So youve booked your vacation, purchased your travel insurance, and are all packed for your trip! The only thing left is getting there. Whether youre traveling by car or plane, renting a car or taking your minivan, there will likely be some form of driving on your trip -- even if its just to the airport! So today, we are talking about driving safety. Heres your safe-driving checklist: Have your car serviced before a long trip! This way, you wont run into any car trouble at 1 am when you...

Car seat guidelines have changed dramatically in recent years. For instance, the AAP now recommends that babies continue to ride in their rear-facing seats until age 2 (at least!). However, after your childs second birthday, there are still strict safety rules you need to follow. After your child turns 2, the AAP advises continuing to use the rear-facing seat until he or she exceeds the manufacturers recommended height and weight limits. Once that happens, you can then switch your childs ...

Mortgage/rent, groceries, savings, insurance... these are the non-negotiable expenses in someones monthly budget. And lets face it, most of us arent exactly thrilled to shell out a portion of our hard-earned money for insurance -- especially car insurance. The fact of the matter is, many of us pay our car insurance premiums diligently every month -- and never actually have to use it. We dont get into any major accidents -- and small scuffs from taking a curb too close simply arent worth filin...

Weve all been there -- youre driving on the road, minding your own business, when a deer suddenly jumps in front of your vehicle. Or, perhaps you notice a squirrel or bird in the middle of the road as you approach -- but it doesnt seem to notice you. Or, youre in your neighborhood when a cat wanders into the street. As the temperatures cool down, youll notice more animals wandering around -- especially deer. You generally have precious few seconds to react -- and how you respond could be the ...

We "fell back" last weekend; and while that may have bought you an extra hour of sleep on Sunday, you were probably shocked to find it getting dark at 5 p.m. Daylight savings time brings winter, shorter days and longer nights -- which means youll likely be driving in the dark a lot more. Here are our top tips for making sure you stay safe as you navigate the dark: 1. Check your vision Even if you have 20/20 vision, youll find your depth perception isn’t as keen at night. If you...

Its a fact: most car accidents are the result of distracted driving. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, each day over 8 people are killed and 1,161 are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Whats more alarming, is that the number is likely much higher due to inconsistencies in reporting. Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. The CDC classifies three main types of di...

We all know we shouldnt be texting while driving. Soon, Apple will make it impossible to text and drive. Apples iOS 11, a new version of the operating software for Apple mobile devices, will contain a "Do Not Disturb While Driving" feature. Whenever the device is connected to a car using either Bluetooth or a cable -- or if the car is moving -- the phone will withhold any notifications for things like text messages or news updates. (Dont worry about being rude -- the sendee will get an auto...

Car insurance companies are paying out claims in record high numbers. Inevitably, this will have an effect on your insurance premium, as insurers have to raise rates to offset these claims. Whats causing this spike in claims, and what can you do? The experts at Selective Insurance explain the 4 reasons your car insurance rates are rising: 1. Drivers are driving more Maybe its due to airfare being expensive, having to commute to work or gas prices making car travel more affordable - but Ame...