Driving safely during the months that include snow, blinding storms, ice and slush takes preparation and the proper mind-set. What considerations do drivers need to make during the coldest of seasons? Well, there are several areas that really need your attention.
Preparing Your Car – Cold weather makes it necessary to make sure that your vehicle is ready to stand up to its rigors. A stalled car may be an irritating inconvenience in warm or moderate weather. However, the same circumstance could literally endanger a driver’s life when it occurs in a winter storm or during extremely low temperatures. Your goal should be to minimize the chances of a vehicle breakdown by having a qualified mechanic inspect the following:
- Wipers
- Tires (tread wear, alignment, and traction by maintaining air pressure)
- Brakes
- Radiator and coolant system
- Transmission
- All fluid levels
- Hoses, clamps and belts
It is important that once checked (and any deficiencies corrected), a car owner be sure to periodically certify that these items remain in good order. This is especially crucial prior to long trips.
Preparing For Emergencies – Wintertime calls for drivers to be ready to handle weather conditions and the likelihood of being stranded. The following items are important for dealing with routine and emergency winter driving situations:
| ice scraper | bag of cat litter or sand | snow brush and small shovel |
| flares | jumper cables and drive belts | matches |
| small or basic tool kit | metal cup or small container (in order to melt snow for drinking water) | candles |
| extra clothing (coat, boots, gloves) | heavy blankets | car phone, cell phone or citizen’s band radio |
| extra gallon of antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid | a dry support for a car jack such as small, sturdy wooden board | Non-perishable food |
| first aid kit | salt | |
| flashlight | extra quart or two of motor oil |
It is also helpful to keep plenty of fuel in your car or truck’s gas tank to avoid running out during weather related snags in traffic or if you must pull off the road. Be sure to read Winter Driving – Part 2.
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All intentions for tonight were on going out to eat, maybe have some friends over….but without doubt, no intention of a “family night”. My wife had been “dying” to see a movie called “Life As We Know It”…..which did not exactly hit high on the “got to see” radar for the guys. In all seriousness I “may” have been upset about the change in plans (remember the going out part….maybe friends over) but in an attempt to salvage the night i conceeded to watching the movie.
It is amazing how life happens. Here I am watching this “terrible movie” and WHAM (this will be a long explanation……) the plot hits me. Not to ruin things but realizing that at any moment, our kids…..my kids could become a burden on someone else, quite frankly made me stay up and write this post.
I think we all have a pretty good grasp on what we would do for our families if we werent here…..but the fact is we dont get to make alot of those decisions. Were gone. Our only say is the decisions we left behind. I consider myself a smart guy when it come to financial decisions but I realize ( and yes it took a stupid movie to figure it out) that I am not ready. I have not prepared my families life……after my life. Am I going to die right now because of those thoughts……..nope. In fact there is a good chance I will live a long life. Planning for the future is far more about your family…… than it is about you. It takes some unselfishness to make those plans. Are those plans worth it? We hope……..right!? Do we know when though?……Nope.
You have a friend though. This is what we do. We offer so many great insurance options for clients but the one thing that keeps me getting up each morning is our life insurance policies. You see I can’t predict if your house will burn down…in fact I have no real good graspt on the propability you will get into a car accident but the one thing i know for certain is we all will use our life insurance.
Take some time out of your day and watch the movie with your spouse. It will be worth it. I am confident you will wonder more about what happens if your not here……
In an effort to help more families in Monroe we are expanding our sales team and renovating our 2nd floor facilities. The upstairs of our office will include 4 additional offices that will serve as a hub for our new group of 5 experienced and licensed sales consultants. In addition the second phase will include a conference room with capabilities to house free community group programs regarding insurance, financial planning and basic financial principles. We want to become “Monroe’s Agency”……. and we realize we need to reach out and offer more opportunities to families who need help with their insurance/financial programs. Times are tough and families are concerned more than ever about reducing their premiums while still being adequately covered. Our agency understands those concerns, which is why we focus our attention not only on coverages but making sure the policy fits your budget. Stop by or give us a call to learn more about our never ending quest to become Monroe’s most trusted agency!
Interested in making insurance a career? Looking for an opportunity for a flexible schedule? Click the link “Starr Insurance Employment PDF” below to find out more…
Starr Insurance Employment PDF
We are excited to announce Starr Insurance has purchased an IPad to help keep our customer service as advanced as possible. We are working with our home office, Farm Bureau, to discuss ways we can use this amazing technology for faster service.
