Auto

The wet and snowy road conditions characteristic of the fall and winter months in the north are driving hazards that can cause skidding (sliding) and hydroplaning (in which a car drives on top of water).  Luckily, there are plenty of ways to avoid incidents such as these in the present and coming months:

• First of all, eliminate distractions in order to focus.  Phones should be silenced, turned off, or stored away where they can’t be reached so attention can be devoted to the road.  You are allowed to ask passengers to silence their own devices if they are distracting you as well.  It may also be helpful to set up a 5 minute quiet time at the start of your journeys before turning on music or talking in order to get a feel for the road conditions and how you might need to drive that day.

• Prepare your car for the season.  Lots of fall rain and winter snow requires effective wiper blades for on-road awareness.  It also requires tires with effective grip.  Worn-down tires are more at-risk for hydroplaning over wet leaves, and they won’t be able to guide the car out of trouble as easily as tires with good grip.  Furthermore, whereas regular tires in the winter cold become stiff and more breakable, snow tires are made out of softer rubber that can better adjust to the surface of the road.  They also have special grips that latch onto snow and ice on the road, decreasing the likelihood of skidding and providing more traction in guiding the car out of it.  
• Drive slowly this season, slower than you would in the warm and dry months.  Drive slowly through puddles, if they can’t be avoided, and over wet leaves to prevent hydroplaning.  Do the same through snowfall; on hills, shifting into a lower gear can help the car stay attached to the road, and thus prevent skidding.  Additionally, approach overpasses, bridges, shady areas, and curves with caution.  The first three may be more at-risk for morning freezes, while curves are often places that people find themselves driving too fast.  Rain and snow can make these situations more dangerous.

• Maintain a safe distance from the cars ahead of you in order to allow yourself enough braking time and to minimize potential damage.
• If snowfall or leaves cover road lines, do your best to stay aware of and within them.
• Brake gently to avoid hydroplaning and skidding.
• If rain or snowfall makes you uncomfortable, pull over onto the side of the road in a safe location, turn on your emergency lights, and wait until the rain or snow passes or until you feel you can drive confidently again.  
• Lastly, in the event of skidding or hydroplaning, try to remain calm.  Do not touch the gas or the brake, but steer gently in the direction you want to go.  If your rear wheels are sliding, steer to the right or the left depending on where they are sliding, and then straighten the wheel when the car itself straightens on the path you want to take.  Once you regain better control of direction, gently brake if the front wheels have been sliding, or gently accelerate if the back wheels are the culprits.  This is for the purpose of redistributing the weight of the car to the wheels that have been skidding in order to return some of their traction.

Driving always comes with some hazards, but in the northern hemisphere, there may be more times in the fall and winter that require particular caution.  Do your best to stay aware of road conditions and drive as they demand of you.  Make sure you are comfortable, focused, and prepared to take on the road and its hazards.  In this way you can do your best to maintain your own safety, that of other drivers, and that of each your own passengers.  

Do you need to purchase extra Rental Car Insurance on your trip?

Summer vacation travel season is here!  If you are planning on heading out of town and using a rental car for your trip, you might find some of the information here helpful.  

Typically, when you are renting a car while on a personal vacation, your regular auto insurance policy will cover you for most of your needs. If you are traveling for business, your personal auto policy will not cover damage if you are renting for a business trip.  If you have insurance for auto, renter or homeowner, you are likely already covered for liability, personal accident and personal effects coverage.  The only coverage you might consider adding is additional collision damage insurance for a rental car.  You can purchase this coverage to also include loss of use charges should a vehicle need to be repaired after an incident.  This coverage can often be purchased through your private insurance provider for a minimal daily charge – far less than the upsell through a car rental agency.

If you are not covered by a private policy, you may be able to add rental car coverage through your major credit card account.  Check with Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express through the phone numbers on the back of your cards.  To receive the coverage through a credit card company, you must charge the entire rental on the credit card and decline the supplemental collision damage coverage offered by the rental company. It is important to note that you can’t have both.  Coverage through the credit card company may have additional restrictions based on the length of the rental term, the type of vehicle you are renting, or what country you are renting from.  

Another option is to purchase special travel insurance for your trip, to help cover your trip investment.  Travel insurance helps to cover your trip investment if you have flight cancellations due to illness, injuries, weather incidents or other travel related issues.  It can help you replace lost baggage, theft of property, tour operator bankruptcy, and more.   Travel insurance also has the option for adding collision coverage for a rental vehicle as part of your vacation insurance package.

What rental car insurance can do is protect you from a surcharge on your policy premium for a claim on an accident when driving a rental car.  It also can protect you from ‘loss of use’ charges when the rental car has to be off the road for repairs.  If you are declining additional coverage, always make sure you take the time to read the fine print on your rental contract before signing for your vehicle, and make sure that it indicates that you are declining the additional insurance.  

