The Insurance Insider

Merry Christmas! My family and I wish all of our visitors a very blessed Christmas. 

In society today, it is not politically-correct to wish others Christmas Greetings. And yet, Christ bore His cross for me, knowing full well that His message of reconciliation and redemption would not be popular with the political and social elite.  The least I can do is pick up my own small cross and risk a blank stare or harsh word in return.

Perhaps non-believers or those of other faiths will be offended by these words. When we wish someone a “Merry Christmas,” we verbalize our desire that another of God’s creation experience the message that Christ brings: God’s Love, Peace, and Joy is for us all.  Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Agnostic, Atheistic, or uncertain, these gifts and God’s grace are what He desires for us. “Merry Christmas” means I desire them for you as well.

We Christians complain about the mainstream media and the commercialization of the Christmas season.  We despair over their substitution of “XMas” for “Christmas.” For the record, abbreviating “Christmas” as “Xmas” existed long before political correctness was born. “X” is the Greek letter “Chi” and was used to represent Christ as early as the 9th century. Christ in Greek is “Xristos”. Since the first texts were written in Greek and later translated into other languages, the use of this abbreviation is arguably biblical. Many, particularly the mainstream media believe they have been successful in “removing Christ from Christmas.” And yet, He remains nonetheless as it should be. The question for those of us who believe remains: Will we remove Christ from our dialogue or will we share the true spirit of Christmas with others?

Philippians 4:6-8

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

May God bless you and your family with His unending abundance, love and peace.

- Dave MacDonald

P.S. Merry Christmas!

P.P.S. Join me in wishing perfect strangers a Merry Christmas this Christmas season.  You’ll be glad you did.

‘Tis the season to be careful! With winter just around the corner, now is the time to ensure your vehicle is ready to handle changing driving conditions. Don’t let your car, truck or SUV make you a high risk driver on the roads today.

NewsUSA) - Preventive auto maintenance is the best way to assure hassle-free driving through the woods and to Grandma’s house this holiday season. Here’s advice from the pros at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence:

* Engine performance: Get engine driveability problems (such as hard starts, rough idling, stalling and diminished power) corrected at a good repair shop. Cold weather makes existing problems worse. Replace dirty filters including air, fuel and PCV.

* Oil: Change your oil and oil filter as specified in the manual.

* Cooling system: The cooling system should be flushed and refilled as recommended. The level, condition and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. The tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps and hoses should be checked by a professional auto service technician.

* Windshield wipers: Replace old blades. If your climate is harsh, purchase rubber-clad (winter) blades to fight ice buildup. Carry an ice-scraper.

* Heater and defroster: They must be in good working condition for passenger comfort and driver visibility.

* Battery: The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. As part of routine care, scrape away corrosion from posts and cable connections; clean all surfaces; and re-tighten all connections. Avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves.

* Lights: Inspect all lights and bulbs; replace burned out bulbs. Periodically clean road grime from all lenses.

* Exhaust system: Your vehicle should be placed on a lift and the exhaust system examined for leaks. The trunk and floorboards should be inspected for small holes. Exhaust fumes can be deadly.

* Tires: Worn tires will be of little use in winter weather. Examine tires for remaining tread life and uneven wearing and cupping. Check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. Don’t forget your spare, and be sure the jack is in good condition.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign.

Visit www.ase.com for seasonal and year-round car care tips.

Take a few minutes while the temperature is still moderate to inspect your vehicle for safety.  You and your family will be glad you did (and so will the rest of us!!).

This is the first in a series of safe driving tips we’ll be profiling. Large commercial vehicles are ever present and your relation to them on the road must always be respected. Driver education is a key element in keeping your family safe.

(NewsUSA) - Passenger vehicle operators - not truck drivers - cause approximately 70 percent of all fatal crashes involving a car and commercial truck, according to federal government statistics.

Most accidents are the result of an unsafe driving act, such as following a truck too closely or lingering in its blind spot.

The following precautions will help you safely share the road with large trucks:

* Beware of blind spots. Approximately 35 percent of truck-related auto fatalities occur in a truck’s blind spots. Tractor trailers have very large blind spots -; as much as 30 feet behind the truck. Always try to pass on the left side; the blind spot on the right side is much larger (running the length of the truck and extending out nearly three lanes).

* Stay back. When following a truck, try to maintain a distance of 20 to 25 car lengths. Driving too closely behind a truck gives you little or no time to react to changing conditions.

* When passing a truck, do not loiter in the blind spot. Before moving back into the truck’s lane, be sure you can see its headlights in your rearview mirror. Most fully-loaded semi trucks driving at highway speeds need 100 yards - that’s one football field - to come to a safe stop. Leave them plenty of space.

* Pay attention. Driver inattentiveness is the most common unsafe driving act that results in a truck-related auto fatality.

* Heed the weather. Poor conditions make it more difficult to drive safely around big trucks. Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC reminds you that statistics show nearly 1 million vehicle accidents a year occur in wet weather.

When it’s raining, slow down, turn on your lights, drive smoothly and maintain a safe distance. If you start to hydroplane, take your foot off the accelerator (if manual transmission, engage the clutch) and don’t slam on your brakes.

