Auto Safety Tips

Safe Driving
A motor vehicle death occurs on average once every 12 minutes and an injury every 14 seconds according to the National Safety Council. Follow these tips for added safety:

• Any time weather conditions require you to use wipers, visibility is cut tremendously, even in daylight. You can instantly increase your visibility to others by turning on your headlights.
• Check your tires for wear and proper air pressure.
• Never drink and drive. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, alcohol was present in 41 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2002.
• Drive courteously. Yield right of way whenever there is a question.
• Equip your car with basic safety tools including flashlight, first aid kit and flares or warning lights.
• Drive defensively.
• Be sure all passengers wear seat belts. Air bags were not designed to eliminate seat belts. They complement each other. Seat belts are very important in side-impact and rear-end collisions and also keep you from being ejected from the car. Studies have shown that the combination of an air bag and seat belt reduces the likelihood of serious injury by more than 50 percent.

Teenage Drivers--Staying Safe on the Road

• Refrain from using drugs or alcohol when getting behind the wheel of a car.
• Make sure that every passenger in your vehicle wears a seat belt. Don't drive until everyone has buckled up.
• Be aware of other drivers around you. Be prepared by driving defensively and anticipating what other drivers will do.
• Concentrate on your driving. Keep distractions such as the radio, cell phones or other passengers to a minimum.

Ways you can keep your insurance premium costs down:

• Obey all traffic laws. Getting a ticket can increase the payments you make on your insurance.
• Avoid situations that may lead to accidents. Involvement in just one accident increases the cost of your insurance.
• Choose higher physical damage coverage deductibles.
• Drive a standard vehicle. Sports cars and other high performance vehicles mean higher insurance costs.

Your Auto Insurance Premium
Your auto insurance premium is determined by a number of factors including auto repair costs, legal expenses, theft and fraud.

Save money by:

• Increasing your comprehensive and collision deductibles.
• Choosing a safer vehicle equipped with automatic seat belts or an anti-theft device.
• Taking advantage of The Cincinnati Insurance Companies premium discounts on vehicles equipped with air bags.

Preventing Auto Thefts

• According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, an auto theft occurs about every 20 seconds in the United States. That's over 1.2 million vehicles each year.
• Always lock your car and take the keys.
• Turn your wheels sharply when you park. This discourages thieves from towing your car.
• Always park your car in a well-lighted area.
• Use a garage if you have one.
• Keep valuables out of sight. Items left in plain sight give people a reason to break in.
• Consider an anti-theft device for your car. It discourages a potential thief and saves you money by allowing a premium credit on your auto insurance.

Contact an Agent
Cincinnati Insurance serves you exclusively through a select group of independent agencies that perform as premier insurance organizations in their local communities. To obtain a quote, report a claim or learn more about the value of Cincinnati’s insurance polices and reliable claims service, please find your local independent agency today. Coverage and credit availability varies by state. Underwriting requirements apply. This is not a policy.