Safety

1. Turn On Hazard Lights

Immediately activate your 4-way hazard lights.

2. Move Vehicle Off Roadway

If your vehicle can be moved without further damage, move the vehicle off the roadway as far right as possible. Keep the vehicle on the shoulder provided if there is one. Avoid putting the vehicle into any dangerous situations such as ditches, slopes, or soft ground.

3. Relocate to Passenger Front Seat

The passenger front seat is the furthest point in the vehicle from approaching traffic, acting as a buffer zone for you from other traffic. When exiting your vehicle to relocate to the passenger side, keep your eyes on traffic as you walk around the front of your vehicle with your back turned away from approaching traffic. Fasten your safety belt while in the vehicle.

Rainy conditions are directly associated with higher accident rates. Knowing how wet roads and reduced visibility affects the way your vehicle handles will help you drive safer. Follow these tips to reduce the chances of an accident:

• Before You Drive – Double check your vehicle’s equipment, headlights, taillights, and windshield wipers. Check the tread on your tires.
• Slow Down – Your vehicle’s reaction time is much slower when it is raining. Reduced speed is imperative in rainy weather.
• Turn On Headlights – Turning on your lights will increase both your visibility and other drivers’ ability to see you.
• Use Windshield Wipers – While this may seem like common sense, some people forget to turn on their wipers in light rain.
• Maintain Safe Distance Between Cars – Stopping your vehicle will be more difficult when driving in the rain.
• Avoid Heavy Braking – Take your foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally do. Don’t use cruise control.
• Avoid Standing Water – Watch out for standing water, standing water can cause hydroplaning.
• Ventilate Your Car – Rain causes humidity levels to increase. You may find that your vehicle’s windows become foggy.

Winter driving is challenging – make sure to take the time to check if your vehicle is in good shape for the season before you drive. Then follow the tips below to ensure safe traffic navigation and black ice safety during winter driving:

Safe Traffic Navigation

• Replace low-traction tires with tires that have better grip.
• Avoid patches of ice. Avoid the roadway with black ice by slowly turning around, preferably without breaking. If necessary, break slowly.
• Keep extra distance between cars when driving in questionable weather conditions. Spin outs cause accidents and car crashes. Keep an additional 8-10 seconds worth of space in between you and other vehicles.

Black Ice Safety

• What Does Black Ice Look Like? Black ice is a thin coat of ice that covers roadways when the temperature is below freezing and rain or water falls on the roadway, or sleet or snow freezes onto the roadway after melting. It appears to be black because it creates a clear, glassy coating that covers dark-colored roads and is highly dangerous to drive on.
• Where Is Black Ice Common? Since black ice forms in below-freezing temperatures, this makes it more likely to appear in the evening and early morning before the sun has been able to heat the ground and turn the ice back into water. This includes shaded areas and locations like bridges and overpasses, and roads with light traffic.
• Driving On Black Ice: Sometimes contact with black ice is unavoidable. When first approaching black ice, take your foot off the gas pedal – do not break. This decelerates the car without abruptly stopping it, which causes hydroplaning. Do not stop on black ice or pump antilock brakes.
• If You Start Drifting On Black Ice: Turn your steering wheel in the direction that your back wheels are moving. So, if your rear wheel is sliding to the right, you should turn your steering wheel to the right. Just be careful not to overcorrect for your vehicle sliding, which can make the situation worse. Make gentle adjustments, and try to feel for your tires gripping the road again. Once the car straightens out, you can stop steering into the slide.

The steps you take after a car accident can save lives, reduce injuries, help ensure quick settlement of your car insurance claim, and keep you out of trouble with the law; however, when you are stressed, it can be hard to remember what to do after a car accident. This checklist guides you through the steps you should take immediately following an auto accident and in the days after.

Immediately After the Accident:

• Stay safe. Assess the situation for your immediate safety.
• Stay in your car if there is a risk of injury or further injury.
• Move car to a safe location if it is creating a safety hazard or obstructing traffic.
• Do not leave the scene of the accident!
• Determine if there are any injuries.
• Call 911 immediately to report the accident and get help to the scene.
• Follow any instructions the police give you.
• Call your insurance company.
• Follow any instructions given to you by your agent.
• Request a tow through your insurance company, if possible.
• Note the name of the tow company and location to which your vehicle is towed.

At the Scene: Gathering Information

• Be courteous and polite, but do not admit fault.
• Take the names and car insurance information of any drivers involved in the accident.
• Only ask for contact information if the other drivers do not provide insurance information.
• Get names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident.
• Provide your name and insurance information to the police and to other driver(s).
• Protect your identity! DO NOT allow your license or registration to be photographed. DO NOT provide your address or contact information to other drivers, passengers, or witnesses.
• Give out ONLY the following information:
  • Your name.
  • Your vehicle’s make, model, year, color and VIN.
  • The name of your insurance company
  • Agent’s name and phone.
  • Policy number.

At the Scene: Documenting the Accident

• If you have a smartphone or camera, take photos to document the scene if it is safe to do so. Include pictures of:
  • License plates of involved vehicles.
  • Damage to your vehicle.
  • Damage to other vehicles.
  • Damage to property other than vehicles.
  • Objects at the scene, including accident debris, skid marks, fallen branches, etc.
  • Street signs or other landmarks to identify the accident location.
  • Any contributing factors to the accident, such as obscured traffic signs.
• If you have an accident report form, fill in as many details as possible at the scene. If not, write down:
  • Time and date.
  • Weather and traffic conditions.
  • Description of the accident.
  • Description of injuries and damage.
  • Details of police or emergency involvement.

Mobile Applications for Claims

• Many insurance companies now employ the use of mobile applications to help consumers file claims online and record accident details at the scene. Ask your insurance company about any applications that might be available.

After the Accident: Next Steps

• Get a copy of any accident reports or incidents reports filed by the police and other drivers to assist in settling your claim.
• Follow instructions from your auto insurance agent.
• Document everything – Write down names of any investigators, including police officers or insurance claims adjusters. Whenever you speak to an insurance company representative, note the date, the name of the person, and a brief description of the conversation. Keep receipts of all expenditures, including transportation, parking costs, and repair costs.