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Day-to-Day Safe Driving

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When it comes to our day to day driving habits, most of us don’t really give them a second thought. We get in our car, start her up and take off each day without a care in the world. Few people actually consider the chance of a wreck or break down. Some folks don’t really consider what they might do until it happens. That is a recipe for disaster in the world we currently live in. Here are some things to consider about our daily driving habits:

Do you have a backup plan?

If you did break down, do you have a plan in place to get help? Roadside assistance programs can give you that stability and are very reasonable these days. Make sure you have some plan in place to help you out if you break down, lock up those keys or have a wreck.

Do you have an emergency kit for basic problems?

You would be shocked at how effective duct tape can be if you have a busted hose. Also, having water in jugs can be very helpful if your car overheats or you break down in hot weather. Spare hoses, wipers, flashlights, flares and a basic tool kit are vital. Build your emergency kit based on your conditions. In other words, a spare coat is necessary in Alaska but not necessarily in Florida. Plan your emergency kit accordingly.

Check that spare tire regularly

This is another shockingly bad thing. The number of spare tires that are not even usable is incredible. Everything from dry rot to punctures can be missed if you do not check out your tires on a regular basis. In fact, you should have them checked each time you have your oil checked.

Have a plan ahead of time

Before you ever get behind the wheel of a car, even for daily driving, you should make sure you have a plan in place for emergencies. Who would you call if you broke down? Where is the nearest mechanic that I can trust? Do I know how to change a tire?

All of these steps seem like common sense and they are. Those are the types of things that get passed over because they seem so obvious. If you ever break down in the middle of nowhere with no plan, then you will quickly see the value in common sense. Implement these simple steps and you can do your driving with confidence.

Don’t Travel for the Holidays without Road Protection

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Road protection has really started to be a part of our driving culture. Much like GPS systems, it is something that many people are looking at as a must-have. When you travel around the holidays, road protection becomes even more important. Holidays mean an increase in traffic, but they also mean possibly traveling to unfamiliar areas. Here are some very good reasons to consider getting a road protection plan in place before your holiday travel:

Travel means crazy traffic

When you get out on the road to travel for the holidays, you notice quickly that virtually every other human being on the planet has the same idea. Increased numbers of people on the road means an increase in potential problems. When you have roadside assistance, you can be sure that someone will be there to help in an emergency. That is rather important when you are neck deep in traffic with a car problem.

Holidays mean going to new places

When you are broken down at home, you generally have a plan in place. When you have problems out of town, then the risk factors are increased big time. You may not know where you are, and you almost certainly will not know who to contact about getting some help…unless you have roadside assistance.

Roadside protection provides you peace of mind

When you know that you have someone at your fingertips in an emergency, it changes the entire tempo of the trip. The last thing you want to worry about on a holiday road trip is the car. If you have some protective measures in place, then you can be certain that you will be safe in an emergency on the road.

Roadside assistance could save you big time money

Towing fees are only the start of it. Imagine you lock your keys in the car or otherwise lose your keys. Can you get a picture in your mind what it might cost to call a random lock picker? Now how much will he charge you on Christmas Eve or Thanksgiving during his meal? Roadside assistance is a far superior option.

Each of these things are great reasons to invest in roadside protection, but the bottom line is that it makes you safer. If you really want to travel with peace of mind during the holidays, this is a great investment of your money.

Is Progressive Roadside Assistance All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

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Many people feel that roadside assistance is the way to go when it comes to insurance and one of the largest insurance companies that offer this is Progressive.  Progressive roadside assistance is not, however, all that it is cracked up to be and there are a few reasons for this.  There are many other insurance agencies that also offer this plan and they are much different than what is offered by Progressive.

Is it Free?

This is one of the huge downsides to Progressive; they do not offer this service as a part of their regular insurance coverage.  Anyone who wants this is required to pay more monthly for the service.  There is no deductible however but with the high cost, many feel that it is not worth extra money.  With other agencies, there may be a small fee to add this and in some cases, it is a part of the policy whether it is requested or not.

