Emergency Auto Assistance

What the car has stalled, you have a flat, or have been in a collision, most people experience some type of roadside emergency a regular basis. Many times this occurs on a busy highway or street where an unsafe situation can rapidly become worse.

Based on Federal Highway Administration statistics, there are approximately 4,000 fatalities and almost 60,000 injuries from roadside crashes. Knowing how to keep yourself safe is a priority to keep you from becoming one of these statistics.

During any roadside emergency your personal safety has to come first. Here are some tips to avoid a problem…

Make sure to turn on your hazard lights.

Make sure your vehicle is in a safe location before getting out to examine any damage or problem the vehicle may have. It is generally advisable to signal the other driver, if there is one involved to do the same. It may seem obvious but if you have a flat for blowout make sure the vehicle is in a safe location off the road before performing any repair or replacement.

Make a call for assistance. It may seem obvious but if your vehicle is disabled or cannot be driven for any reason, stay in the vehicle and use your phone to call for assistance. It is generally best to call local law enforcement first but your next call should be to your roadside assistance provider.

Be ready for anything. You want to have a selection of roadside assistance supplies in your vehicle in case they are needed. These might include jumper cables, a tire inflating device, a blanket for inclement weather breakdowns, first aid supplies, flares or reflective devices, and perhaps some heavy-duty rope or cable.

And of course if you are a member of Auto Advantage’s roadside assistance program call our toll-free claims line for prompt assistance 24 hour today, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.

In today’s society, drivers deal with a multitude of distractions. Drivers are playing with gadgets on their dashboards, tuning the radio, taking calls on their cell phones, etc. If you see that the car in front of you is accelerating and slowing down sporadically, it most likely means that the driver is distracted. In this situation, it is important to be safe and drive defensively.

According to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, driving is a full-time job. They found that 94 percent of drivers admitted to engaging in a variety of distracting activities like eating, tending to kids, and tuning the radio. In addition, they found that 39 percent of the distracting activities occurred while drivers were working. Lastly, between 25 and 50 percent of accidents that happen are a result of distracted drivers.

Automakers keep adding more entertainment systems and gadgets to the new vehicles that they produce. This means that drivers will only become more distracted. Drivers will be paying more attention to mp3 players, DVDs, and navigation systems, which in turn means there will be more accidents. The best thing that drivers can do to protect themselves from distracted drivers is to completely avoid them if possible. Be aware of the signs of a distracted driver and keep your distance. Also, it is a smart idea to be signed up with emergency roadside assistance in the event that an accident occurs. The last thing you want is to end up stranded on the side of the road due a distracted driver’s mistakes.

Motorists that travel on their own tend to fear vehicle breakdowns. This is not a surprise considering that, today, drivers are spending more and more time in their cars. People are driving long distances to get to and from work and running more errands than ever. Therefore, it is inevitable that at some point, drivers will experience a breakdown. Both male and female drivers fear breakdowns.

According to a survey that was conducted by Britannia Rescue, approximately two-thirds of the male and female drivers that were interviewed are fearful of being alone and experiencing a vehicle breakdown.

The numbers break down into 93% of women and 45% of men are fearful of breakdowns. The survey also showed that more people were fearful of a stranger stopping to assist them. As a matter of fact, 75% of women would not want a male stranger to stop and offer to assist them.

The one thing that motorists can do in order to avoid being fearful of a breakdown is to sign up with an emergency roadside assistance program.  Roadside assistance is very beneficial because in the event that you experience a breakdown, professional and reliable help will come and assist you. It is especially helpful to those who are fearful of a random stranger stopping to assist them.

Teen drivers cause an increase in the cost of a family’s auto insurance. This is because the insurance is based upon the driver’s likeliness to get into an accident. According to statistics, inexperienced, young drivers account for a large number of accidents. Therefore, it is important to sign your teenager up with emergency auto assistance in case they find themselves in an accident. Here are some tips to help lower the cost of your teenager’s auto insurance.

1. Try to qualify for as many discounts as you possibly can. If you can, classify your teen as an “occasional” driver instead of classifying them as a primary driver.

2. Be sure that you teen takes a driver’s education class. This can qualify them for a discount on their insurance. Also, make certain to have them take a defensive driving class. This may reduce premiums.

3. Avoid buying a high-performance sports car for your teen that your teen can get into trouble with because insurers look down upon teens having these kinds of vehicles.

4. If your teen goes away to college and does not take their car with them, you may be able to take them off of your insurance policy.
Following these tips can help lower the costs of your family’s auto insurance.

Teenage drivers increase the cost of a family’s auto insurance. This reason for this is the insurance is based upon how likely it is for a driver to get into a car accident. According to statistics, young, inexperienced drivers account for a large number of car accidents. Therefore, signing your teen up for emergency auto assistance is a smart idea. Here are some tips to help you lower the cost of teen auto insurance.

1. Make an effort to qualify for as many discounts as possible. If you are able to, classify your teenager as an “occasional” driver rather than a primary driver.

2. Make certain that your teenager takes a driver’s education class. This may qualify them for an insurance discount. Also, be sure to have them take a defensive driving class that may reduce premiums.

3. Avoid purchasing a high-performance sports car that your teenager may get into trouble with. Insurers look down upon these types of cars.

