Holiday Travel Tips & Vacation Tips

HOLIDAY TRAVEL AND VACATION TIPS

There’s no question that Southern California is blessed with mild weather conditions year-round. No need to get the snow shovels out or chain those tires, we have it made in the sun. However, many families look forward to visiting the snow and the mountains during the holiday season, it’s exciting and a welcomed change from the norm. While the last thing on anyone’s mind is safety precautions during a vacation it is good to be prepared during unusual weather conditions, at least unusual for most of us. It’s also beneficial to remember to keep your home and belongings protected while you’re away enjoying your vacation. As your local Allstate Burbank agent I’ll take you through a few holiday travel tips so you can relax and have a safe, happy winter vacation.

Driving Safety in the Snow and Mountains

Driving to the mountains could take around a couple to a few hours, and in that time weather conditions will alter drastically. Independent Traveler has some vacation tips to ready you and your vehicle for the icy roads.

1.     Pack Extra and Emergency Items: Extra supplies and clothing could be helpful if your car breaks down in cold weather conditions. Coats, flashlights, extra batteries, and a windshield scraper are all things to consider bringing along while you’re packing.

2.     Check your Vehicle: Either you or your mechanic should inspect your vehicle and tires for winter readiness. Make sure your windshield wipers, brakes, defroster, heater, and exhaust systems are all in working and good condition.

3.     Keep a Safe Speed: Be mindful to slow down on icy roads, slowing down about 50% is what The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends.

4.     Don’t ‘Hug’ the Center Lane: Many mountain roads are narrower than your average highway lane, by hugging the center lane it could create a hazard with another vehicle that is also traveling near the center.

5.     Cars going Uphill have the Right of Way: Just a driving reminder to allow these passing vehicles the right of way. It’s also important to note that cars do not perform as well as at 10,000 ft than at sea level so allow them plenty of time to pass.

6.     Prepare for Quick Weather Fluctuation: From sunny to snowy, the mountain weather could be pristine one minute and a storm the next. Be more observant and courteous on the road. If other cars appear in a hurry allow them to pass. Add a special solvent to the windshield washer reservoir so there is no icing on your window. Bringing chains, an ice scraper, small broom and hand shovel is also beneficial. There may be a point where you have to dig out your tires from the snow.

7.     Skip the Cruise Control: Cruise control could accelerate during the time you least want it to such as going over an icy bridge or animal crossing.

8.     If Stranded:  If your car stalls make sure to stay with it as vehicles are far more easier to detect than pedestrians in the snow. Run the engine for heat, if you do not want to run it the entire time keep windows closed to keep heat in and run the car for 10 minutes every hour with a front window open as you do so.

9.     Take Frequent Breaks: Driving through mountain terrain can be more tiring than flatlands, keep hydrated and if you have a long distance to drive consider driving only up to 6 hours per day.

10.  Relax and Have Fun: Not exactly a tip, but we here at Allstate Burbank want you to enjoy your time up on your holiday vacation, enjoy the scenery and have fun in the snow!

Easy to follow holiday travel tips like these will keep you vigilant and ready while you venture out onto the mountain terrain while also letting you take in the view and the feeling of driving through beautiful snow.

Peace of Mind That Your Home is Safe

While you’re away enjoying your holiday your home should be protected, taking a few extra precautions can go a long way in keeping your things at home safe. Following these easy holiday travel tips from Home & Garden will help you enjoy your vacation up north without having to worry about what’s going on back at home.

1.     Have a house or pet-sitter stay over. Having someone like a close friend or relative stay in your home can be the best solution to keeping all your belongings safe as well as upkeep your home. You can also hire a house or pet-sitter from a trusted agency.

2.     Make sure no mail is stolen by calling your post office and asking them to hold it for you until you get back. Post offices can keep mail for up to 30 days.

3.     Don’t let your house look unoccupied for too long. Having a pile of newspapers sitting on your front porch might draw some unwanted attention. Stop newspaper services while you’re out of town. It’s a small detail that can make a big impact.

4.     Newspapers and mail will be able to be stopped while you’re gone, but there are still few snags to worry about. Doorknob flyers and yellow page book can give away your absence. Ask a neighbor or another trusted individual to take down these red flags.

5.      Create the illusion that your house is lived-in. Invest in a timer that turns on your interior and exterior lights for a few hours each evening and ask your neighbor or a trusted individual to take out the trash for you. To people passing by it’ll look like just another normal day at your house.

