Oct 1, 2020 | Accident prevention, Driver Safety
When you are driving, you will notice there are so many different types of roads out there. From roads and streets to highways and freeways, you may wonder why they all have different names. It may seem very random as to how they assign names to the roads. Believe it or not, there is actually a method to how they assign road types as parts of names.
Types of Roads: What They Are
Large Roads
There is a category for the larger, higher capacity roads. There are many types of roads in this grouping. First, there is a highway, which is a major public road that usually connects multiple cities. Next, there are interstates. These are a large, federally funded network of roads that are part of a highway system. They may go between states, but don’t have to. Then, there is a turnpike, which is a part of a highway, and usually a toll road. Another part of the highway system is freeways. They are a large road with two or more lanes on each side. In addition, parkways are a large, decorated public road. A causeway is a raised road that passes across low or swampy ground or water. Additionally, a beltway is a highway that surrounds a city. As you can see, there are many different types of roads.
Smaller Roads
There are also smaller, lower capacity roads. This is also made up of many types of roads. The most common type is a road. It is a way that connects two points. Another type of road is a street. These are a public way with buildings on both sides. Often, they are perpendicular to an avenue. Avenues are very similar to a streets, and are common when driving in cities.
A lane is a narrow road that is often found in a rural area. Drives are often winding, and potentially long, roads that hug mountains or lakes. A way is a small street off a road. Ending in a circle or a loop, courts do not provide a throughway. Lastly, an ally is a small pathway between buildings. These may or may not be drivable.
As you can tell, there are many different types of roads. This list is not all inclusive, so there are many more. Now you know how they assign road types. When you see road names in the future, the designation will hopefully make more sense.
Sep 27, 2020 | Car Accidents, Driver Safety
Being in an auto accident can be really scary. You can never be fully prepared for an accident, no matter the circumstance. However, if you are aware of what to do after an accident, things may feel a little less overwhelming. Learn what you should be doing after being in a car accident.
Being in an Auto Accident: Keep These Things in Mind
Check for injuries
The first thing to do after being in an auto accident is to check for injuries on yourself and your passengers. Once you have determined if you are able to move or not, try to find a safe space outside of the vehicle. However, if you think that staying in the car is safer due to the environment where the accident happened, then stay in the vehicle.
Call 911
If you are able to move to safety after being in an auto accident, do so, and also call 911. While you are waiting for emergency services to arrive, make sure to turn off your vehicle’s engine and turn on your hazard lights.
Once the police and other emergency services arrive, make sure any people injured are addressed first.Next, have the officer file a police report. They will get information from you and any other driver that was involved in the accident. Some states require that an official report be made by local law enforcement of any accidents.
Keep calm
Emotions will be high after being in an auto accident, so try to stay calm. The police will determine fault, not you or the other drivers. Keep any conversations cordial and make sure to get insurance information from all the other drivers involved.
Take Photos and Videos
After being in an auto accident, it may be a good idea to take several pictures at the site of the accident. You can use your smartphone or any other camera you may have. Make sure to take pictures of all vehicles involved from multiple angles and also pictures of the location where it happened. These pictures may prove to be very helpful when filing the accident with your insurance provider.
Log Everything
Log everything you remember happening and contact your insurance provider after being in an accident. A dash cam is incredibly helpful. If you do not have one, make sure to note down all the events leading up to the accident. Try to remember every detail you can as this may help later with claiming the accident with your insurance provider. After you have noted down all the details you can remember, call your insurance provider and report the accident.
Sep 16, 2020 | Car Accidents, Driver Safety
Having to drive in the rain isn’t an easy task for most drivers out there. For truck drivers, stormy roads can be especially dangerous. As such, it’s important to know what sort of hazards to watch for, and how to best handle them…
How-to Navigate Stormy Roads: What To Avoid
Remember the wind
Understandably, most people are going to be concerned about the rain when driving on stormy roads. However, you can’t forget about the high wind which usually comes with it. This wind can be a danger in a multitude of ways, especially when you’re on a haul.
For starters, this wind will make the rain hit harder, making it especially hard to see. The wind can also start pulling on your truck, causing it to start swerving. In fact, if the wind is severe enough, then it may even cause your truck to flip if you aren’t careful! As such, you need to be mindful of how bad the wind is, and how much you can control your truck.
Watch for high water
Stormy roads also tend to experience a lot of flooding. Now, most drivers in standard cars won’t be able to handle these floods. Some may think that trucks can tackle high water easier, due to being taller and more powerful. In reality, high water is still as dangerous to truck drivers as it is to anyone else on the road.
With high water, it’s very easy for your truck to lose traction and effectively get stuck. Plus, you may not be able to tell just how high it is from your cab. Many times, high water will also hide debris on the road which could end up damaging your truck. In general, it’s best to play it safe and find an alternate route.
Keep track of the weather
The best way to handle stormy roads is by avoiding them altogether. This means you should be keeping track of what the weather conditions will be like. Be sure you check what the weather and roads will look like for the route you plan to go on. If the weather seems to be poor, then try and find a backup route just in case.
These days, you can also keep up with the weather in real time. Practically all smart phones come with weather apps which can track your location and provide you with real-time updates. That way, if the weather suddenly starts to turn, you can react properly and find either another route or a place to wait it out.
Aug 28, 2020 | Accident prevention, Driver Safety
Many people have been spending more and more time lately outdoors due to the pandemic. With so many people starting to take on new hobbies like biking, water sports and road trips, there has been an increased number of people hauling adventure gear. From bikes, to kayaks, and even boats, bringing these items along takes a little extra work than just throwing something in your car. These tips will help you securely and safely transport all of your outdoor equipment.
