Why Do You Need an Umbrella Policy?

An Umbrella policy provides liability coverage beyond the limits of your auto and and homeowner's insurance.  An Umbrella policy kicks-in once you have exhausted the liability coverage under your home or auto policy.  For example; if you have a homeowner's policy with a $300,000 limit of liability and a $1,000,000 umbrella policy, you would have a total of $1.3 million in liability coverage.  Why would you need so much coverage you ask?  Even if your net worth is less than $1,000,000, in the event of a claim resulting in a lawsuit you could be ordered to pay based on your current assets as well as future earnings. An umbrella can also cover your defense costs.

Parents of youthful or inexperienced operators may want to consider purchasing an Umbrella policy.  Have an inexperienced driver in your household can substantially increase your liability exposure.  As a parent and policyholder you can be held liable for injuries or property damages caused by your teenage driver.  It's important to have adequate coverage for a serious accident.

An Umbrella policy can be an inexpensive way to cover your assets.  The cost of an Umbrella policy can vary per risk, however someone who owns one home and two cars might pay an average of $150 for a $1,000,000 Umbrella policy.  Additional limits of $2,000,000 and up are available with most carriers for an additional premium of approximately another $100 per million.  If you break the annual premium down $12.50 per month seems like a small price to pay for an additional $1,000,000 worth of liability coverage.

How Are Your Winter Driving Skills????

Driving during the winter takes specialized skills  in order to stay safe.  While the seasoned driver  may feel as if driving  in the winter months is common sense and second nature, a newer driver may not be aware of what to do to avoid an accident.

Test your knowledge for winter safety........................

WINTER DRIVING SAFETY QUIZ (answers at end)

1.  Hydro-planing is caused by:

     A.  Water spray from other vehicles

     B.  Lack of windshield wiper fluid

     C.  Driving too fast on wet roads

     D.  Icy roads

2.  While water turns to ice at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, ice can form on roadways when the air temperature is above 32 degrees.

     True

     False

3.  The first winter storm of the season is considered by many to be the most dangerous because:

     A.  Many motorists are not prepared for winter weather.

     B.  Emergency crews may not be prepared.

     C.  You may not be accustomed to driving during winter weather conditions yet.

     D.  All of the above.

4.  It is beginning to snow and the roadway is almost snow covered.  Any delay could cause you to miss your appointment.  What should you do?

     A.  Move to the left lane to pass slower traffic.

     B.  Find somewhere safe to park and call ahead to let others know you will be late.  Continue driving  
          cautiously  if it is safe to do so, or stay put until conditions improve.

     C.  Convoy with four-wheel drive trucks that drive fast.

     D.  Take an alternate rout with less traffic to slow you down.

6.  You are at a four-way stop.  The roadway is snow covered and icy.  You have the right of way and proceed into the intersection as a vehicle approaches from the right.  The other driver is unable to stop and hits your vehicle in the intersection.  This accident is:

     A.  Preventable because you failed to anticipate that the other driver may have difficulty stopping.

     B.  Non-preventable because the other driver failed to stop.

     C.  Non-preventable because the other driver did not anticipate ice at the intersection.

7.  Steps to reducing weather-related accidents include:

     A.  Reducing speed

     B.  Increasing following distance

     C.  Turning and braking carefully on slippery roads

     D.  All of the above

8.  Ice forms more readily in the following areas:

     A.  On bridges and overpasses

     B.  Shaded areas

     C.  At intersections

     D.  All of the above

9.  During severe, adverse weather, such as heavy snow, glaring ice, torrential rain. or very strong winds, you should:

     A.  Follow the vehicle in front of you.

     B.  Find a safe place to park and wait for conditions to improve.

     C.  Wait for a police escort.

     D.  Block the roadway to stop traffic.

10.  To increase visibility during adverse weather conditions, you should:

     A.  Flash your headlights.

     B.  Turn your four-way flashers on.

     C.  Turn your headlights on.

     D.  All of the above.



Answers:  1 = C, 2 = B, 3 = T, 4 = D, 5 = B, 6 = A, 7 = D, 8 = D, 9 = B, 10 = C.