6.     That outside appearance is just as important as the inside. If you mow your lawn or trim your hedges weekly and will be gone for an extended period of time think about hiring a service to upkeep your lawn.

7.     Such an obvious thing to do, but sometimes forgotten is to keep all your windows deadbolt shut. Normally you might keep your kitchen window slightly open when your home so it’s easy to forget about this easy task. This small task being forgotten could be a literal window of opportunity for a burglar to seize.

8.     Be a little precautious on who you tell about your trip. That’s not to say you should be suspicious of everyone, but some information is best kept within your circle of trusted friends and family. Letting it pass to the wrong people could be potentially dangerous.

9.     Consider turning off electronics and appliances. You can save money by unplugging computers, coffee pots, and your television. Also turning off your garage door can stop thieves from opening it with a universal remote.

10.  Another more obvious way to protect your home is with a security system in place. These features work when you’re away, asleep, awake, or just out in your backward. It can be discreet or very visible, either way it does it’s job of protecting your home.

While some of these vacation tips may seem too obvious and others too small a detail to think or worry about all of them can be great deterrents for any potential burglars looking for an easy steal.

Allstate Can Help Lessen the Worry

We here at Allstate Burbank want to help you be prepared to avoid any unwanted events with our holiday travel tips while you’re enjoying your vacation. Unfortunately even being prepared isn’t a guarantee of absolute safety being properly insured can help in this circumstance. Having both auto and homeowners insurance will put you back on the right track and I can provide the right insurance to suit your needs.

Auto Insurance After an Accident or if Damaged

Two types of coverage to consider while you're driving through the snowy mountains are collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car if you collide with another car or something else such as a bridge or tree. If someone hits your parked car, this is considered a collision as well. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car caused by something other than a collision such as theft, fire, windstorm, other natural disasters, or hitting an animal.

Homeowner’s Insurance in Protecting your Belongings

There are a few different types of homeowner’s insurance that protect your home from a variety of cases. Personal Property Protection will provide monetary coverage in the event that your belongings are stolen or damaged. When considering this option come to talk to me about the different levels of monetary coverage that would adequately benefit you and your home.

Enjoy Your Vacation and Let Us Do the Work

Vacations are about forgetting your worries and taking time for yourself and your loved ones. Keeping some precaution in mind with our vacation tips whether it be while you’re driving in the unpredictable mountain terrain or while you’re away and your home is unattended lets you enjoy your time off all the more. Having Allstate homeowner’s and auto insurance will also keep them in good hands in the event that things don’t go right. Be it before or after an incident Allstate has your best interest at heart this vacation season.

Small Business Holiday Protection

Small Business Holiday Protection

Lighting up the decorations, and preparing your staff for the holiday rush are a couple key ways to prepare for this time of year, but it can also distract from other pressing risk factors. Running a business during the holidays is a stressful endeavor with more foot traffic and a larger staff to handle, and with that come safety risks to your products, your new employees, as well as your property. At AllState Burbank we want to help keep your business on the right track during times of change and although the holidays are predictably busy, there are still unpredictable consequences that come with it.

Protecting from Retail Theft

Theft from customers and employees is always something to be on the lookout for, but with large crowds and new seasonal employees the risk is even higher. Fit Small Business  has helpful low to mid cost tips to avoid and prepare from retail theft.

1. Acquiring Inventory Management:  In the event that you are losing inventory it allows you to know exactly what’s being stolen. Getting an inventory management system is the most accurate way to count and keep track of your inventory.

2. Educate Employees:  A lot of seasonal employees may not have the experience on just how to detect retail theft, ask them to lookout for suspicious activity and alert a manager if they actually see someone shoplifting. This type of communication is important in building loyalty as well as deterring theft from happening within the business. Educating the employee on your inventory system and informing them on how you keep track of your products is also another way to discourage employee theft.

3. Organize your Store to be Theft Deterrent:  Keep your store as open as possible. If every area appears accessible and within view it is much more difficult for shoplifters to take items without being exposed to everyone. Keeping your products from reaching from the floor to ceiling as well as having proper lighting are also some other ways of deterring theft.

4. Placing Shoplifting Signs, Security Mirrors: Not only do signs make theft less likely as they too deter shoplifters, they are also they’re for your legal protection if you intend to take someone to court. Mirrors also allow for a better view if your store happens to have tall shelves and secluded areas.

