Distraction Can Often Cause Parking Lot Injuries

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Many think driving safety involves staying alert while on the road, but how often do you think about parking lot safety?

Parking lots are riskier than you think. Tens of thousands of crashes occur in parking lots and garage structures annually, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. And, around the holidays, parking lots become even more dangerous.

Auto insurers report the number of claims spike on Black Friday and run above normal throughout the holiday shopping season. The number of incidents is probably higher than insurance claims indicate, as many fender-benders go unreported.

So Many Distractions

In an NSC public opinion poll, 66% of drivers nationwide said they would make phone calls while driving through parking lots. Respondents also said they would:

Program GPS systems (63%)
Text (56%)
Use social media (52%)
Send or receive emails (50%)
Take photos or watch videos (49%)

NSC found teens (59%) were more likely to engage in personal grooming than adults (53%) while driving in parking lots, but less likely to be on the phone (60% vs. 66%).

During the hectic holiday season, drivers and pedestrians also are likely to be distracted by extensive to-do lists and are hurriedly trying to get from one place to another.

Stay Alert

Safety isn''t guaranteed just by driving slowly in parking lots. Following are some safety tips for drivers courtesy of the Oswego (IL) Police Department:

Stay in lanes and avoid cutting across lots
Drive slowly and use directional signals
Anticipate the actions of other drivers
Obey stop signs and no-parking signs
When backing out, be mindful of vehicles and pedestrians
Watch for small children and parents with baby strollers

Tapping into Technology

NSC analysis of government data indicates that 9% of pedestrian deaths in parking lots result from backup incidents. Many vehicles today are equipped with backup cameras, which provide a wide view behind a vehicle operating in reverse, but that view may not be clear if the camera lens becomes obstructed.

Three safety reminders:

It''s best to conduct a quick, 360-degree walk-around before backing, keeping an eye out for low-lying objects
Don''t rely completely on technology; look over your shoulder and use your mirrors as you back up
When parking, pull through on arrival whenever possible and if it works with the flow of traffic

Monitoring systems can alert drivers of vehicles in blind spots. Typically, drivers are warned of another vehicle''s presence via symbol, sound or vibration. These systems may not detect motorcycles, smaller objects or people, however.

Other Parking Lot Pitfalls

Inadequate pavement striping, potholes or cracks, lack of signage, debris, poor lighting, puddles, and snow and ice also can lead to pedestrian injuries. Slips, trips and falls are common in parking lots, and falls in general are the leading cause of death for older adults.

Choosing the right parking spot can go a long way toward deterring theft and crime. Consumer Reports provides some simple safety rules:

Pick spots that are well-lit and close to stores where you will be shopping
Lock your doors
Store purchases in places that are out of sight (in the trunk or tucked under dark-colored blankets)

Large parking lots, such as those found at shopping malls, are considered most vulnerable to crime, according to the Urban Institute Justice Policy Center. One way for consumers to steer clear of trouble is to pick a lot where pedestrian traffic is restricted and video surveillance equipment is used to monitor the facility.

Is Your Heating System & Fireplace Ready For Winter?

When it’s cold outside, you need to keep your home warm and toasty, but you also want to keep it safe. Heaters, fireplaces, and other methods of warmth can also create fire hazards. While fireplaces may be designed to contain fire, they still require caution and regular maintenance to effectively manage flames, embers and smoke.

Here are some tips to make sure you are keeping your home safe this winter:

Test your smoke alarms on a consistent basis and keep fire extinguishers handy.
Sweep dust bunnies regularly.
Place your heater a minimum of three feet from all flammable items.
Make sure candles are kept away from flammable objects.
Use the 1:1 rule — only plug one heating appliance into an electrical outlet at a time.
Unplug appliances and completely put out fires in the fireplace before you leave the room or your home.
Have fuel tanks filled and maintained throughout the season.
Use a fireplace screen to prevent hot embers from flying out and catching your possessions on fire.
Service wood-burning or pellet stoves according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Winter Weather Maintenance Practices for Your Home

Along with fire prevention, homeowners should perform winter maintenance to keep temperatures inside the house warm when it is cold outside.