* Properly maintain your tires. A tire cannot provide good traction on wet roads once the tread is worn below 2/32 of an inch tread depth. Check your tires regularly and replace them at the proper time. Don’t forget to maintain the proper air pressure in your tires; tire pressure should be checked monthly.

For more information, visit http://www.tiresafety.com.

Take the time to learn the rules of the road.  If it’s been a while since you reviewed your state laws, now is as good a time as any to brush up on them.

Gas prices seem to be on the decline following the hefty increases we experienced last summer.  And yet with all things cyclical, we can expect price hikes to appear at some point in the future. Don’t fall prey to some of the latest consumption reducing gimmicks, some of which are questionable at best, while others border on “scams.”

(NewsUSA) - With reports of dwindling oil reserves and volatile gas prices, the average motorist is looking for ways to save at the pump.

But Jeff Stokes, vice president of World Energy Solutions (symbol WEGY), an energy services company based in St. Petersburg, Fla., warns motorists not to fall prey to gas-saving scams that seem to crop up when gas prices peak.

“While some emerging technologies do look very promising, high gas prices always seem to bring out some less-than-reputable firms with the latest gas saving gadget,” Stokes said.

Automotive experts are warning consumers to be wary of these and other claims for enhancing fuel performance:

* Some products and procedures are patently fraudulent, such as magnets that are supposed to be placed on the fuel lines.

* Others claim to be the result of some “secret” technology suddenly available after years of suppression by carmakers.

* Some actually work, but minimally so. Fuel additives promise better mileage by removing buildup and deposits but so do the detergents already blended in gasoline.

* Still others actually decrease miles per gallon. “Vortex generators” promise to mix the fuel and air in such a way that it burns better, but the added turbulence causes incomplete burning and lower mileage.

At present there are no magic bullets. Sensible driving habits and regular vehicle maintenance are everyday ways to improve gas mileage.

Meanwhile, vehicle manufacturers and legitimate aftermarket companies are working on improving old technologies or developing entirely new ones.

Carmakers are introducing continuously variable transmissions and engines that use all cylinders under acceleration but step down to fewer cylinders during highway speeds.

And some companies are working on technologies that will stand between today’s gasoline engines and the hydrogen-powered cars of the future. World Energy Solutions, for example, is developing a hydrogen-oxygen system that could have both industrial and automotive applications. Currently in the prototype stage, the technology uses water to create hydrogen-oxygen gas that is then injected into the car’s combustion systems along with gasoline to enhance mileage.

For more information on this and other energy-saving approaches from World Energy Solutions, visit http://www.wesinc.net/.

There are some proven steps you can take to actually reduce fuel consumption: make sure your tires are inflated to the proper PSI, avoid excessive idling, and open those windows rather than run the air conditioner on hot summer days.

Young drivers can be dangerous drivers.  That’s why it’s important for parents to inform themselves properly educating their children regarding the potential risks of sitting behind the wheel. 

(NewsUSA) - Teens’ lack of driving experience means they are at a greater risk of becoming involved in a collision or experiencing an automotive breakdown.

Accordingly, there are many factors parents need to consider before their teenage children get behind the wheel. AAA offers the following tips for parents as they hand their children their first set of car keys:

* Choose the right car. Consider a moderately powered mid-sized sedan with plenty of standard safety features such as antilock brakes, high-intensity headlamps, front and side air bags, electronic stability control, traction control and automatic seat belt tensioners. Sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks are less desirable as they have a greater likelihood of rolling over during an incident. Compact cars with poor safety ratings should also be avoided.

* Use caution when buying used. While purchasing a used vehicle may make economic sense, it is important to recognize that used vehicles are more likely to suffer roadside breakdowns. Consult the Kelly Blue Book and NADA price guides to determine the true market value of the vehicle. Then, have a pre-purchase mechanical inspection performed at an AAA Approved Auto Repair facility.

* Teach proper maintenance. Spend time helping your young adult become familiar with the vehicle owner’s manual and preventive maintenance schedule. This includes checking tire pressures, fluid levels, hoses, battery and windshield wipers, as well as keeping the car’s exterior and interior clean and polished.

One helpful tool is the AAA AutoManager, available at www.AAA.com. Users of this Web application system will routinely receive e-mail reminders advising them of when it is time to perform a specific service for their vehicle.

* Plan for emergencies. New drivers should plan ahead on how to respond to unexpected situations such as a car crash, a lost key, a stolen vehicle or a breakdown. Besides being enrolled in a roadside assistance program, have an emergency contact list and a written plan in the glove compartment. Make sure the vehicle is equipped with an emergency road kit that includes a flashlight with fresh batteries, reflective triangles, jumper cables and a first-aid kit.

* Set some limits. Young drivers should be aware of potentially dangerous situations such as drinking and driving, distracted driving and aggressive or reckless driving. They should also understand the importance of wearing a seat belt at all times. Because young drivers’ crash rates go up at night, their nighttime driving should be limited while they are learning and gaining experience. Novice drivers also have challenges managing distractions, so they should carry no more than one passenger and should only use a cell phone in an emergency.

For more tips and information, visit www.AAA.com.

Parents, you literally hold the key to protecting your children. Informing yourself is a vital first step.