5. Video Surveillance System: You don’t need break the bank to get a secure security camera in place. Make sure that they’re not discreet, but instead clearly visible to potential shoplifters. Having one at the entrance is usually one of the best strategies.

6. RFID Tags: Removable radio frequency tags are often used on clothes and react as sensor if a customer and possible shoplifter tries to bypass the checkout area. They range in price and come in varying options such as stickers, pins, and tags. They can be removed with a special tool or just taken off by the cashier. While they’re not a 100% guarantee they discourage majority of shoplifters.

Even if you have already implemented these easy steps into your business remaining more vigilant and cautious during this time of year can help make alleviate the holiday stress.

Data Theft Becoming More Common in Small Businesses

While preparing your business for the possible influx shoplifters sifting through merchandise, another type of thief has become more prominent during the holidays. Although larger companies seem to be the most affected by this new trend, it’s good to stay aware according to the Experian Data Breach Resolution as it can lead to losing customers and time spent recovering losses to reputation.

Here a few tips to keep in mind and be aware of:

●     Making data security is a priority for your business as many companies who have failed to realize their security vulnerabilities no longer exist. 

●     Conducting a risk assessment is considering what cyber criminals are most likely going to be after such as customer credit numbers or banking accounts. When you have assessed and evaluated these issues establish security programs around them.

●     Developing an accident response plan is your next objective. Trying to prevent a data breach is only part of the strategy in combating cyber criminals. Before the event of a possible data breach take time to develop an incident plan.

Protecting Your Employees and Your Liability

Hiring new and seasonal employees is sometimes a must to prepare your business for the holiday influx, unfortunately accidents and injuries can follow suit.  According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission over 12,000 people nationally are injured but accidents involving dried-out Christmas trees, defective holiday lights, and other types of decorations. To avoid this potentially dangerous outcome, training new employees and keeping safety as the number one goal is a must.  These safety tips from the National Safety Council are some of the most prominent ways to protect your employees.

1.       Familiarize Employees: Whether they are new or seasoned workers it’s good to familiarize them with the store itself, their duties and, any equipment they will have to use if physical labor is involved. Proper training techniques and ladder safety are basic safety precautions that will help in the long run.

2.       Be Mindful with Decorations: There are many ways to show off your business’s festive side as well as boost morale and do so with employee safety in mind.

●     Use battery powered candles; this will help against a potential fire hazard.

●     If you can, avoid placing combustible decorations as not all plastic trees and wreaths are flame retardant.

●     Use extension cords thoughtfully, stringing together cords or running them under rugs can lead to falls and fire hazards. Also keep in mind not to overload the circuits.

●     Make sure decorations are carefully placed in areas that avoid heavy foot traffic or block emergency exits.

3.       Have Enough Hands on Deck: Under staffing during the holidays can lead to fatigue and increase injuries. If physical labor is involved the more employees to help with lifting, stocking, and holding ladders steady can be a greatly beneficial safety practice.

4.       Inventory and Store Maintenance: Remember to keep inventory at an appropriate level so it will not lead to overstocking and cause possible injuries. Look over your business as a whole on a daily basis and evaluate if it’s safe for both employees and customers.

Practicing these safety tips will keep your employees and business much safer and secured during this great but hectic time of year.

Protecting From Property Damage

Making sure your protecting your livelihood year round goes without saying, and during the holidays it’s just as crucial. $7 million in property damage and loss occurs from fire incidents and in many cases involving Christmas trees.  Many of the safety tips that keep employees and customers safe by extension will protect your property as well, but there are a few key things to keep in mind.

As fire hazards are one of the most physically detrimental as well as more statistically damaging during the holidays making sure smoke and fire alarms, as well as fire extinguishers are up to date and working is vital in protecting from property damage.

Small Business Insurance Protects Your Livelihood

Following these tips will help with avoiding possible accidents and damages that can affect your merchandise, employees, customers, and property. In the event that an unfortunate circumstance of the seasons does occur despite your precautions insurance coverage can be a vital asset to your business. AllState Burbank is also a great ally with a variety of coverage that will lessen the stress during this holiday season.

Here are few examples of what AllState Burbank’s insurance coverage can mean for your business:

1.       Protecting from Fire Damage:  Property coverage protects the actual building of your business, your inventory, equipment, and other furnishings housed there from fire damage that could destroy your business and make your equipment unusable. It may also cover other costs such as removing debris.

