Banned in the U.S.A.?
Even though it’s already banned in 35 states, it is estimated that at any given moment there are 13.5 million people doing it. Last year, it resulted in the death of over 3100 people and for this reason there is a push to spread the ban throughout the United States. What is it, you ask? Cell phone use by drivers.
The National Transportation and Safety Board started a push in December for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving. This ban would apply to hands-free and hand-held devices, but not manufacturer installed devices. The board is also calling for the electronics industry to develop phones that will discourage use by drivers.
This campaign comes after years of increasing fatality statistics on distracted drivers and from studies done about the upsurge in “safety critical events” when a driver is texting, emailing, or accessing the Internet on their phone (a 163 times greater likelihood!).
Whether or not this ban comes through we will find out in the months to come, but the truth is it doesn’t matter. It’s the responsibility of each and every one of us to protect ourselves and other drivers when we’re on the road. Whether that means turning the cell phone off, putting your make up on at the office instead of at the red light, or waiting to eat that burger until you get home, we need to be aware of how the distractions affect our driving.
For more information about the NTSB’s campaign, please view the PRESS RELEASE HERE and visit their website HERE.
What’ll it be, Phil?
Tomorrow the prognosticator of all prognosticators will peep out at 7:25AM to let the world know if warmer weather is around the corner or if we’ll have to keep our space heaters out for 6 more weeks. Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous weatherman, will make his 126th prediction tomorrow in front of a crowd of millions (if you count internet viewers). This tradition started in the 1800s and made its debut in Gobbler’s Knob in 1887, where the ceremony is stilled held today.
Unlike Phil, we cannot predict the future. We never know if we will be getting into an automobile accident or if a fire will start in our home. All we can do is make sure we’re as prepared as we can be. One of the goals at Skip Wren Insurance Agency is to provide solutions to our clients for life’s unpredictability. Whether you need coverage on your home, apartment, or car, we’re here to make sure you have all the tools you need to face life’s surprises. Haven’t been by in a while? Come talk to one of our agents about how we can solve your insurance needs!
As for Phil – we’d love to have our sunny days back! Think you can help us out, buddy?
Gong Hey Fat Choy (or Gong Xi Fa Cai)!
This week marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year) celebration. This ancient celebration is 15 days of giving thanks, celebrating ancestors, and prayer. Ancient tales tell of how a monster named Nian used to prey on villagers on the 1st and 15th of every lunar month. To save themselves, it was decided to paint the village houses red (to frighten the monster), make loud noises on drums, and burn bamboo to fend off the beast. This worked and the villagers were able to kill the dragon. Chinese celebrations have included these traditions ever since.
What does all of this have to do with Skip Wren Insurance Agency? These celebrations serve as a wonderful example of traditions that have been kept alive for centuries. In our 30 year history, we have prided ourselves on our own traditions: of caring for each and every client as an individual; of providing a positive impact on our community; and of building relationships that have strengthened through time. We are certain that our agency will continue these traditions for years to come just as the Chinese have held their traditions for centuries.
Gong Hey Fat Choy (“Good wishes and congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year.”) from the Skip Wren Insurance Agency!
What did YOU get for the holidays?
Now that the holidays have come and gone, it’s time to think about how to protect your new gadgets and toys. We’ve discussed previously the importance of having a home inventory – now it’s time to discuss keeping it up to date. Here are three simple things you can do to update your home inventory.
1. Make a list of all your new holiday goodies. Make sure to record any serial numbers (say from that new flat screen or even from your new iPad) and a photo of each item.
2. Collect all instruction manuals and keep them in a safe place.
3. Alert your agent! New TV? Or maybe you got engaged and received some new jewelry? You may need to increase your homeowners coverage or purchase an endorsement to cover your new goodies. The Skip Wren Insurance Agency is ready with all the information you need to get these items covered.
Once you’ve got all this information, make sure to store it in a safe place, preferably in something water and fire-proof. Want to stay away from the clutter? Creating an Excel document with all your electronics and sending it to yourself via email is a great way to have access to your information from anywhere. For extra measure, you can scan manuals and upload pictures as well. There are some online applications, such as Google Docs, where you can store these for free and have easy access to them from any computer. Another option is to bring a copy of your information to our office, where we can add it to your file and store it electronically on our offsite location. Call our office for more information about how we can help with this!
The happiness from the holidays can easily be wiped out from stolen or damaged gifts that you haven’t protected. Follow these steps to help keep the joy you felt when you unwrapped your gift alive for years to come!
DDs avoid PDs and RIPs
It’s that time of year. It’s time for us to celebrate the milestones of 2011 and ring in 2012 with friends and family. It’s also the time of the year when drunk driving rates skyrocket. While champagne and other libations take center stage during the holiday season, there are a few tips you’ll want to keep in mind to keep your entrance into the new year a safe and happy one.
1. You don’t have to drink to have fun. Skipping those adult beverages won’t mean that you’ll be skipping out on the celebration. For starters, you will be able to remember your special events (and may be able to take pictures to document it for other guests who might not remember so well). You also get to avoid drinking empty calories from alcoholic beverages – helpful for some of your New Years Resolutions. And of course, who likes to start the new year with a headache? Not drinking can help you avoid hangovers, too. Win, win, WIN!
