DON'T MIX ALCOHOL AND DRIVING, "WELL DUH!"

When I think of the risks of drinking and driving, the thought, "Well duh!" goes through my head.  Everyone knows how stupid it is to mix alcohol and car keys.  Unfortunately, some still haven't got the message, so if you are one of them, here is a "Well Duh!" message for you!

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study indicates that nearly 12,000 people died in automobile crashes involving alcohol consumption in the United States in 2008. This tragic statistic represents an average of one alcohol-related auto accident death every 45 minutes. Tougher DWI laws are one answer to reduce these losses. Educating drivers on alcohol awareness is another important step. The following educational tips about drinking and driving are important to remember and to pass on to young drivers.

• Never drink and drive. Be aware that neither coffee, exercise, nor a cold shower will sober up a drinker. Only the passage of time will do so. If a person does drink, a nondrinking driver should be designated.
• Apply a zero-tolerance policy to alcohol and young drivers. Young drivers are particularly at risk to be involved in alcohol-related crashes.
• Steer clear of impaired persons on the road and report these incidents to the police as soon as safely possible. Drivers under the influence of alcohol display certain driving characteristics, such as weaving or swerving, driving very slow or very fast, braking erratically, and driving after dark without headlights.
• Wear a seat belt and utilize defensive driving techniques, as these are the best defenses against an alcohol-impaired driver.
• Try to avoid driving in the early morning hours of the day, particularly on weekends due to a heightened exposure to impaired drivers. 

DO I REALLY NEED TO INSURE HIRED & NON-OWNED AUTOS?

Image via Wikipedia

Hired and Non-Owned Auto coverage is a type of insurance often overlooked by businesses, especially companies that don't have insured vehicles.  However this coverage is cheap, and neglecting to add it to your policy before a car accident can be very costly.  Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Might any of your employees run errands or make deliveries for the business using their own autos?
2. Is there a chance that you might borrow an employee's vehicle for any reason?
3. If you are unavailable (or on vacation) will an employee use their vehicle to run errands , make bank deposits, or anything else?
4. Do you foresee a need to rent a vehicle for business purposes?  (I saw my local FedEx guy driving a rented Budget truck today)
5. Will you ever pay someone to drive their vehicle for your business?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need Non-Owned and Hired Auto Insurance.

For a really great article on Lessons Learned from Non-Owned and Hired Auto Insurance, click Here.
For information on Driver Training and Motivation, click Here.
For information on Driver Eligibility Criteria, click Here.  (This links to driver criteria for Philadelphia Insurance)