2.       Protecting Your Employees: Depending on the number of employees you have the employees practices liability coverage gives worker compensation to those who have injured on the job.

3.       Protecting Your Data: While shoplifting is a type of retail theft many business owners can prepare for in their own ways, data breaching is a new type of theft affecting many small business.  Data breach coverage helps protect against any legal or other costs in the event that personal data of employees or customers are stolen or accidentally released to the public.

Protection is Key and AllState is Here to Assist

Having a small business can be a joy to own even during the hectic season. At AllState in Burbank we want to help preserve that integrity and that passion. These tips keep in mind some of the unfortunate circumstances that can occur which we hope will prepare you in preventing any possible damages. In the event that it does occur our insurance coverage can help ease your worries so that you can focus on what’s important, your livelihood. 

Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather

 

Although California is known for its warm and sunny weather even in the winter time, our region’s weather is constantly unpredictable. We can be blasting the air conditioner on a hot day in the beginning of the week and lighting the fire to keep us warm from freezing weather at the end of the week. Now that we are almost hitting the winter season, we will see more rain at irregular patterns. Our sunny state provides relief for many of us since Californians do not face as many problems as other regions in the country that have worse winter weather. However, this can discourage people from being prepared for emergencies in the first place. At Allstate Burbank, we cannot emphasize enough how even the slightest preparation goes a long way. From safety supplies to home insurance, preparing your home for stormy weather with these tips from the American Red Cross can assure your family remains safe and your economic stability stays intact.

Inspect and Prepare your Home Before the Rain Comes

There are many tasks involved in maintaining your home during the rainy seasons, but the investment in preparation now means prevention of damage to both your house and wallet later. Take these easy steps to prepare your home for the winter weather that brings in harsh winds and heavy downpour:

1. Check your gutters to see if any clogs need to be cleaned or any repairs need to be made to prevent any rainwater backup to your roof and home.
2. Inspect your roof for any loose shingles or damages that may cause water to leak into your home.
3. Check the interior ceilings and walls for any signs of potential water damage caused by roof leaks.
4. Trim your yard’s trees and bushes to prevent any branches from being weighed down by water or wind that can strike and damage your home.
5. Secure every door and window to make sure water does not leak through open gaps and a draft does not chill your home. You may need to install weather strips if necessary.

Prepare an Safety Kit & Plan for Emergencies

In the case of a prolonged or widespread power outage caused by a storm, you will want to put together an emergency preparedness kit that covers up to 2 weeks of supplies of the following items:

• Water - The most important thing in an emergency is to stay hydrated, 1 gallon per person a day
• Food - Make sure to pack non-perishable items that are easy to prepare and do not need any cooking tools to make
• Flashlights and lamps - These are the safest option for light, candles should be a last priority since they can be risk of fire and can make the emergency worse
• Blankets ­– Stocking both regular blankets as well as special emergency blankets are essential and possibly live-saving if you’re out power during a cold winter storm
• Radio - A battery-powered or hand-crank radio are your best options since a plug-in radio will not be able to work during a power outage
• Extra batteries - Some of the smallest tools that use batteries you do not normally use can be extremely beneficial during an emergency
• First aid kit and medications - Injuries can be unpredictable and deadly but even minor attention and treatment can save lives
• Hygiene items  - items for sanitation and personal hygiene can help prevent any illnesses during an emergency
• Multipurpose tools - Hardware stores sell various brands and types of these tools including Swiss army knives
• Cell phone with charger - In the case that the power returns in a disaster, you will need to inform authorities of your present state as soon as possible
• Copies of personal documents - In the case you lose important files and documents, make sure to make copies of birth certificates, insurance policies, home deeds and leases
• Emergency contact information - Organize a list of contact information of family or friends you will need to contact for assistance or to update your status
• Backup power generator - You may need electric power for any life-sustaining equipment for someone in your home whose health or lifestyle is dependent on electricity

Keep a designated location in your garage or possibly your attic or basement for your emergency kit and supplies. The effort to do organize for emergencies will pay off from the smallest of occasions to large-scale events.