What is Covered

With this addition to your insurance policy, your vehicle will be towed if it breaks down to the nearest qualified service center.  That means if you have a normal repair person that you want to work on your car, if they are across town, you cannot use them.  You can only go to the repair shop that Progressive deems is the closest and who they consider qualified.  Your flat tires will be changed, battery can be jump started, emergency fuel and fluids will be delivered and there is also a locksmith service.  Again, you have to take what you are given rather than being able to choose where the tires or fluids come from and you are stuck with the locksmith of Progressive’s choosing.  In most states there is no charge but there are states that limit the coverage.

What Vehicles are Covered?

You can get roadside coverage for any vehicle, recreational or road, that you want it to cover and which you want to pay for.  This includes boats, motorcycles, off road and on road, off road recreational vehicles, recreational vehicles, toy haulers and any other on or off road vehicle.  Of course the price is greatly different for those that are considered off road because they can be more dangerous than on road vehicles.  Keep in mind that when you are off road and have no phone coverage you will not be able to call for this service until you have coverage.

All in all it seems that there is a huge charge for a service that may not be necessary for those who simply do normal every day driving.  The cost for those on a budget can be more than it is worth if the service is never used.  There are other insurance companies that offer the same services and yet do not charge quite as much as Progressive roadside assistance costs so they are a better option for most people.

Is Your Teen Taking a Road Trip?

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Having a teenager with a driver’s license is often a source of stress for many parents. Vehicles are dangerous and there are many careless drivers on the road. So you can imagine the stress if you find out your teen is taking a road trip. Long distances, unfamiliar places and other drivers on the road is enough to make any parent stress out. The good news is there are some things you can do to help prepare your teen for a safe road trip and you can rest easier while they are on the road as well.

Pack emergency snacks – In the event that there is no safe place to stop and your teen gets hungry, or if driving through bad weather and she gets stuck somewhere, it’s a good idea to have some snacks packed in the vehicle.

Get a tune up first – Before letting your teen take a road trip, ensure the vehicle is in tip top shape with a tune up. You will get everything from tires to oil to the engine checked and you’ll feel safer about your young one out on the road.

Pack an emergency roadside kit – An emergency roadside kit can include water, warm blankets, flashlights, jumper cables, a first aid kit and more. In the event of an emergency- small to large- this kit will come in handy.

Get a roadside assistance plan – A quality, dependable roadside assistance plan will also give you the confidence to let your teen go on a road trip, knowing that if something happens to the vehicle, she will be taken care of. It’s well worth the extra money you will pay in addition to your auto insurance to have a quality roadside assistance plan.

Know the weather – Before any trip, it’s a great idea to know what the weather will be like where your teen is driving. Will she be going through snow or storms? These are things to prepare in advance for and also to be sure she is prepared to drive in weather conditions that might be different from what she is used to at home and around town.

Keep large objects weighted down – You should pack the vehicle so that any large or heavy objects are weighted down, put in the floor behind the front seats or tied down. This is so that in the event of an accident, they do not become projectiles or crush you inside the vehicle.

As you can see, there are many things you can do to plan ahead of time for your teen’s road trip. Don’t trust your teen to be able to remember all of these things on her own. Instead, you might want to print or write down the list and go over it with her to make sure she is prepared before the road trip.

While driving is something we all do every day, there are still dangers involved. We cannot prevent every danger from happening but there are many things we can do to prepare and avoid as many dangers as possible.

How State Farm Roadside Assistance Compares to Others

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Many different companies, including insurance agencies, cell phone providers and even credit card companies are offering roadside assistance.  With this many companies along with the traditional service companies, how does a consumer know which offers the best when compared with others.  There are many differences when it comes to this type of coverage and none of the roadside assistance is offered for free, though some are more affordable than others.  So how does State Farm compare to others?