Hauling Adventure Gear: Things to Consider
Bikes
When hauling adventure gear like a bike, you will need some extra equipment. Exactly what you will need will depend on your vehicle. One example is a roof rack, which can work with a wide range of outdoor equipment. The downside is that you must be able to lift the bikes over your head, and they will make your car taller, which could be an issue for low-clearance areas. Another option is a hitch rack, which is secured to your trailer hitch. They’re easy to load and unload, but can require you to purchase a receiver if you don’t already have one on your car.
The other type of racks to haul bikes are trunk racks, truck racks, and spare tire racks. Trunk racks allow you to mount a bike to a trunk. As expected, truck racks are perfect for trucks, keeping the hikes neatly stowed as opposed to just being thrown in a truck bed. The spare tire on Jeeps, or similar cars, are the perfect place for a spare tire rack.
Kayaks and Canoes
Hauling adventure gear like a kayak or canoe will require a roof rack due to their size. There are several types of roof rack variations that will work with kayaks and canoes. These include j-cradles, saddle racks and foam blocks. J-cradles are great for hauling more than one kayak or canoe. However, unless you have a short car, they’re hard to unload with just one person. A saddle rack is easy to unload if you are by yourself. The cheapest option is a foam block, but this requires the user to make sure the boat is tied down extra securely.
Boats, ATVs, Campers
If you are hauling adventure gear that is big and heavy like a boat, ATV or camper, there’s some extra steps involved. First, make sure the vehicle you have has the correct towing capacity. Next, make sure the brake lights and turn signals work on the trailer. Otherwise, the lights need to be repaired.
Since towing a trailer or camper will make a vehicle much heavier, it will take much longer to brake. Anyone pulling something heavy like this will have to adjust their driving habits to being a slower, more careful driver. Make sure there is enough auto insurance to cover the trailer. Usually, this can be covered under the auto policy, but it’s a good idea to check with your insurance agent first.
Aug 19, 2020 | Accident prevention, Driver Safety
Modern tech has helped to make driving easier and safer than ever. However, aside from the technology that’s in your car, there’s also car gadgets to consider. These gadgets can not just make your next drive easier to do, but also more enjoyable as well…
Car Gadgets: Helpful Solutions
Hands-free devices
Some of the most popular car gadgets are hands-free devices and software. While smartphones are very useful, they can be dangerous when behind the wheel. Still, plenty of people use their phones to play music or for GPS directions. As a result, they’re not sure how they can find a safe way to use their phone’s features.
This is where hands-free compatibility comes in handy. Many modern cars will allow for you to connect your phone via Bluetooth, an app, or a charger. This will allow you to do things on your phone through your car’s touchscreen or steering wheel. Not only is this easier, it’s also safer than having to hold your phone and drive at the same time.
Rear entertainment systems
Driving with kids can always be a bit of a struggle. It can be hard to keep them occupied, especially on longer trips. While smartphones and tablets can help, it may be that you don’t have enough for everyone to use, or that they’re too young. In this case, it can be handy to make use of some car gadgets.
In particular, rear entertainment systems can work wonders for keeping the kids busy. Many modern ones will allow for you to stream directly from a phone or tablet onto them. That way, everyone can watch without having to strain their necks. Some cars even have individual ones built into the back of the seats!
Multi-device chargers
One of the worst things is when your devices die while you’re still in the middle of a long trip. Eventually, things like your phones, tablets, and laptops will need to recharge. While this may be no issue with just a couple of passengers, it can be a problem when you have a lot. This is why multi-device chargers are becoming very handy car gadgets.
These chargers will let everyone be able to charge their devices at once. This is great not just for the convenience, but also for avoiding arguments. You won’t have to worry about trying to fight over who charges what while also trying to keep your attention on the road!
Aug 17, 2020 | Accident prevention, Driver Safety, Driving
Being in a hit-and-run accident can really ruin your day. No one wants to be in any kind of car accident. However, when you realize the car that hit you just kept going without stopping to exchange information, you will feel really upset. Although this can feel overwhelming, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself physically and financially. These steps are things you should think about before you leave the scene of the accident.
Hit-and-Run Accident: What to Do
What are Hit-and-Runs?
If one of the parties involved in a wreck flees the crash, the accident is considered a hit-and-run accident. This is true no matter how minor the accident is. Every state is different, but in some, there can be serious consequences for fleeing the scene of the crash. This could include criminal charges or fines. This could result in you having your license revoked or even going to jail.
The reasons a person may decide to leave the crash could be many things. For example, they may not have auto insurance. Additionally, they may be driving a stolen car, breaking other laws, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Immediate Reactions
If you are in a hit-and-run accident, do your best to stay calm. Being in a car crash can make you feel a lot of strong emotions. It is important to have a clear head since you are solely responsible for documenting the accident. Also, do not try and chase the other driver. You may be leaving valuable evidence behind if you leave the accident site. Move to a safe area off the road and check yourself and passengers to make sure medical care is not needed.
Try your best to remember as many details as possible. Try to make note of the make and model of the other car that was involved in the accident. If you get a chance to see the license plate number, try to remember it as well. Every detail you can remember will be helpful when speaking to the police or your insurance company.
Communicate and Document
When you are in a hit-and-run accident, you will want to call 911. This is especially urgent if there are any injuries. The police will come and write up an accident report. If there was anyone around, see if the witnesses will confirm what happened. This will be helpful when you are telling your story to the police.
You will also want to take photos of your car. Make sure to take pictures of every angle, including a full shot and close up pictures. Also, you’ll want to contact your insurance agent to learn how to proceed. They will walk you through the next steps and how to file a claim.