Preserve your Food

If you are ever to face a power outage during a storm, you will need the following supplies to keep your food cold:

• Coolers - All types of ice chests including styrofoam coolers will help preserve any perishable food items
• Ice - You can use ice in your cooler to keep your food cold during a prolonged blackout, or you can pack your refrigerator with ice
• Digital thermometer - Check the internal temperature of your food to determine whether or not the food is cold enough to safely use

Even if you were to not have enough ice or any at all, both the refrigerator and freezer can store items for a specific amount of time if their doors were to remain closed. A refrigerator can keep food cold for about 4 hours and freezer can keep food cold between 24 - 48 hours. Food should be taken from the refrigerator first then the freezer, and if the power outage seems to continue beyond a day, a cooler with ice should be prepared for the remaining freezer items.

Electrical and Gas Equipment Safety

During a storm, you should make sure you have any unnecessary electronics turned off to prevent creating an emergency in the first place. However, it is very crucial that in an actually emergency you want to unplug every electronic you have in the house. This includes appliances such as stoves and microwaves, because surges or spikes can damage your equipment when the power returns to your home. You are going to want to keep only one light on during a blackout which should be one of the light switches and not a plugged appliance.

Under no circumstances should you use a grill, stove or other gasoline, propane or natural gas devices anywhere inside your home or closed area during a blackout. Whether it’s a storm or even an earthquake which can happen anytime, a gas leak can occur and put your entire home at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock or fire. There are carbon monoxide alarms you can purchase and install in central locations of every level of your home that can provide early warnings of accumulating carbon monoxide. In this case, you would have to move as quickly and safely as possible to a fresh air location. If outdoors is not safe then move to the closest open window or door.

When Your Power Returns

A wave of relief may hit you when your power returns after an outage. However, you must still remain careful. Evaluate every electronic or gas equipment in your home before reusing them. For the time being, keep unnecessary electronics unplugged until your home has been thoroughly evaluated. If there are any exposed electrical power lines, keep everyone away and report both exposed power lines and downed power lines outside to the appropriate officials.

Any food that has been exposed to warm temperatures for at least 2 hours should be thrown away as well as items that have unusual odors, colors or textures. If there are any items that you may not be sure about, it is best to simply throw them away just to be safe. Under no circumstances should you taste food as a method of testing their safety. Even if food looks and smells fine, bacteria that cause food borne illnesses could have been growing on food items had they been left at room temperature for too long.

Homeowner’s Insurance will Keep You Stable

With all this preparation that will keep you supported during an emergency like a power outage from a storm, your economic stability can still be in jeopardy if you were not properly insured. Allstate Home Insurance in Burbank covers storm damage and depending on your policy, we will be able to keep you standing and help you save as much money as we possibly can.

The following is what your homeowner’s insurance policy can cover for bad weather with Allstate Burbank:

• Water & ice damage - Even if there is not a storm with heavy downpour or hail, ice coveting your roof in the winter can cause water damage to your home, and homeowner’s insurance can protect you if a pipe bursts from either being frozen or the result of a storm
• Lightning & power surge damage - If your home or another structure covered by your policy is struck by lightning and causes damage due to a fire or smoke, the damage may be covered by your insurance policy. You may also be covered for damage to electronics or appliances due to a power surge or outage depending on the limits of your policy
• Wind & fallen trees - Wind damage is typically covered by homeowners insurance protecting your wallet from any structural damage which also includes damage from fallen trees caused by a storm or wind

Stay Safe and Prepared with Allstate

Your family’s safety and home’s stability are essential to hold up the foundation to your life. With the uncontrollable situations and emergencies that are inevitable in the winter weather, you will need to make sure you are as ready as you can be. The tips in emergency preparation we provided will help you during a disaster, but homeowner’s insurance will guide you through post-disaster. Your coverage can determine whether your family’s future is kept intact. Even if your house has fallen apart, Allstate home insurance in Burbank will provide coverage that will keep your family’s lives together.

Get in touch with me to learn more about how Allstate Burbank can protect you, and make sure to visit me on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter to stay updated on all the latest news from Allstate.

Driving Safety Tips for Fall & Winter

As your local Allstate Burbank agent, whenever the fall season begins, I see a whole new exciting time of the year starting. Summer is long gone and the heat slowly disappears and the much needed breeze and cooler weather feels like a gift for those of us in Southern California. With children back in school and holidays approaching, there will be far more frequent driving and traveling.

