The Dangers Of Driving

"..driving alert is driving safe"

A recent tragedy has hit close to home. A tour bus crashed killing seven Canadians on a trip from British Columbia to Las Vegas. The bus, carrying 47 passengers, crashed near a cliff after veering off icy roads.

Image by "Salvatore Vuono" from www.freedigitalphotos.net

The Vancouver travel company is now being sued by two survivors of the accident.  They claim the bus driver violated American federal laws by working 90 to 100 hours during the first eight days of their trip.  They indicate in the lawsuit that the tour company’s driver seemed extremely fatigued and ignored evident dangerous road conditions.

After the driver lost control, the bus spun and crashed through the guard rail. There were 9 fatalities and 38 others were hurt.  Although this is an extreme case of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle without acknowledging ones mental and physical capabilities to drive, this is a subject that relates to all Canadian drivers. 

All drivers should be aware of their mental and physical state before operating a vehicle. Being overly tired and drowsy is a “silent killer”.  Drivers’ nodding off while at the wheel leads to fatal accidents. Some of the signs you should look out for besides the obvious ones of yawning and heavy eyelids, are daydreaming, missing road signs or exits and feeling irritable and restless. If you experience any of the mental or physical signs of exhaustion, pull over to the side of the road immediately and phone a relative or a friend to come help. In the event that you are out of town, you can call a tow truck to come help you in this type of situation.

And remember, driving alert is driving safe.

Written by Geneviève St-Denis, Account Executive, Rhodes & Williams Insurance Brokers

Oh Sandy, Baby!

Tuesday afternoon, a post-tropical storm hit the northeastern United-States. Meteorologists are calling this one “Sandy”. So far, she’s been responsible for major flooding, power outages and at least 16 deaths. New York City has taken her wrath the hardest. Lower Manhattan is completely shut down; the subway systems are at a standstill and people are stuck inside their apartments waiting for the streets to clear. Vehicles that were once parked on the bustling streets of New York are now covered in seawater. 

This is an example of some of the flooding that resulted from Sandy.

The disastrous effects of the storm are now hitting close to home. Southern Ontario has experienced powerful wind gusts close to 80 kilometers per hour and between 20 to 40 millimeters of heavy rain fall.

Reports of vicious winds uprooting trees and destroying homes indicates, now more than ever, that Canada is susceptible to extreme weather conditions that can affect your livelihood, your safety and your home.

Being properly prepared with emergency and first aid kits is crucial when expecting these types of storms. Having enough water, food, extra blankets and clothing on hand will ensure proper safety for you and your family.   

After the storm has passed, it is of utmost importance that you inspect your property for any damages caused by the storm. You should be looking for such things as damage to your windows, doors and roof.

Contact your broker immediately for any questions concerning the effects of the storm and how to begin the claims process. 

* Keep in mind that damage caused by extreme winds are covered under a comprehensive property policy, however, only certain types of water damage are covered depending on the cause. As an example, if you have sewer backup coverage on your policy and the flooding causes the sewers to backup in to your basement, this type of water damage would be covered up to a certain limit. For more information on water losses click on this link.

Written by Genevieve St-Denis, Account Executive,
Rhodes & Williams Limited