Drive cautiously and defensively!!!

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Dealing With Snow Plows

• Washington State DOT cautions you never to crowd a snowplow.   The front of the plow extends several feet and may cross the center line or shoulder.

•  Give plows plenty of room.  They turn and exit frequently.  Stay back about 15 car lengths.

• Snowplows throw up a cloud of snow.  Never drive into a snow cloud.  There could be a plow inside.

• If you are behind a plow, stay there or use extreme caution when passing.

Never Use Cruise Control on a Rainy Day

Cruise control is designed for normal road conditions.  It doesn't know when the pavement is slippery.  Under slick conditions, you need to be in complete control and monitoring the road conditions.  You're more likely to notice hydroplaning if you're not relying on the cruise control.  In some cars, it is possible that the wheels may actually spin faster when in or engaged in cruise control and the car hits a slippery spot.  When the tires make contact with the firm road again, the car can skid or lose control.

On most cars, the cruise control is disengaged by tapping the brake.  In an emergency situation, this adds a fraction of a second to your response time as well as the risk of the braking action itself causing a loss of control on a slippery road.

For all your insurance needs contact Mars Insurance Agency or visit our website at www.marsinsurance.com

Drive Safely And Defensively

Because cars have changed and new features are being added all the time, leaders of safe driving courses say these are the best ways to avoid an accident:

Know your car, its features and how to use them.

Focus on driving. Do nothing else including texting, eating or conversing with passengers, especially in traffic.

Stay alert. if you can't remember driving the last 50 miles, your mind is not on driving and you won't be able to react quickly to an emergency.

Intersections are danger zones. Be extra careful. If turning left, keep your wheels straight until you are turning.

Keep side mirrors adjusted to give a full view of what's behind you and what's coming on either side.

Stay a car length's distance behind the car ahead for every 10 miles per hour you are driving. Add an additional distance if it's raining.

At night, park in well-lighted areas. Don't park between 2 vehicles that are larger than yours. You won't be able to see when you back out.

If you have a close call or a near miss, analyze the situation to see what you could have done to avoid it.

There are instances where you must yield the right of way. Assume that there are no instances where you are guaranteed the right of way.

For more information contact Mars Insurance Agency or visit our website at www.marsinsurance.com

What to do if You Drive Off the Pavement Edge

You may drive off the road or be forced off the road for any number of reasons, so it’s good to know what to do- and what not to do- if it happens. It’s not about returning to the road quickly, it’s about returning to the road safely. Follow these steps:
If the shoulder is wide enough and your path is clear
Continue to look at the road ahead. Drive all the way onto the shoulder. Gradually stop and “collect yourself.” Wait for a large gap in traffic, and then drive back onto the road.
If you can’t drive all the way onto the shoulder and stop
Continue to look and steer straight ahead. Do not try to steer back onto the road immediately- this can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and crash.
First, if you’re driving at a high speed and you suddenly steer sharply, you may accidently drive into oncoming traffic.
Second, if your tires are close to the pavement edge and you attempt to drive back onto the road, they may “scrub’ against the pavement edge making it very difficult to drive back onto the road. If you do drive back with your tires scrubbing, you may lose control and crash into another vehicle or into something on the side of the road.
If there are no obstacles directly in front of you
Steer to “straddle” the pavement edge. Move the tires that are off the road away from the pavement edge, and then steer parallel to it. This will prevent your tires from scrubbing. Most importantly, continue to look at the road ahead.
Do not slam on the brakes!
Ease off the gas pedal. If you need to brake, brake very gently. If you brake hard wile your tires are on a different surface, this can cause your vehicle to skid.
Slow down gradually
Slowing down will help you get back onto the road without losing control. If there are no obstacles in front of you, slow down to 25 mph or less before mounting the pavement.
Take some time to “calm down”
If you have room, drive all the way off the road and as far onto the shoulder as possible to stop.
Wait until it’s safe
After you’ve slowed down or stopped, wait until there is a gap in traffic. Do not try to drive back onto the road if there is traffic in your lane, an adjacent lane, or any oncoming traffic.
When the road is “all clear,” turn the steering wheel about one-quarter turn to the left. Drive back onto the pavement. When all of your tires are on the pavement, steer back to the right to stay in your lane.