More importantly, the weather starts to get cooler and we see rainfall become more frequent. This makes the dangers on the road drastically increase putting you and your loved ones’ lives at risk. Winter is the season that makes most drivers become extremely cautious on the road. However, these risks begin in the fall and the earlier you prepare for these dangers the safer you’ll be when conditions start to escalate. 

At Allstate Burbank, I don’t just provide protection with Allstate auto insurance coverage. I also provide guidance to help you avoid events that require you to have such insurance, and I am fully aware of the rise of accidents that come with the change in the weather.

New Dangers on the Road in the Fall

Autumn is the precursor for the upcoming dangers that you will see more often on the road as the weather becomes wetter every day. The following are hazards you should monitor:

Pedestrians

With school in session and the holiday season approaching, the streets will be filled with more people in both residential and commercial areas. Students are crossing the streets around schools and bus drop off zones, and adults are out and about doing their seasonal shopping making both the street and traffic far denser. The Halloween holiday is especially heavy with many trick-or-treaters that require special attention as well as each week of Thanksgiving and Christmas for last minute shoppers.

Fallen Leaves

Roads can become slippery as the fallen leaves of the season begin to covet the roads. It is crucial that you proceed carefully this season to prevent any danger of losing control of your vehicle as well as avoid hidden hazards camouflaged by the numerous leaves such as potholes.  Even if it isn’t raining in your area, dry leaves still serve a danger. It is possible that piles of dry leaves accumulated on your car could spark a fire with the car’s catalytic converter. Therefore make sure you’re not parked near large piles of dry leaves.

Wet Conditions

Although Southern California is known for its warm and dry climate, it still faces impulsive weather and can deal with heavy rain that starts in the fall. It is highly advised that you make sure your windshield wipers are functioning properly or check if they are in need of replacement. If you’re ever in a situation where the rain is too heavy such as the middle of a storm, it is always the best decision to pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Your safety is more important than anything.

Tire Pressure

As we mentioned about Southern California’s weather, temperature is consistently erratic. The temperature unpredictably rises and falls which can cause the rubber of car tires to expand and contract resulting in air pressure loss. This will provide a danger for you on the road so make sure you’re regularly checking your tires for any sign of deflation.

Sunlight Glare

Days start to become shorter in the fall, and you may find yourself commuting during the sunrise on your way to work and during the sunset on your drive home. The glare from the sun will drastically impair your vision, putting you and other drivers around you in danger. Make sure you own a pair of sunglasses to keep in your car that will protect your eyes from any glare helping your own safety on the highway as well as prevent damage to your eyes. Your commute will also become noticeably darker sooner even before daylight savings time which means your car light’s need to be checked for maintenance and replacements as well.

Animals

Drivers in the city often may come across rodents and stray pets on the road, and your initial reaction would be to immediately swerve to avoid them. If you are farther away from the cities whether you’re closer to the mountains or driving in the countryside, bigger animals are more likely to be crossing roads due to seasonal migration or to find shelter during bad weather. The initial reaction drivers commonly have is to swerve out of the way. However, this is a dangerous reaction since you can hit another car or lose control of your own vehicle. If it is possible, come to a controlled stop and let the animal pass. These kind of situations can never be predicted and each case varies, but remaining calm is always the best answer.

Fog

The warmer mornings are slowly disappearing, and the fog and chilly weather will bring in slower starts to you day. Fog can greatly limit your visibility as you drive and can alter your perception of distance. You are most likely to experience fog in low altitude areas or areas surrounded by hills, water or mountains. A common mistake many drivers make is to turn on their high beams which only make visibility worse by creating glare. The best option is to make sure you drive slowly and create more distance between you and the car in front of you to give yourself enough time to come to a calm and complete stop.

Frost

It is likely you’ll start finding your car with frost on the windows. Usually your defroster can help clear your windows, so you’ll have to get ready a little earlier in order to make sure you car is prepared for a safe drive. If the frost is thicker, you will need to scrape it off of your windows with the proper tools otherwise you will not be able to see whatsoever. Make sure you are reducing your speed in the road as well maintain more distance between your vehicle and other vehicles as you travel like in foggy conditions.

Follow these Tips to Save Lives

With all of the hazards we stated above, driving in the colder and wetter weather can be intimidating. It’s natural to feel so, because as aware as you may be to these dangers, not every driver may be just as responsible. There also may be tips that slip your mind. Make sure to go through the following necessary and easy steps with updating your car to keep you and other drivers safe:

1) Replace Your Wiper Blades

Your car’s wiper blades are consistently facing all kinds of conditions on your windshield. The rain will slowly get harder, and the wind will blow leaves and other light objects on your windshield. So, your car’s wiper blades need to be checked to see if you need to buy new blades to keep your vision as clear as possible.

