’s overconfidence in their abilities as well as confidence in having four-wheel drive, traction control, all-wheel drive, antilock brakes and good tires or even brand-new snow tires, for example. It doesn’t matter how experienced you think you are, once you begin to lose control on ice at high-way speeds, even low speeds for that matter, you cannot recover. Unfortunately, often times we learn too late.
FACT #3 Vehicles today are better equipped to handle icy roads at higher speeds.
No matter what type of technology the car has, whether it be anything mentioned in Fact #2, these safety features will not allow safe travel on roads that are icy at speeds over 45mph.
Don’t get me wrong, to some degree, the safety features mentioned, do improve handling and control somewhat. However, they do not remove the danger of loss of control of the vehicle when traveling at highway speeds greater than 45mph.
FACT #4 As Documented by Dan Robinson, from icyroadsafety.com, mostly all fatalities due to icy-road conditions were a result of vehicles driving 45mph or above on interstates and rural two-lane highways.
You may be interested to know that the vehicles had some or all of the modern safety features discussed in this article.
Incidentally, another factor is the motorist has not been adequately informed with this knowledge. The assumption is that these accidents are a result of thoughtless, inexperienced drivers. Also, it is thought that the tires on the vehicle were bad or dilapidated.
FACT #5 Misleading advertisements has attributed to these false suppositions.
Most likely you have seen these advertisements showing vehicles almost effortlessly driving through hazardous conditions proposing that these features allow you to continue at normal speeds without slowing down. We must not fail to remember that the laws of physics are in play here no matter what modern technology can develop or improve.
FACT #6 Big storms cause many of the accidents.
This is not true, because usually motorists and the city’s snow removal services and DOT (Department of Transportation) are prepared in advance and not taken by surprise. Motorists drive slower when they can see the accumulated amount of snow. In addition, roads are being plowed and salted and schools are closed.
Consequently, it is the less severe events, like a light dusting or black/hidden ice, that are the reason for a large majority of the serious accidents related to snow-related conditions. Of course, it is these events that do not make the news until crashes have already occurred. The bottom line is being less or unaware of these facts is a significant factor in winter accidents.
FACT #7 High-speed travels is considered safe when the roads are salted.
The fact is, salt and plow crews do exist to keep roads safe and travelable during these winter conditions. It still is imperative, however, to be mindful that patches of ice are still a hazard even with the arduous attempts to keep the roads passable. Nevertheless, even with all the exhaustive efforts, roads can quickly re-ice, so, safe travel at highway speeds is not optional during hazardous conditions whether the snow crews are rigorously maintaining the roads or not.
Now that you are informed of some of these facts, make it a point to contact Integrated Insurance Agency today at (888-823-1342) to compare auto insurance, and you will be prepared and protected during this seasonal nuisance.
You can also request a quote. In a world where anything is possible, it is always a good idea to be protected against the chance that something unexpected could happen. Be prepared for the unexpected.
If you are not using Integrated, chances are, “You are paying too much for insurance”.
References:
http://www.lansingmi.gov/snow_ice_information
http://icyroadsafety.com/blog/top_7_icy_road_myths.shtml