2. If you do decide to enjoy your holiday with a libation or two, remember to have a designated driver (DD) before you start to drink. Need help recruiting? Use tip #1. If you fail to designate a driver, DON’T GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. Find someone to pick you up or call a taxi. Otherwise, you may end up taking a special tour of your local Police Department (PD) or WORSE….the morgue (RIP).
3. If you’re going to drink, do so in moderation. The CDC’s website helps define moderate drinking as a “lower risk pattern of drinking.” This means, on average, 2 drinks a day for men and, on average, 1 drink a day for women* (It should be noted that other factors should be considered including height, weight, medical history, etc. It is also important to note that you should never drive after drinking any alcohol, regardless of the amount). If you or someone you know has difficulty sticking with a moderate drinking limit, find someone to help you stay within your limits (OR see tip #1!).
In 2009, there were 10,839 fatalities in crashes involving drivers with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more. Let’s work to reduce this during New Years and into 2012!
Wishing you a happy and SAFE celebration into the new year!
For more information, FAQs, and statistics, please visit the CDC website.
Are you doing the “Safety Dance” for your holiday parties?
Are you hosting a holiday party this year? If so, you’ve probably created a number of “To Do” lists that include picking up the food, decorating the house, and…calling your insurance agent? With so much going on, you may forget to look into the safety aspects of a holiday party. If someone gets hurt or sick in your home, are you covered? What about if they have an accident when they leave? Here are a few tips to help keep you and your guests safe during your celebrations.
- Be careful with alcohol. Talk to your agent about Social Host Liability and make sure you understand your responsibilities (and risks) as host. The Insurance Information Institute also provides some great tips to keep you and your guests safe including encouraging guests to select designated drivers, hiring a professional bartender who can recognize signs of intoxication and limit consumption, and not pressuring guests to drink. For a full list of tips from the Institute, click HERE.
- Use proper food handling practices when cooking. Wash your hands properly during preparation and use meat thermometers to ensure that all food is cooked thoroughly. You may also want to ask your guests if they have any food allergies to avoid bad reactions during your event.
- Don’t overload your electronics. Between holiday music, running “A Christmas Story” for the 100th time, and the plethora of lights and decorations you may have up, you need to be sure that you’re not overloading your outlets or appliances. It may be tempting to plug in one more light into that already triple-daisy-chained outlet, but consider the consequences before your decor.
- Think fire safety. Most households decorate with candles or a fire in the fireplace. While these add a certain ambiance to your home, make sure that you’re practicing fire safety. Keep candles out of reach of children and pets, and ensure that they are away from heavy traffic areas. Use a screen for your fireplace and keep children and pets away. You also want to make sure to keep your Christmas tree watered so that it doesn’t dry up and become a worse fire hazard.
- Keep entryways – and ALL traffic areas – safe. Make sure your sidewalks are clear and that there are no tripping hazards – whether from holiday decorations or cracks in the concrete. In your home, make sure that there is enough room for guests to navigate without problems and that decorations and furniture do not present tripping hazards.
- Know your guest list. With so many people coming in and out of your home, it would be easy for a stranger to slip in and out, taking some precious valuables with him. Know who’s coming to your party and whether or not they are bringing guests. Also, keep your valuables stored away in a safe place, not laying out in the open.
The holidays are meant to be a time of togetherness with the ones we love. We wish you and your family safe and happy holiday celebrations!
For more tips or to speak with your agent about your homeowners coverage, please call the Skip Wren Insurance Agency office at 321-725-1440.
Save Your Energy This Winter
Winter in Florida. It may sound like an oxymoron, but we do see our share of cold weather during the season. While we may not have to worry about shoveling snow and salting the roads, there are a few things we can keep an eye out for, like saving energy. Here are a few tips to help keep your energy bill down this season.
- Check for leaks. Weather stripping under doors and around windows, caulking around vents, and leaks around air ducts can waste 10-15% of your heating dollars. Before the weather gets too cold, be sure to inspect your home for leaks and make repairs as necessary. This will help to keep the cold air out and heated air in.
- Check your heating system annually. Have a serviceman come out and inspect your unit annually to ensure proper function. If you have a unit that is more than 10 years old, you may want to consider replacing it with a new unit. This alone can save you hundreds a year in heating costs. You should also change your filters monthly to keep consistent air circulation. A programmable thermostat is also a smart move as it prevents paying for heating costs while you’re not home.
- Check your insulation. Insulation helps to keep all your warm air in and cool air out. Make sure your attics and basements are properly insulated.
- Turn it off. If you’ll be heading out of town for more than 2 days, you should consider turning off your electric water heater at the breaker. You may also want to consider unplugging electronics like televisions, receivers, and game consoles. Just turning these items “off” leaves them in a standby mode where they are still using energy. Unplugging them will save you a few dollars while you’re gone.
- Change your light bulbs. During the winter season it gets darker earlier. This means we have our lights on for longer. You should consider changing your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights (or CFLs). CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescents and last longer. They cost a little more, but they will save you in the long run.