Up Front Costs

One of the biggest issues with State Farm when compared to other insurance companies is that they require the policy holder to pay up front for any assistance.  The policy holder is then reimbursed at a later date which can be off-putting for many.  Suppose you just had a huge bill that you paid and next pay day is two weeks away?  Your car breaks down and you need a tow to get it fixed.  You don’t have any money and you can’t borrow it, you end up having to leave your vehicle because there really is no protection through your insurance.  The best type of assistance is when the company only has you sign an invoice so you can get your car off the road and in a shop that can repair it when you have the money.

Response Time

Since State Farm does not have their own service vehicles, you could wait for very long periods of time for a tow truck or the gasoline to get you back on the road.  This means if you have an important meeting the likelihood of you making it on time are very slim when you’re stuck waiting for assistance for an hour or two.  Some of the best roadside assistance companies, such as Best Roadside Service, offer a response time of forty five minutes or less.  This means you’re back on the road much quicker than with other companies.

Other Features

There are no other benefits from using State Farm’s roadside assistance program.  In fact, it is pretty lackluster all together.  Best Roadside Service offers a wider range of option and perks like discounts at hotels and an affordable price.  Their call center is based in the United States so you don’t have to worry about trying to understand a foreign representative and they speak three languages, English, Spanish and French to cover just about every demographic in the US and Canada.

Basic Coverage

The type of coverage that State Farm offers is only for the vehicle and driver that is insured.  Other companies offer two types of coverage, one for the vehicle which transfers to any other driver.  This option is great for families with more than one driver who may have an issue while driving.  The other is covering the driver and that transfers to any car that is being driven.  A plan such as this is perfect for anyone who drives a company vehicle or who has more than one that they drive on a regular basis.

So, while State Farm may say that they have great roadside assistance, it is not for everyone.  Those who live on a budget may not be able to afford the initial cost or they may not have funds when an emergency happens.  It does not cover everything and can actually cost the policy holder more down the road.  It is much better to go with a provider such as Best Roadside Service which is affordable and offers consumers a better deal.

Stay Protected on the Road this Summer Vacation

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When we load up the car for summer vacation, it is imperative that we take certain safety precautions. Keeping your family protected is the number one priority. Summer vacation on the road can be particularly dangerous if you are not careful to prepare beforehand. Fortunately, if we take some basic steps to prepare for the worst, then road trips can be a heck of a bunch of fun. Here are some very important steps to take before you get out for that summer vacation.

Get your car squared away

If you were to book a ticket on an airplane, train or other public transportation, you would be quite angry if you found out that they did not make certain that the transportation was not travel-ready. Why then, do so many people climb into their cars for vacation without doing the same? Even if you consider your car to be in top notch condition, driving for long distances does something different to a vehicle. You need to have it checked by a respected technician to make certain it is travel-ready. Check the tires, battery, hoses, belts, exhaust, wipers and all of the fluids. This alone could save you a ton of roadside problems.

Buy (or prepare) an emergency kit

This is something that can’t be overstated. When you make your emergency kit, consider the weather that you will be driving through. If you are driving through the Ozarks, you might have a different kit than if you were headed to Daytona. Staples to always have include a flashlight, water, flares, backup food, cell phone and duct tape or electrical tape.  There are a million things you can add, but just think over rationally what you might need in the area you could break down in.

Consider a GPS

GPS systems are fantastic and are no longer terribly expensive. If you can possibly afford one, it could literally save your life one day. At a minimum it will save you time and frustration.

Make advance reservations

Don’t wing it when it comes to staying somewhere at night. The bottom line is that you could end up with nowhere to go in the wrong part of town.

Join a roadside assistance program

These are fantastic to have and they can quite literally be the difference between life and death. It only takes one time of needing these folks before you realize that they are worth every single penny. Loosen the purse strings and buy that security. Just know what you are buying and what you are not.