2) Slow Down

This cannot be emphasized enough. As confident and competent of a driver as you may be, the same cannot be said about many other drivers and you should never assume so. The speed limits are based on ideal conditions when whether is fair. Even the lightest of rain can cause deadly accidents, and it is guaranteed that it will cause heavy traffic. So make sure you give yourself more time to get to your destination because you will need to drive more carefully as well as face much more traffic.

3) Increase Distance Between Cars

As we stated before, allow more space with the vehicle in front of you. Usually, the 3-4 second rule applies in normal weather however it should become around 10 seconds in any kind of wet weather. This gives you plenty of time to stop especially with the slippery streets that may cause you to skid and cause an accident.

4) Always Have Your Headlights on During Rain

It is required by law to have your headlights on during any level of rainfall. However, no matter how hard it rains or even possibly snow, your high beams should NOT be used. As we mentioned during foggy conditions, this will cause a glare that actually reflects off of the rain or snow making it far more difficult for both you and other drivers to see. The high beams are used for momentary use to signal other drivers in case of emergencies.

5) Never Slam on Your Brakes

As discussed earlier when animals run in the road, try your best to resist slamming on your brakes during rainy weather. A sudden stop may cause your car to skid on the slippery road and make you lose control. When your tires come to an immediate stop, it will cause your car to act like a sled, losing all traction and make it far more difficult to control. If you ever need to make a stop or you feel your car start to skid, ease off the accelerator first. Your vehicle will slow down on its own.

6) Avoid Driving at Night

You are 3 times more likely to be in a fatal auto accident during the nighttime in comparison to daylight hours. However, so many hard working people hardly see the day time since their drive to work and back home is during the dark. So if you cannot avoid driving at dark regularly practice everything we’ve mentioned above to reduce your risk of being in a collision.
                             

                         

7) Approach Traffic Lights With Care

The weather conditions, whether sun glare or rainfall, will make it harder for your see traffic lights clearly. Therefore approach traffic lights and all intersections with much more care than usual.

8) Avoid High-gloss Cleaning Products

When you’re washing or waxing your vehicle, these kind of products will actually magnify the sun’s glare which puts both you and other drivers on the road at risk.

Be a Smart Driver on the Road

Driving can be a daily ritual, and each one of us is guilty of allowing it to become a monotonous chore. Safety habits then become in danger of slipping to the back of our mind, and it’s not until you just experienced a collision that you are reminded to pay more attention. Our team at Allstate Burbank highly encourages you to be smart and take the time to examine yourself and the environment around you. These seemingly simple tips usually are dismissed, because almost every driver thinks it won’t happen to them. However, it can and it will if you neglect this guidance.

Put your Cell Phone Away

Everyone multi-tasks and our busy lives require us to be in consistent connection with our loved ones, friends or coworkers. Despite California having strict cell phone safety laws, many people are still using their phone while driving. If you absolutely have to use your phone if you are driving and you do not have a passenger who can help you then the best option is to pull over. There is no text or call more important than your safety. Your destination will still be there if you take a minute to stop. If you choose to use your phone when you are driving your car then you are deliberately choosing to put other people's’ lives in danger.

Avoid having too many Passengers in your Car

You risk everyone’s safety when you have a full vehicle. It is said to be just as dangerous as using a cell phone, because too many passengers can distract you as a driver. If you absolutely need to have a full car then you will have to focus far more closely on the road. Every single passenger in that car is your responsibility.

Drive Safe and Be Insured!

Allstate Burbank can help keep you on your feet if you ever have to deal with any of the dangers and hazards that come with the fall and winters seasons. However, we want every one of our customers to do their best to avoid these situations in the first place. Getting Burbank auto insurance acts as your safety net and encourages you to be the safest driver on the road. If you want to know more about the details of our Burbank  auto insurance policy contact me, Gino Mattunts, today to set up an appointment. As your local Allstate Burbank agent, I can help get you onto the road to protection. Like me on Facebook and follow me on Google+ and Twitter to stay updated on all the latest news from Allstate Burbank. Remember: drive safe and drive smart this fall and winter!

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