This season, make an effort to save a few dollars while keeping your home nice and warm! Have any tips you’d like to share? Please comment!
Are Holiday Gifts Insured?
On Friday, many of you will be leaving the warm comforts of your bed in the dark, early hours of morning in order to jump in a line with caffeine-crazed, shopping enthusiasts looking to get the best deal on gifts for their loved ones. While you’re out grabbing those Xbox Kinects, digital cameras, and iPads (some of this year’s top gifts), you probably won’t be thinking about whether or not your goodies will be insured once you put them in your house…or in your car while you continue shopping. The thing is, neither are the thieves that are out in full force this time of year…
Whether or not your gifts are insured depends on what the gifts are, where they are taken from and, of course, your insurance policy.
Gifts that are taken from your car are, in most cases, not covered by your automobile insurance. In some instances, the items may be covered under your homeowner’s policy (except when limited by certain conditions). Coverage or no, there are still some safety tips you should follow in order to involve theft from your vehicle altogether:
- LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS! The chaos of the holidays sometimes causes us to forget the basics. Locking your door is a simple step you can take to deter thieves right off the bat.
- Don’t leave items on display. If you have a GPS, cell phone, or any other electronic devices, don’t leave these on display in your vehicle. Remove them if you can, but if you can’t, put them completely out of sight in your glove compartment or your trunk. And beware of markings that these items leave on your vehicle (like that circle on your windshield from your GPS) as these are things thieves look for when on the prowl.
- Park in well-lit and populated areas.
- When shopping, keep purchases with you. Don’t drop off packages between each store. If your hands are full, consider going back for the item another day.
So now what do you do when you get your items home? Are they insured there? The answer is: maybe. The items that you purchase may be covered under your personal property coverage; however, this coverage has many exclusions and limitations. You should make sure to speak to your agent about what is and isn’t covered before assuming that your precious packages will be replaced. Some of the items that are specifically excluded are big-ticket items – precious metals, stamp and coin collections, and money. This doesn’t mean that you should skip these gifts. Your agent can help you to insure these items with floaters or endorsements to your policy. Besides insuring your items, there is much that you can do to deter burglars from shopping from your home:
- LOCK UP. Just like with your car, it’s the simple thing you can do that has the biggest impact. Make sure all of your doors, windows, and entryways are locked securely before leaving your home.
- Use your security system. That pretty blue sign in your front lawn isn’t enough to deter a burglar who’s trying to enter your house from the back! Set your alarm every time you leave your home.
- Set timers for your lights. It gets darker earlier during the holidays and thieves take advantage of this extra “play time.” Set timers to go off as soon as the sun goes down so that your home isn’t shroud in darkness before you get home from work.
- Take a home inventory and update it with every major purchase.
- TALK TO YOUR AGENT. Let your agent know if you’ll be making major purchases for the holiday. They will be able to let you know if you’re insured enough to cover the replacement of the new items or if you’ll need additional insurance.
The best way to make sure your holiday is a success is to talk to your agent. We at Skip Wren Insurance Agency are always here to answer any questions you may have. Simply give us at call at 321-725-1440.
From all of us at Skip Wren Insurance Agency, have a happy and SAFE shopping season!
“Shop Small” to Make a Big Difference
This year, American Express is sponsoring the 2nd annual “Small Business Saturday,” a day dedicated to ensuring local businesses do not get forgotten during the holiday shopping season. The event was created by American Express last year as a counterpart to the infamous “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday”: a way to boost local economies and celebrate small businesses. To rev up the campaign, Amex purchases massive advertising spots on Facebook and distributes those spots to local business who sign up for their program (which is free of charge – visit their Facebook page for more information). Small businesses can also receive free signage for their stores, as well as mentions of their “Small Business Saturday” specials on the campaign’s Facebook page. American Express customers can benefit, too. By registering your Amex on their site, you can receive a $25 account credit for shopping at a participating small business.
We appreciate the efforts put forth by American Express to preserve the sanctity of small, local businesses like the Skip Wren Insurance Agency. We also know that no small business can survive without dedicated clients. We urge you to help other small businesses in our area during “Small Business Saturday” and throughout the year!
For more information, please visit http://SmallBusinessSaturday.com
Total Recall?
This week Toyota announced it would recall 420,000 cars in the U.S. due to potential problems with power steering. This officially marks 6 months in 2011 where Toyota, the world’s largest automobile manufacturer, has had to recall vehicles. But we’re not picking on Toyota. The truth is, while Toyota has had many recalls this year, those recalls have at least been well publicized by the company. But what if YOUR car is recalled – how would you know?
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.gov) has a useful tool to ensure you receive all recall notifications about your vehicles. This tool can register up to 5 vehicles for the service and will send you email updates whenever recall information is provided for your vehicles. It also provides information on recalls for child seats, tires, motorcycles, and school buses.
With holiday travel on the horizon, and with 45% of American drivers hitting the road this year, make sure your vehicles are in tip-top shop (and NOT on the recall list).
Here’s to happy and SAFE holiday travels!