Give the kids something to do

I have no idea what the percentages are of wrecks that are caused by distracting kids, but my guess is that it would be way up there. Bring the entertainment along for the ride and you will be very glad that you did. You might not keep them quiet but you will certainly get more peace than you would without anything for them to do.

Make sure someone knows where you are and where you are going

This is absolutely vital when you are traveling. You need to have someone in place to know your destination. If something were to happen, then you have a plan in place to get to safety. It is very important to leave an itinerary for someone.

How Students Coming Home from College Can Drive Safe

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Every single spring and summer, college students from all across the country take the pilgrimage home to see good old mom and dad. Unfortunately, a great number of these students will end up in a wreck of some kind or broken down on the side of the road. This is a scary situation for both parent and child, and being prepared is a great idea. Not only should you prepare for the possibility, but you should also make certain that your child knows how to avoid these situations in the first place.  Here are some ideas to help your student when they come home from college:

Make sure they go through some basic driving classes

Most kids (and adults for that matter) do not go through any driver’s training other than when they get their license. Classes are available to help make you a better driver and having your kids go through them will help in the long run.

Make certain they know how to do basic maintenance

College kids generally don’t know how to change a battery, tap a starter or fix a flat tire. They simply have not had life experience to put them in position to need that information. If you teach them the basics, it could literally save them one day on the side of the road.

Make sure they have a well cared for vehicle

If your child is going to be trusted to drive to and from college, then they must have a car that is safe to make that trek regularly. We love to teach our kids lessons and all, but having them drive that rat-trap that they bought themselves for a lesson is not a good idea. Breaking down a long ways from home can end very badly. Get them a decent car or pick them up yourself.

Make certain they have roadside assistance that is up to date

Having a good roadside assistance program is a very good way to make sure your kid has a safety net. These programs can literally be a lifeline for someone that breaks down in the middle of nowhere. It also can give your college student confidence to make the trip.

Make sure they carry a cell phone

Having a cell phone is absolutely vital in the world today, but it is especially important for a college student traveling home for break. They should always have a lifeline back home.

These are just some basic ideas about keeping your student safe. Certainly there are many others. Consider them all when you have them hit the road to come home.

Tips for Single Mothers on the Road

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As a single mother, you already have many challenges in your life. You’re playing the role of both parents and this is not an easy task for anyone. Now if you’re planning road travels, you need to be fully prepared. If you’re going to be the only adult in the vehicle, you want to be sure you are prepared for anything and everything that might happen.

So here are some tips for single mothers on the road:

Pack accordingly – Always pack extra clothes, snacks and emergency supplies in case something happens while on the road. You want to be sure if you ended up stranded for some time, you and your child will be ok.

Make sure car seats are safe and secure – Vehicles are very dangerous, especially in the event of a crash but if your child is in a car seat that is safe and installed correctly, the danger risk goes down dramatically. Don’t take a trip anywhere with your child unless you are confident safety seats and belts are working properly.

Have an emergency roadside plan – What will you do if your car breaks down? How will you get help and also care for your children? Will you be able to comfort your children and fix your car? Who will help you? How far away from home are you? An emergency roadside plan will help ensure you’re alright until help arrives or that you can fix your problem and keep on truckin’.

Have an emergency roadside kit – This kit will help you and your children in the event of an emergency. It might contain road flares, first aid items or vehicle-specific tools. Your emergency roadside kit is super important when you’re a single mom driving alone, no matter how far or short your driving distance.

Have emergency roadside assistance – With emergency roadside assistance, you won’t have to worry about getting stranded alone with your kids or random strangers wanting to help you. You don’t know who you can trust these days and it’s much safer to know that you have a service that will come get you or help you if something goes wrong with your car.

Always carry a cell phone – The fact is, cell phones are so cheap and easy these days, it just doesn’t make sense not to have one with you. Even if you don’t have a service plan, you can carry an old cell phone with you and it will still dial 911 for you in the event of an emergency.