4. If your teenager goes away to college without taking the car with them, you may be able to remove them from your insurance policy.

Following these helpful tips can help you save money on your family’s auto insurance.

Car accidents always happen without warning and they are very frightening. Accidents leave drivers with a feeling of shock and will not know what they should do. These are some important things to do after an accident occurs:

1. Make certain that everybody is okay. If not, be sure to call 911. Always be sure to make a call to the police and to emergency auto assistance.

2. Make a call to your insurance agent. They will be able to tell you what information you should exchange with the other driver. Also, they will be able to help you to examine the scene. Also, make sure that you don’t admit fault while at the scene of the accident. The insurance companies will be the ones to determine who is at fault.

3. Make certain that you read the information that is in your insurance policy, this way you file a claim within the particular time limit. Often times, if the damage to the vehicle exceeds $750 you will need to file an SR1 form. This form can be found on the website of your state’s DMV.

It is terrifying when you get into a car accident, but unfortunately it usually happens to all drivers at some point in time. Therefore, it is extremely important that we know what steps to take when an accident occurs. To ease some of the stress, be sure to have the all of the important and needed documents readily available. Such documents include your auto warranty and your insurance policy.

There are many people who have been drowsy while driving. Sometimes you are the one who is feeling sleepy behind the wheel or you were in the car with someone who was having trouble staying awake. There are many car accidents that occur as a result of drowsy drivers. Here are some ways to identify that a driver is too drowsy to drive:

1. Drivers who are weaving in and out of the lane are often drowsy drivers. Drivers who are tired tend to make less steering corrections and therefore when corrections are made, they are harsh and jerky movements.

2. Usually drivers who are feeling sleepy need conversation in order to keep them awake at the wheel. If you realize that the conversation is not making sense, you should not continue to drive.

3. If a driver drifts off to the side of the road and drive on the rumble strips, they should make sure to pull over and rest for a bit. Driving over the rumble strips usually indicates that the driver has fallen asleep momentarily and cannot keep the car on the road because they are too tired.

4. If you see a driver jerk their neck, it usually indicates that the driver has fallen asleep and the jerk is what wakes them up.

Overall, you should not get into the car with a driver who is drowsy. Also, you should not drive if you feel you are just too tired. Avoiding unsafe drivers on the road is an easy way to avoid an accident and the need to call for emergency auto assistance.

Though buying tires may not be fun, it is important to do so to help keep you safe on the road. Here are some tips to consider when buying tires:

1. It is important to buy new tires. Though they may be more expensive, saving a little bit of money is not worth the risk of purchasing tires that lack good traction and performance. Safety is the most important thing, therefore purchasing used tires is not a smart idea.

2. Be sure you know what size tires are required for your car. You can check to see the factory size of your tires on the inside of the door hinge on the door on the side of the driver.

3. Do some research and look around to find the best deals on tires. You can compare prices of tires online. Just keep in mind there will be different shipping and installation costs.

4. Make certain you also research different types of tires before buying them. Just because one type of tires may cost more money, it does not mean that they are necessarily the best ones you can find.

Tire shopping is extremely important because having good tires can help keep you safer when driving. Having good tires can help you avoid getting stuck on the side of the road and needing to call for emergency auto assistance.

One of the family activities that are the most fun is going on road trips.  Although enjoyable, frustration can accompany families on the road.  Take note of the following do’s and don’ts in order to ensure that your family has a great trip.

The most important thing that you can do is to get your family vehicle a tune-up.  Your vehicle needs to be in top-notch condition.  Nothing is worse than having your car breakdown, leaving you stranded.  This is why a road service program is so important.

You should plan ahead so that your family knows what is happening during the trip.  This will alleviate stressful situations and help things to go smoothly. In addition, you might want to purchase software to plan your trip and invest in a GPS.  This advanced technology will act as your guide to your desired destination.

Of course, you never know when you will run into speed bumps throughout your trip.  For example, road construction and traffic are inevitable.  However, your trip doesn’t have to be ruined by these inconveniences.  In addition, you can rest assured that you have emergency roadside assistance in case your car overheats.

The recommended intervals for oil changes have increased a significant amount over the last ten years.  It used to be that oil changes were recommended every 3,000 miles, but now recommendations are for every 8,000 miles.  This is great news for drivers because it means less time at the mechanic and less money spent.  However, there are a few cautionary notes to consider.

First of all, consult your owner’s manual for the “maximum recommended interval”.  Make sure you don’t extend beyond that number because saving $40 on an oil change is not worth having an $800 repair due to sludge buildup.

Second, if your driving type falls under “heavy duty” you will need to change your oil more regularly.  Often, drivers don’t realize that daily stop-and-go commuting falls under this category.  Also, if you use your vehicle for short trips with little highway driving you many need shorter oil changeouts.

Finally, you should use the specific oil type/grade recommended by the carmaker.  Failing to use the right oil type can result in poor car performance, engine damage, and even void the terms of your auto warranty.

Although less frequent oil changes are convenient for consumers, people need to follow these cautionary notes.  After all, you don’t want to ruin an engine or end up having to call for emergency roadside assistance because you didn’t add a couple of quarts of Pennzoil.