If you have any questions, check with our team at Bieritz Agency before your trip so we can help to advise you on what makes the most sense for you.  We offer two convenient locations in Cooperstown and Morris.

If your child is leaving home to attend college, make sure you check with your auto insurance
provider to see if there are any updates required to maintain your policy because of this change.
It is not recommended to drop a college student from your policy when they leave for school for several reasons.  First, continuous coverage will benefit your child when they are no longer listed on your policy and purchase coverage on their own.  Second, your child may need to drive when they return home during school breaks or if they drive a friend’s car while at school.  Third, having your child listed for coverage on your policy protects your child in the event of any auto-related accident while they are away, as a driver, passenger or pedestrian.
Some companies also offer discounts for your full-time college student drivers.  If your child maintains a grade average of 3.0 or higher, you can provide a transcript and submit for consideration.  You may also qualify for a discount if your child is attending college 75 miles or more away from home.
Students who are taking a car that you own to school can remain on your policy (likely less expensive than under their own policy as a young driver), but you should notify your insurance company of the new address where the vehicle will be located.  If it is in a less populated area, you might end up with a lower rate.  If your student is traveling with their vehicle out of state, make sure your current policy meets the minimum insurance requirements for that state.  If your student owns the vehicle and holds the title, it is likely that they will need to obtain their own insurance.
If you have a student that is attending college and you have questions about their Auto Insurance, call us today at 607-547-2951 in Cooperstown or in Morris at 607-263-5170.

Your teenager just received their driver’s license!  This is likely one of the most exciting and joyful moments in the life of a young person, and one of the most stressful and worrisome moments for parents.

From the student’s perspective, a driver’s license represents some very big things:  freedom (the ability to go where you want, when you want); independence (not having to depend on parents or others to get there); responsibility (for ones’ self, for passengers, for a car, for gas, for others on the roadways).  The driver’s license is one of the milestones in the transition from youth to adult.

From the parent’s view, the addition of a newly licensed driver in the family is more of a mixed bag.  While there is undoubtedly some relief in the ability to share the driving load, there is likely some trepidation as well. 

The addition of a new driver in your household also means changes to your insurance policy.  Adding a teen to the family insurance policy is cheaper than purchasing a separate policy, but any infractions may result in increased rates on your premiums.

In New York State, you can expect your policy to increase by about 53% when you add a teen driver; this is actually one of the lowest surcharges in the US, and a bargain compared to New Hampshire, where it’s 111%.  While these percentages represent state averages, there are other factors that will influence this rate, so it is always best to get a quote specifically through your agent.

Rates will typically drop for each year of experience your new driver accrues without any violations, accidents or claims, lowering to about half the original amount when the driver turns 19.  In some cases, good academic grades and successful completion of driver safety courses can also help to bring the rates down.  The kind of vehicle your teen driver is using will impact your rate as well: less sporty/less flashy vehicles with high safety ratings are less costly to insure.

As a parent, you have the ability to start conversations about safe driving habits with your teens early in their driving education. These conversations are influential to their future driving success!  A National Young Driver Survey found that teens are 50 percent less likely to speed, 71 percent less likely to drive after drinking and 29 percent less likely to use their cell phones while on the road if they have parents who actively talk to them about the dangers associated with these behaviors. (CDC- CDD.GOV/ParentsAreTheKey)

There are also a stream of new auto safety apps for smartphones to help lessen distractions while driving.  Most of these will automatically detect the phone’s GPS location and determine if it is moving at speeds above 10mph.  If moving, it will hold all phone notifications until the end of the trip.

If you have a teenager that will become a new driver soon, give us a call at Bieritz Insurance (607)547-2951 and we’ll help you navigate your insurance options – no GPS required!

A note to all of our Bieritz Agency clients and friends:

During the months of November and December our local populations of deer are migrating and mating, resulting in a dramatic increase of movement.  More deer collisions occur during these months than at any other time of year, so we urge drivers to be especially careful, particularly in the early morning and evening hours (times when many people are commuting to and from work).

Deer collisions can cause a great deal of damage and can also be lethal.  A “heavy” deer might weigh over 200 pounds, but even an eighty-pound yearling is capable of totaling a vehicle traveling at high speed.  According to New York Outdoor News, motorists hit over 80,000 white-tailed deer on New York roadways each year (the third highest rate of reported incidents in the U.S.), almost 20% of which happen during the month of November.

Deer tend to stick to certain major travel corridors, which they adjust seasonally to match their movements to food availability and other habitat needs.  Deer warning road signs often indicate areas where deer are often sighted or where multiple collisions have occurred.  A collision can be a car hitting a deer or a deer hitting a car.  Most people are aware that  when you see one deer, there is usually another.  This holds up not only when there are young fawns in early summer, but also during breeding season where bucks follow does or in later winter months when groups of males form “bachelor groups”.

