How to Be a Better Driver: 11 Tips

 

There are dozens of ways that you can become a better driver - some more important than others - but all designed to help you and others on the road to stay safer.

While getting a driver's license can provide you with a great deal of freedom, it also brings with it a great deal of responsibility.  What starts with getting properly licensed and making sure the vehicle you're driving is properly insured according to the law, continues on to following the legal rules of the road (traffic laws) and observing common courtesy for your fellow drivers and pedestrians.

11 Tips

Here are a handful of tips for becoming a better driver.  They're not in particular order of importance, but each is a piece to the puzzle of becoming a better, safer driver:

1. Start by knowing your vehicle.  Read the owner's manual.  Learn how your car operates in the rain and snow (if you have snow where you drive).  Take your car to a safe place and practice various braking methods.
2. Don't get behind the wheel if you've been drinking or using drugs.  Call a cab or ride-sharing service.
3. Stay calm when driving, even if the guy behind you is honking his horn or yelling at you out his window.  Let him go by and forget about it.
4. Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you, appropriate for your speed, the weather, time of day and driving conditions.
5. Watch ahead, not just the car in front of you but several cars ahead, so you can prepare for the unexpected.
6. Always obey traffic signs and signals and use your turn indicators when turning or changing lanes on the highway.
7. While it's recommended to drive at or below the posted speed limit, you want to go with the flow at highway speeds, even if it means going slightly faster than the posted limit.
8. Pay attention to the road.  Don't use cell phones or eat/drink while driving.
9. On long trips take a break every 90 minutes or so.  Don't drive when you're tired or sleepy.
10. Always yield to pedestrians.  They have the right of way.
11. Stay out of the blind spots of large trucks.  If you can't see the driver in his side mirror, he can't see you.

These are just some of the tips you can consider for being a better driver.  You can read more here.

Does Homeowner's Insurance Cover Rising Flood Waters?

 

A question that may have you concerned during this time of unpredictable climate change is whether or not your Greensboro Homeowners insurance policy covers your home for rising flood waters.  The simple answer to this question is, "No."  Standard homeowners insurance covers neither flood waters nor rising waters from any bodies of water such as rivers or lakes, oceans or streams.  You do, however, have some options to obtain flood damage coverage to work in parallel with your Greensboro homeowners insurance coverage.

Flood insurance is available and typically purchased from the NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program.  This is a federal government program and is federally regulated.  The program is overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with coverage available through a network of dozens of insurance companies throughout the country.

Homeowners Insurance Water Damage Coverage

While flood water damage is exempted from the standard Greensboro homeowners insurance policy coverage, certain types of water damage may be covered within your policy.  According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), water damage is one of the most common perils suffered by homeowners and also one of the most expensive to repair.

Standard homeowners insurance typically pays toward claims arising from leaking plumbing if the leak is sudden and accidental.  This includes things such as a burst plumbing pipe, a supply hose to your washing machine or a dishwasher breaking or your hot water heater flooding the basement.  Take note, however, that your insurance doesn't cover problems arising from poor maintenance.  If, for example, you fail to repair a leaking toilet and it causes water damage, it will likely not be covered.

Water backup from an outside drain or sewer is also typically not covered by a standard homeowners policy, although a rider may possibly be added to your policy to cover these eventualities.

Two Types of Coverage

Within your standard Greensboro homeowners insurance policy, you have two types of coverage that may apply to covered water damage:

• If a water pipe bursts and damages your wall, the dwelling coverage portion of your policy should help pay for the repairs
• If that same burst pipe drenches your personal property such as your stereo or your bookcase full of books, the personal property portion of your policy is what will come into play in answer to your claim

Flood insurance also comes in two parts: dwelling protection and personal property protection.  Consult your agent.

What Not to Expect From Homeowner's Insurance

 

While each homeowner's insurance policy out there may be slightly different than the next, there are certain factors that are common to most. The only way to know exactly what your policy covers and doesn't cover is to read it from top to bottom.

If you're unclear about any parts of the policy, get together with your agent or broker and get a clear explanation. Don't forget the fine print. It may not seem to be the most interesting reading, but it's important to completely understand what your homeowner's policy covers before you suffer a loss and find out your claim is denied because you weren't covered for that particular peril.

What's Not Covered By Homeowner's Insurance

Two major perils not covered by standard homeowner's insurance include floods and earthquakes:

Floods may be caused by water coming into your home from and outside source. This can include natural sources such as a rising stream or rivers or torrential rains causing flashing floods. Man-made flooding may be caused by sewer backups or a burst dam. None of these would be covered by a standard homeowner's insurance policy.

Earthquakes or other land movements such as sinkholes are also typically not covered by standard homeowner's insurance. To be covered by these disasters your must take out additional insurance specific to earthquakes or sinkholes or, if your insurance company makes it available, get a rider to your homeowner's insurance coverage.


Most flood insurance is purchased from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is a U.S. federal government program overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It's available through most major insurers.

Garage Fires

If your home is consumed by fire and burns to the ground, don't expect your homeowner's insurance to pay for repairing or replacing your car that was parked in the garage. Most standard homeowner's insurance policies exclude coverage for motor vehicles such as cars, motorcycles or boats. An exception may be made for things like lawn mowers or snow blowers. As always, read the fine print. Talk to your agent if you're unclear about what exactly is covered. Bundling your vehicle and home insurance with the same company can help simplify this kind of claim.

Just as every homeowner's insurance policy may be slightly different than the next, most policies can also be custom-written to cover what you want, as long as you're willing to pay the premium charged.