According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year.

Follow the tips from the National Sleep Foundation before hitting the road:

* Get a good night’s sleep.

* Plan to drive long trips with a companion. Passengers can help look for early warning signs of fatigue or switch drivers when needed. Passengers should stay awake to talk to the driver.

* Schedule regular stops, every 100 miles or two hours.

* Avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter and prescribed) that may impair performance. Alcohol interacts with fatigue, increasing its effects — just like drinking on an empty stomach.

Here are some suggestions on how you can prevent drowsy driving:

* Take a 15 to 20-minute nap. More than 20 minutes can make you groggy for at least five minutes after awakening.

* Consume the equivalent of two cups of coffee. Caffeine is available in various forms (e.g. soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, chewing gum, tablets) and amounts; remember, caffeine takes about 30 minutes to enter the blood stream and will not greatly affect those who regularly consume it. For best results, try taking caffeine and then a short nap to get the benefits of both

Click here to get a free New York City Auto Insurance Quote today.

Remember to drive safely in parking lots too! Fender benders can easily happen in parking lots. Always be conscious to look for yield signs, stop signs or even other drivers who are not paying attention to those signs. Don’t forget to watch out for other drivers cutting through parking lanes to find the quickest exit. Another thing to remember when driving in parking lots is to be mindful of wandering pedestrians. If there is high traffic, people tend to zip out in front of cars in order to rush to their own.

Parking lots are not always the safest places to drive. Always keep in mind to look out for pedestrians in a rush and cars that are driving recklessly. Be safe!

Remember, the company you enroll with should be an established and trustworthy.  Since there are many companies vying for your business, it is important to examine the quotes you are receiving from each insurer to make sure the premiums are the same coverage to accurately compare. As we all know, price is usually our first priority. After you research various prices, keep in mind to look over the customer reviews made by current and former clients as well as online reviews. They will help you find out how each company will handle your business and claims. This will narrow down who you would like to open an insurance policy with.

Finding auto insurance can be difficult. Once you find a reputable agent to help you, ask questions. They are there to help you and will be able to decipher what is the best option for your car coverage. You may be able to save some money when you customize your insurance to the value of your car. Each policy is tailored to the individual and their needs.  Your agent will be help you with your questions and needs.  Get a New York City Auto Insurance Quote today.

On ice or snow

• Remember bridges and overpasses freeze first, take caution, slow down and avoid sudden changes in speed or direction.
• Keep windows clear.
• Keep your speed steady and slow — but not so slow that your car gets stuck in deeper snow.
• Use your brakes cautiously. Abrupt braking can cause brake lock-up and cause you to lose steering control.
• To make Antilock Brakes work correctly, apply constant, firm pressure to the pedal. During an emergency stop, push the brake pedal all the way to the floor, if necessary, even in wet or icy conditions.
• If you get stuck in snow, straighten the wheels and accelerate slowly. Avoid spinning the tires. Use sand or cinders under the drive wheels.

In high winds

• It is best not to drive a trailer, van or other “high-profile” vehicle in high winds
• If driving in high winds, use extra caution near trailers, vans or vehicles carrying lightweight cargo.

When it rains

• Slow down. Roads usually prove more slippery than they would seem.
• Turn on your lights. Use the defroster or air conditioner to keep windows and mirrors clear.

Don’t forget yearly winter weather maintenance can help prepare you for wintry weather. Replace windshield wipers, tires if needed, check your brakes and top off all of your vehicle fluids.  Safe driving is not only important for keeping yourself out of harm’s way, it also helps you avoid accidents and keep your auto insurance rate low.  Click here to get a free New York City Auto Insurance Quote today.

For more information:

http://www.aaaexchange.com/main/Default.asp?CategoryID=3&SubCategoryID=55

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10839538/

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/holiday.htm

https://www.nysdot.gov/programs/driver-safety

Buick Rendezvous 4WD

In today’s day and age, trying to keep one’s vehicle up and running is extremely expensive. Gas prices alone will put a huge hole in your wallet. If that doesn’t financially destroy you, insurance costs definitely will! There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting an automobile. That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of providing you with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s list of the ‘10 Least-Expensive Cars to Insure:’

1. Ford Five Hundred 4WD (now the Ford Taurus)
2. Buick Rendezvous 4WD
3. Buick Lucerne/Buick Rainier 4WD/Honda Odyssey
4. Ford Freestyle 4WD/Subaru Outback 4WD
5. Buick Rendezvous/Honda Pilot
6. Chrysler Town & Country LWB
7. Honda Pilot 4WD
8. Buick LaCrosse/Chevrolet Uplander/Ford Escape/Volvo V70
9. Dodge Grand Caravan/Ford Freestyle 4WD
10. Ford Explorer 4WD/GMC Sierra 1500 4WD/Toyota Highlander/Toyota Sienna

Buick Rainer 4WD

As you can see, mostly everything on this list can be classified as a “family car.” They are generally used by parents to transport their kids to and from school or friends houses, and are rarely on the parkway during rush hour. Therefore, these cars are usually driven with a lot more caution than other types of cars. They are relatively medium sized cars (not as big as an Escalade, and not as fast or sleek as a sports car). To insurance companies, this means fewer accidents!

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, younger drivers rarely buy such cars as minivans or the Buick Lucerne. They are generally driven by an older demographic, which means that most of the owners of these “family cars” have a house with a driveway or garage to park it in. This means much less theft! Overall, the cars on this list are the cheapest to insure because they are deemed to be driven by a demographic of people that provide their vehicles with safety and care.

FINALLY!!!!!!

After two years of saving, you are finally going to buy your first car! So it’s a little old (Dave’s grandmothers giving you a great deal), and a little rusty, and you are pretty sure its not supposed to make that odd popping sound every time you stop, but it’s FINALLY yours next month. The only hurdle left to jump is getting car insurance.

By now you have probably called around to a few places and got a few quotes, but they all seem a little high. Well I have good news for you, there are four things a teen driver can do to lower their insurance rates.

• Drivers Education Classes- Driver education classes focus on learning driving skills in a class with other teen drivers. They have both practical and hands on lessons. Usually the student is required to have several classes learning the rules and law of driving and then given a certain amount of hours on the road with an instructor. Most insurance companies will give you a 10-15% discount on your insurance if you have taken one of these courses so make sure you mention it when you are getting your quote.
• Defensive Driving Class- The defensive driving class is about 5-6 hours long and can be done online or in a school setting. Its purpose to extend the knowledge that you already learned in Drivers Ed for safe driving. Usually you will be given a 10% discount on your premium for taking this course.
• Good Student Discount- If you have grades above 80% in school you may qualify for a discount on your car insurance. Insurance companies vary in the discounts but you should get between 10-15% off your premium.
• Company Specific Home Study Discounts- Some of the major insurance companies have a home study course you can take on safe driving. If your insurance company does offer one, make sure you take it. They will give you another 10-20%.

I don’t know if you have been doing the math on this, but if you add up the discounts for having all four of these tips you can save 40-60% on your insurance premium this year! That is a significant amount to save, and maybe, just maybe you will be able to get that new spoiler for the car earlier that you thought.