Traveling at slower speeds increases your reaction time if a deer leaps out in front of your vehicle.  Scan the roadsides and watch for eyeshine in your headlights (only visible if the deer looks directly at your car).  Use high beams if there is no oncoming traffic and low beams if it is foggy or snowing.  If you see and successfully avoid deer, flash your lights at oncoming vehicles to warn them of a hazard ahead, and watch the behavior of cars around you as well – a car slowing suddenly could indicate a deer in the area.  Make sure your headlights, brakes and tires are all in good shape.  It is recommended to hit your brakes to try to stop and not swerve to try to avoid a collision.  Swerving out of the travel lane increases the risk of hitting another vehicle or losing control of the car.

Because most of our local country roads intersect with wildlife habitat, our drivers have a greater chance of collision, so please keep in mind the above tips to help minimize your risk.  Damage caused by an accident with deer or other animals is covered under the optional comprehensive portion (not the collision portion) of an automobile insurance policy. If you would like to check your coverage, please give us a call at our Cooperstown, NY office at (607) 547-2951 and our Bieritz Insurance Agency staff will be happy to help you.  Safe driving to all from the Bieritz Team!

The cost of Auto Insurance can be affected by a number of different factors.  Check out the full article at the link below and give us a call if we can help you with your policy!

The average yearly auto insurance premium is almost $800, but there is wide variation around this average. Many factors can affect your premium. Not all companies use all of these factors, and some might use factors not listed here…

Read the Full Article Here from the Insurance Information Institute

June is National Safety Month, so our team has decided to provide resources from the National Safety Council to help improve some general safety practices for all our friends and clients.

This week, we are featuring information and resources about distracted driving.

Using a cell phone while driving makes it four times as likely that you’ll crash – while using handheld or hands-free devices.

View Facts about Distracted Driving Here

Provided by The National Safety Council

Employers have realized the dangers of cell phone use while driving and are taking action by passing policies to prevent cell phone distracted driving. The National Safety Council recommends policies prohibit both hands-free and handheld devices and apply to all employees. 

Provided by The National Safety Council

Visit us next week for information about Summer Safety!

Cars manufacturers are building cars with new features all the time and some of these can make your vehicle safer to operate.  Safety features can help you save money on your car insurance.  If you find yourself in the market for a new car this Spring, here are some things to consider.  Check with our agents to learn if these features can save you dollars on your annual premium – the savings may be worth the additional cost.

• Automatic or Adjustable Seatbelts (with pretensioners)
  Automatic seatbelts mean that the passenger is more likely to use them and adjustability will make them more comfortable and thus more likely to keep them on.  Seatbelts save lives and reduce injury.

• Daytime Running Lights
  These make your vehicle more visible to other drivers.  Better visibility prevents accidents.

• Antilock Brakes
  An Antilock Braking System allows for better control in rain or snow or on unpaved roads.  They  don’t prevent skidding, but they help to prevent loss of control.

• Traction and Stability Control
  A Traction Control System (TCS) or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) work similarly to antilock brakes, but they help to maintain traction in the event of a skid.

• Extra Air Bags
  In addition to driver and passenger air bags, other air bags (side, curtain and rear) can be standard or extra depending on the vehicle, and can earn you extra savings on your premiums.

• Anti Theft Device
  These usually qualify for savings since having one prevents attempts from theft.  Just knowing there is a system equipped is enough of a deterrent to theft in most cases.

• Night Vision System
  Some dashboards are capable of indicating heat signatures (from deer or other animals) within a 300meter range of the vehicle to help prevent accidents at night.

• Drowsy Driver Warning System (Lane Departure Warning)
  This is a program in your vehicle that senses if/when you change lanes without using your directional and beeps to wake you up.  Using your directional helps other drivers know what to expect from your vehicle and prevents accidents as well.

• Adjustable Headrests
  If adjustable, headrests should be raised high enough to almost reach the top of the head, rotated forward to be close to the back of the head, and they should lock in place to give firm support in the event of a crash.

• Car Safety Rating
  There are many things that effect the safety rating for a vehicle, but some of the basics include the size of the car, the type of vehicle, the type of engine and more.  For information on safety ratings for vehicles, check the following links: Kelly Blue Book and Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

• Safe Bumpers
  These are bumpers that exceed the federal bumper standards for low speed crash protection.

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (most cars built after 2007 have these)
  Sensors within the tire send an indication of an “underinflation event” when the PSI falls to below an acceptable range. Underinflated tires offer a less stable ride, negatively impact your gas mileage and are prone to possible blowouts.

• Driver Safety Record
  Not a vehicle feature, but something that can certainly affect your premiums.  If you have a safe driving history or if you have taken a refresher driver safety class, make sure you tell your agent!  Indicate this for other drivers as well.