With these tips, you can be safe while traveling on the road alone with your children.

Preparing Your New Teenage Driver for the Road

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Do you have a new teen who is getting ready to hit the road? Driving is a rite of passage for most young people but it can be a very scary time indeed for parents. You want to help ensure your teen is safe on the road in as many ways as possible. So it all begins with proper preparation for the big event.

It’s one thing to learn how to drive on a safety course, but as we all know, things can go wrong when you’re out on the road. What if you get a flat tire? What if someone else hits you? What if there is some other problem and your teen doesn’t now how to react? These are the things you can do extra preparation for and your teen will feel comfortable no matter what happens on the road.

Here are some tips in preparing your new teenage driver for the road:

Do more than just driver’s education- Take driver’s ed to the next level. Don’t let it be enough for your teen just to pass. Also spend time driving with them, discussing certain driving scenarios and also being a good example of a safe driver yourself.

Practice makes perfect- If you want to have a safer teen driver, you’re going to need to let them practice, even if it is nerve-wracking. The more your teen gets to practice certain situations, the more comfortable he will be when they arise. So practice simple car control skills and also be sure he knows where all the basic controls are – windshield wipers, lights, emergency lights, etc.

Get roadside assistance – Roadside assistance is also very helpful in making sure your teen is safe on the road. Should they be out and about and something go wrong with the car, you want to know that your teen knows where to go for help. Your teen won’t ever be stranded with a flat tire, no gas or other troubles when you have a great roadside assistance plan.

Practice aggressive visual search – Often it’s not your teen that you need to be concerned with on the road. It’s all the other drivers and hazards that can be out there. So teach your teen something called aggressive visual search, where he looks around him, behind him and ahead of him for potential dangers. You have to watch more than just yourself when driving a vehicle.

With these tips, you can help prepare your new teenage driver for the road. Now sit back and try not to stress about it when he’s out. We all have to learn sometime, right?

Should You Use Better World Club?

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Most people who are looking for roadside assistance simply want a plan that does what it offers without having to choose between many different options.  Better World Club is one of those companies who have added roadside assistance to their other insurance plans.  Sadly, there are many different plans to choose from so you have to read through all of them to figure out which one is right for you.

The Basic

If you have to save some money, then they offer a basic plan which is bare bones and does not offer much in the way of perks.  Only one vehicle or driver is covered and towing is only offered for a maximum of just five miles.  Most people drive further than that to get to work or to do their grocery shopping.  Unless you live close to every place you drive to, this is not a great distance at all.  You could end up paying a great deal just to get your vehicle towed to the nearest repair shop.  This plan runs in the fifty dollar range which may seem affordable but there are other plans out there that offer so much more for just a few more dollars a year.

Premium Membership

If you, like most people, would probably need a tow of more than five miles then you can consider the premium membership.  This is not as affordable as the basic and runs at just under a hundred dollars a year.  And if you have more than one driver, you can add them for just thirty five dollars a month.  This is not a cheap plan and while it does offer free towing up to one hundred miles, it is still quite expensive when compared to other plans.  This does include other emergencies but you will need to have the money up front for gas and other services and then wait for reimbursement.

Plus Program

If you want to add other people to your roadside assistant plan through Better World Club then they offer a Plus Program.  It’s curious why they call this a “Plus Program” because the price is the same as if you were adding another person to your premium membership.  Most would think that because it is a special program that there would be a discount of some sort.  You can use this to add drivers to your Basic Program as well for a whopping twenty five dollars.  That’s half of the program cost on its own and if you have more than one family member, it can get quite costly.

If you are like most people today, you need to have a roadside assistance plan that is affordable but that also offers a wide variety of benefits.  There also needs to be some simplicity in choosing a plan that best fits your needs.  When you need assistance for more than one vehicle or person, the price should be affordable.  You should not pay more for the other drivers than you are paying for the plan itself.