Miscellaneous Tips for Policyholders

Merchants Insurance Wants to Help You Keep Your Insurance Costs Down

The following articles contain tips for policyholders to help reduce risk of personal and economic loss.

• Dealing With Aggressive Drivers
• Safe Driving on the Freeway
• Take Steps to Prevent Dog Bites

An aggressive driver might be defined as one who "operates a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold, or pushy manner, without regards for the rights or safety of the other users of the streets and highways" (New York State Police Department definition). A likely cause of this behavior is more congested roads, and it seems to be increasing in metropolitan areas. One study suggested that road rage may start as a relatively minor traffic incident and cluminate in a violent act, often the result of a series of stressful events in a person's life.

The New York State Polic Department has developed six tips for dealing with aggressive drivers that drivers in any state would be wise to employ.

• Always remain calm and avoid eye contact with the aggressive driver.
• Keep your distance as much as possible from the aggressive driver.
• Avoid passing an aggressive driver.
• Change lanes when you can safely do so to allow the aggressive driver to pass.
• If you are unable to change lanes and an aggressive driver is tailgating you, maintain the proper speed and do not respond with hostile gestures.
• Call 911 from your cell phone when you can safely do so to report this incident.

As you are aware, automobile accidents are a major cause of death in the United States. They are the single most common cause of death among children and young adults, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA reports that over 6 million police-reported automobile accidents occur annually, which constitutes 1 every 5 seconds. On average, a person is injured in 1 of these crashes every 10 seconds and a person is killed every 12 minutes. The NHTSA estimates that the annual cost of automobile accidents is $230 billion.

A high percentage of these automobile accident deaths occur on our nation's freeways and highways due to the high rates of speed encountered. There are, however, steps you should consider to reduce your chances of becoming a victim on the freeway, including the following.

1. When you merge onto the freeway, you should be at average traffic speed.
2. When in the right lane of a freeway, move over one lane to the left when you see drivers coming into traffic from the entrance ramp. If this is not possible, slow down to give the entering driver more room.
3. Allow plenty of room between you and other vehicles. Many driving experts advocate the two-second rule. Under this rule, you should start counting when you see the vehicle in front of you pass a fixed object. Count "one thousand one, one thousand two." If you reach the fixed object before "two," you are following too closely.
4. Try to maintain average traffic speed. Vehicles going much slower or faster than other traffic are a recipe for an accident. Common sense, however, regarding speeding laws must also be considered.
5. You should use extra caution when driving at night or in bad weather. Remember that many drivers do not adjust their driving habits for the weather or bad road conditions.
6. Avoid any sudden moves, since this does not give other drivers time to react.
7. Continuously scan the roadway ahead of you for signs of trouble, including construction and traffic slowdowns.
8. Be aware of the positions of other drivers around you, particularly those beside you or slightly to the rear. Make sure that your rearview mirrors are properly adjusted before you drive your car.
9. Remember that your reaction time and overall driving skills decline as you get tired. Breaks every few hours are important.
10. When exiting the freeway, be sure to signal well in advance. Do not slow down significantly until you start to turn off the freeway.

Did you know that dog bites cause nearly 800,000 injuries requiring immediate medical care in the United States each year? This is based on a study conducted by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. If your dog bites someone, you can be held legally liable. (Fortunately, this loss is normally covered by your homeowners policy.) However, there are steps you can take to reduce or prevent dog bites, including the following.

1. Carefully consider dog breeds prior to selecting a pet. Some breeds have worse reputations than others, and a veterinarian can help you decide which breeds might best fit your lifestyle.
2. Spay or neuter the animal as this often decreases the aggressive tendencies of dogs.
3. Seek a veterinarian's advice quickly if your dog becomes aggressive.
4. Socialize your dog from an early age to encourage appropriate behavior.
5. Never leave dogs alone with small children.
6. Avoid aggressive games with puppies and dogs, such as tug-of-war.
7. Do not place your dog in situations where he or she can be teased or feel threatened.
8. Train your dog to obey commands.

There is one other loss exposure concerning dogs you should consider. You may face liability claims if your dog gets out into the road and causes or contributes to an auto accident. Homeowners can be sued for violation of leash ordinances by allowing their dog to "run at large." Use a well-maintained and sturdy fence or other safeguards to reduce this exposure.