For all your insurance needs contact Mars Insurance or visit our website at www.marsinsurance.com

Hands-Free Cell Phone Systems Make Driving Safer

Many states are targeting distracted drivers. The use of cell phones and texting while driving are at the heart of legislation
Highway safety experts don’t agree on whether hands-free cell phones are enough of a distraction to merit bans. Many question the value of cell phone laws of any kind because, for one thing, they are very difficult to enforce.
Jim Vondale, Ford’s safety vice president, recently visited safety groups and government officials in Washington, D.C., in an effort to gain support for the Sync hands-free system offered on all Ford models. The system is for talking, texting and entertainment.
Ford research shows that when drivers were asked to perform several driving tasks while using the system, there was no difference in the ability to do them. When drivers When drivers using the Sync system were asked to acknowledge a pedestrian, for example, their response time was less than when they used a hand-held phone.
Vondale says the real risks are hand-held phones, younger drivers, and texting people while driving.
According to USA Today, many high-end vehicles now have hands-free systems such as General Motors’ OnStar satellite communications system and BMW’s Bluetooth system.
Other distractions… It is well documented that drowsy drivers cause more severe consequences than drivers using a cell phone.
Studies by Virginia Tech found that reading or turning around to get something in the back seat while driving can be riskier than talking on a cell phone.
What you can do… Get enough sleep so you won’t be drowsy while driving. If you get sleepy anyway, pull over and take a nap.
Never text on a hand-held phone while driving. Pull over and do it.
Whether your phone is hand-held or hands-free, keep on-the-road conversations short to reduce your risk of being a distracted driver.

For more information contact Mars Insurance or visit our website at www.marsinsurance.com

Driving Tips for Teens

A teen’s first years behind the wheel bring newfound freedom and responsibility, but also potential danger.

Following are a few safety suggestions to share with your teens:

DID YOU KNOW…..using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of .08 blood alcohol content which is legal intoxication?

COMMIT…to never using a cell phone to talk while driving. Be sure to check your states laws as some states prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from using a cell phone while driving.

DID YOU KNOW….the number one cause of death for teenagers is traffic crashes? For every teen driver killed, there are two other individuals killed.

DECIDE….to drive reasonably. Picture your mom or dad, or even your drivers’ ed teacher, sitting in the seat next to you.

DID YOU KNOW …. 20 percent of teens start drinking and THEN choose a designated driver? 30 percent of teens pick a driver who has been drinking.

AVOID….drinking and driving. If you cause a crash, especially one that involves injury or death, the stakes get high quickly. It’s not a matter of whether or not you’ll go to jail, it’s how long.

DID YOU KNOW….distractions while driving – texting, talking on the phone, multiple passengers, changing the radio or ipod, and driving late at night – increase the odds that you or someone else on the road will be killed or injured?

CHOOSE….to drive responsibly. Make a conscious decision to steer clear of distractions while behind the wheel. Driving in itself is multitasking.

DID YOU KNOW….a lot of accidents happen when turning left?

BE EXTRA CAREFUL….when making left-hand turns and obey the speed limit.

MAKE IT A HABIT… to never leave home without your seatbelt on, even if it’s just through the parking lot or down the street. Most accidents happen within 1 mile from home.

These helpful tips were provided by Standard Mutual Insurance.

Call Mars Insurance for additional tips and options that are available to keep your teens safe.