Do not set the heater lower than 55 degrees, as the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than in living spaces. Also, keep doors open within the house to maintain an even temperature throughout.
Prevent drafts and heat loss by adding weather stripping around doors and caulking windows. Install storm windows, if appropriate.
Check for water leaks and make repairs, if needed. If a water pipe is exposed in an unheated area, such as a garage or crawl space, wrap the pipe in UL-listed heat tape; use only thermostatically controlled heat tape on plastic piping.
Learn where water pipes are located and know how to shut off the water supply in the event of an emergency to prevent damage.
Clean out your dryer lint trap or lint screen after EVERY use. It takes only a couple of seconds and can help stop a potential fire before it ever becomes a significant risk factor. Debris that builds up in the lint trap can catch fire when exposed to the appliance’s heat settings.

Winter is prime time for house fires, with more deaths occurring in December through March than any other time of the year. Develop an exit strategy with your household and run practice drills with your family to help avoid preventable tragedy.

Related: Creating a Fire Escape Plan

With knowledge of the most common fire risks, our tips for fire prevention and a strong emergency response plan in place, you and your loved ones will be well equipped to protect yourselves and your home.

6 Tips To Protect Your Vehicle From Potholes This Winter

Freezing rain and fluctuating winter temperatures can leave roadways littered with potholes, causing vehicle damage and costly repairs for motorists! Potholes tend to form when moisture collects in small holes and cracks in the road surface. As temperatures rise and fall, the underground moisture expands and contracts. This results in broken up pavement, which is then continually impacted by the weight of passing cars.

Blown tires, dented rims, damaged wheels, dislodged wheel weights, displaced struts, dislocated shock absorbers and damaged exhaust systems are all costly common automotive issues. Other signs include misaligned steering systems and ruptured ball joints.

How Can You Protect Your Vehicle From Winter's Potholes?

AAA suggests making sure tires have enough tread and are properly inflated. To check the treat depth, insert a quarter into the treat groove with Washington's head down. The tread should cover part of Washington's head! If it doesn't, it's time to start looking for new tires!
Keep an eye out for potholes when driving — stay focused on the road ahead and don't get distracted! If you need to swerve to avoid a pothole, make sure to check surrounding traffic to avoid causing a collision or endanger nearby pedestrians or cyclists.
If a pothole cannot be avoided, reduce speed and check the rearview mirror before any abrupt breaking. Hitting a pothole at higher speeds increases the likelihood of damage to tires, wheels, and suspension components.
A puddle of water can disguise a deep pothole. User care when driving through puddles and treat them as though they may be hiding potholes!
Hitting a pothole can knock a vehicle's wheels out of alignment and affect the steering. If a vehicle pulls to the left or right, have the wheel alignment checked by a qualified technician.
Any new or unusual noises or vibrations that appear after hitting a pothole should be inspected immediately by a certified technician. A hard pothole impact can dislodge wheel weights, damage a tire or wheel, and bend or even break break suspension components.

Follow the steps above to help avoid and prevent potholes and keep your vehicle safe this year!

Fall Season Home Maintenance Tips For Homeowners

The autumn season when leaves turn color and start to fall, along with cooling temperature, is a good time to take care of some annual maintenance around your home. By being proactive, you can avoid costly (and in some cases, dangerous) issues when the weather turns even colder.

Have your furnace or boiler serviced by a licensed contractor to check annually for any repair or concerns. This is a good time to clean or replace the furnace filter on forced hot air systems. If you have a chimney, have it checked and serviced by a licensed contractor as well. Make sure to remove creosote buildup from chimneys that are connected to woodstoves and fireplaces.

Falling leaves and outdoor debris can clog drains and gutters. The fall is a good time to check that these are clean. Clogged gutters can cause a few issues, but the big one for most homeowners is roof leaks. If your gutters can't drain properly, that excess water can soak through shingles, eventually leaking into your home. This can cause mold to grow, along with damage from the water itself. Melting snow can also fill up your gutters, causing similar issues! A good rule of thumb is, clean your gutters twice a year.

While gutters are being cleaned, take a few minutes to inspect your roof. Look for obvious holes and damaged (or missing) shingles, but also take some time to really comb over the details. Keep an eye out for cracks and general wear and tear!

If there’s any loose tree limbs around your property, consider trimming or cutting them before they become destructive. Tree limbs that fall on a house or other insured structure on the property would be covered for both the damage inflicted and the cost of removing the tree, generally up to about $500.

Explore your home and property to remove any trash, old papers and dense clutter in areas like your garage, basement and attic. This can create the perfect fuel for a fire. Household items, like improperly stored batteries and even glassware sitting in a beam of sunlight, can generate enough heat to ignite a fire. Pay close attention to other common, highly flammable items you may keep in a garage or storage shed, including gasoline, chemicals, and gases used for grilling.