Category: Road Safety

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What Should You Do If Stranded During a Blizzard

What to do if you are Stranded in a Blizzard

Imagine for a moment, you’re stranded in your car in the winter and the snow is piling up.  There could be many causes.  There are things you could have done to prevent getting stranded, but you don’t have time to dwell on those.  You have to stay warm and wait it out.  What should you do?

Make sure the exterior exhaust of the car is clear of snow. If the exhaust gets plugged up, carbon monoxide can build up.  It’s odorless, colorless and tasteless. It could kill you if you are exposed to it for too long.  Keep that exhaust clear.

If there is shelter nearby, go there.  However, if there is nothing around, the best thing to do is stay put to avoid getting lost. If it’s night time, not only can you not see, but it’s also colder which makes it even riskier to go on foot. While you are in your car, it’s good to have some blankets with you and and possibly put on some extra clothes.  You need to save gas, so only turn on the car to heat it up and then turn it off. You don’t know how long you will be there.

Make sure you have water around to keep yourself hydrated.  If water is not available, you can get some snow and melt it. Don’t eat the snow itself as it will drop your core temperature. Also, if you have a flashlight and some batteries those will be useful for other people to spot you. Flares can help in the same way.  Finally, keep your hazard lights on to make it easier for people to spot you.

Hopefully you will never have to deal with being stranded like this, but it is always good to be prepared for such an event. Drive safe everyone!

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Tips for Driving During the Winter

winter driving - commuter traffic

Staying safe on the road is always important for you, your family who may be with you and also for other drivers.  Many winters offer driving challenges such as slippery roads and other instances that can cause accidents. Here are a few tips to help you win the challenge of the wintery roads.

Sleep

It is important to get enough sleep to avoid driving while fatigued. You need the extra focus during the winter months to keep an eye out for hazards like black ice (which can be tricky to spot) or other cars that may lose control. Getting plenty of sleep will also sharpen your reflexes so you can react fast enough to prevent an accident.

Make sure you have enough gas

Consider having at least a half full of tank of gas before driving out during the winter.  If you get stranded , it can be your life saver to keep you warm until help arrives.

Keep your eyes on the road

Don’t let distractions divert your attention from diving. Just keep your focus on the road. Phones are a frequent diversion. Don’t text and drive!  If your kids noise or actions are sidetracking you from driving, it is best to pull over, deal with the situation then move on.

Seat belts

There is a reason why wearing your seat belt (and having your passengers wear them too) is urged so often. Aside from the law which requires us to wear them when driving, seat belts work most of the time. They save lives! Winter months get cold and roads can (1) stay wet longer due to the lack of heat or (2) become icy so having a seat belt on while driving on ice can be a lifesaver.

Properly inflated tires

This is another recommendation that most people know all know but is easily forgotten. We get gas but sometimes we don’t think about our tires.

You should know the information about your tires, such as its size and especially your max PSI (how much air should be in your tires). Having a tire gage will help you know what psi is in your tires. When your tires are inflated properly, they perform better, and it helps them last longer.

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Items You Should Have in Your Car During the Winter

Items You Should Have in Your Car During the Winter

Getting stuck in the snow is not fun, but it could happen during the cold winter days.  It it happens, you need to be prepared.  Here are a few helpful items to include in your car so your winter driving can be as stress-free as possible:

Booster cables

Booster cables should be something you keep in your car year-round but especially in winter. Having a dead battery near night time is dangerous. Not only do the temperatures drop rapidly, but also makes it harder for you to see the road. Having booster cables gives you the right tool to jump start your car.

Blankets

If you get stranded and there are no other cars around, you may be sitting in the cold for a while.  As  it gets darker, the temperature drops. It is wise to have some blankets to keep you warm until help arrives.

Flashlight and extra batteries

Having a Flashlight is another must-have item in your car year-round. Put simply, it lets you see in the dark “to help put those booster cables on.” A bright flashlight also makes it easier for people to spot/see you if it gets too dark.  Be sure to keep some extra batteries in the car and replace them periodically.

Extra clothing

Having extra winter clothes in the car is also useful for a couple of reasons. If you get stranded, you might have to walk for help.  If you have a flat tire or other situation in which you have to get out of the car during bad winter weather, it is nice to have warm, dry clothes in case you step in a puddle of partially-frozen water or slip in mud or snow.  Being cold and wet is no fun.  It’s a good idea to have extra clothing with you.

Food

Take some food with you in the car in case you are stuck waiting for help to come.  You might also consider keeping some non-perishable food in the car during the winter months as well.  Think of them as your emergency stash.  If you are in a remote area, be sure there are at least some high calorie foods in your “stash.”  Just like batteries for your flashlight, be sure to replace the foods periodically.

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Auto Safety Test: Check Your Tires

car on asphalt road on summer day at park

Did You Know?

Tires are one of the most important — and oft-overlooked — components of our cars. Tires are the only thing that attach our cars to the road, and tire problems affect your car’s ride comfort, handling and safety. If they’re near bald and out of balance driving can be dangerous. Here are some simple tire safety tips to help keep you and your car’s occupants safe.

Check your tire pressure regularly.

Tires tend to lose air over time. Buy a digital tire gauge and check your tires once a month and before a long trip. Proper inflation pressures can be found in your owner’s manual or on a sticker on the car (usually on the driver’s doorjamb or fuel-filler lid) Remember to check tire pressure only after the car has been sitting for several hours in order to ensure that the tires are cold — the friction of driving heats the tires and increases pressure, which can hide an under-inflated tire.

Address under-inflated tires immediately.

An under-inflated tire has more rolling resistance, which increases fuel consumption. It also creates more heat, which can lead to tire failure.

Make sure you have good tread on your tires.

Since you are already down beside your tires when you are checking your tire pressure, take that time to look at the tread for signs of damage, bubbles, cracks or baldness (areas that are smoother in one place or another). One easy test is a penny check. Put a penny in the groove of the car tire to see if I can see all of Lincoln’s head. If you can, then it’s time for new tires.

Rotate and balance your tires regularly.

Consider rotating your tires every 5,000 miles which should help your tires to wear even.

Keep your tires aligned properly.

Tires should be aligned on a regular basis, especially if you have hit a curb or two. Tires that are out of alignment can wear unevenly. To check for alignment rest hands lightly on steering wheel while driving, it should stay in a straight line and not drift to the right or left.

Do you need an auto insurance quote?

Click here to let us provide you with a competitive quote for your auto insurance. As an independent insurance agency, we can check several companies for you to find you the best rate possible.

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How to Keep Your Pet Safe on the Road

Ben Johnson of Bob Johnson Insurance in TN

Pet owners spend a whopping $40 billion on their furry friends each year. That’s enough to buy a gallon of gas for every man, woman and child in the United States 44 times! Insurance companies haven’t always viewed pets with the same passion as their owners. If you’re in an accident, generally everyone in the car – except your four-legged friend – is covered.

How an Independent Insurance Agent can Help

As an independent insurance company Bob Johnson Insurance is not limited to one company. We can check multiple companies to fit your needs. In this case, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies can help.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies now recognizes Fido and Fifi as family members. A Progressive policy with Collision coverage now extends to cats and dogs. The coverage pays up to $500 if your dog or cat is hurt or dies as a result of a car accident.

And, best of all, the coverage is free.

“We know how much our customers love their dogs and cats. Many of us have pets, too, and we feel the same way,” said Geoff Souser of Progressive. “Progressive has a long history of product and service innovations that prove you can teach an old dog new tricks. Knowing that most people think of their pets as family members, it felt like the right thing to do.”

Progressive’s pet injury coverage is available in most states. To find out more, contact Bob Johnson Insurance, Inc. at 865-922-3111 or click here to contact us.

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What to Do if an Accident Occurs

Be prepared with the right coverage before you need it.

With so many people on the road during peak vacation months, it may be a good time to brush up on what you should do in the event you’re involved in a crash. Here are some tips from The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies.

Preparedness starts before you leave the driveway:

If your phone does not have a camera, put a disposable camera and pen and paper in your glove box. Car insurance claims can be settled faster if there’s a good record of what happened. If you can take photographs or collect license plate numbers, or even names and phone numbers of witnesses, these can all help your insurance company establish facts faster.

If you are involved in a crash:

  • Move your vehicle out of the roadway, if you can. If your car is able to be driven, move it off of the road a safe distance. By getting off the road, you can help to avoid a second collision.
  • Turn on your flashers or your lights. You want to be certain your vehicle is visible to other drivers.
  • Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If someone is injured, call 911 immediately.
  • Call local police to report the crash.
  • Call your insurance company to report the crash. The earlier your insurance company knows about the crash, the faster it can get to work to resolve your claim.
  • Start documenting what happened, if you can. If you’re able to do so safely, take photographs, make notes, ask witnesses for names and phone numbers. If you’re not able to do so safely, stand as far from the roadway — and the crashed cars — as you possibly can.
  • Exchange only your insurance company name. Do not discuss the details of your coverage with anyone at the accident scene.
  • Exchange vital information with the other driver(s). Names, addresses, phone numbers are all useful to your insurance company in settling the claim.

For other tips to keep you safe on the road and keep your insurance rates down or to find an independent agent, call Bob Johnson Insurance, Inc. at 865-922-3111 or click here to contact us.