Michigan’s Peter Vitale Offers Springtime Driving Safety Tips

“A good driving record can save you a significant amount on your car insurance premiums”, advises Michigan insurance pro, Peter Vitale. According to Vitale, a clean driving record can also save you from having to pay extra for insurance because you have points on your driver’s license. Just two points can cost you as much as 20% more. Have too many driving incidents in a five-year period and you may only be able to get car insurance from a high-risk carrier, and that’s even more expensive. Keeping your driving record spotless isn’t just safe; it makes good economic sense, too.

Safe Driving Tips for Springtime

Springtime is the season when everyone gets a little antsy to go out exploring, for day trips or just a cruise around town. It’s also the season when people start pulling those seasonal vehicles out of the garage, like sports cars, Jeeps and convertibles. However, spring brings its own special driving hazards. Michigan insurance consultant Peter Vitale knows well how springtime driving hazards can lead to insurance claims and higher rates. He’d like to help readers avoid these hazards by sharing a few tips for staying safe and out of trouble this spring season.

1. Make sure your equipment is ready for spring weather.

“Spring is a great time to check your tires, windshield wipers and other equipment”, advises Vitale. It’s the time to make sure that your tires have adequate tread, that your tires are properly inflated, that your windshield wipers are properly positioned and new enough to keep the rain from impairing your vision, and that your fluids are all at their proper levels. Spring is also a great time to take your vehicle in for an oil change. Winter’s freezing and thawing can cause your vehicle’s oil to break down, so it’s a good idea to start with new oil for the season.

2. Keep an eye out for potholes.

Spring is the pothole season in Michigan and throughout the Midwest. Freezing and thawing can destroy patches in the road and leave deep craters that can easily throw your car out of its lane or even cause a flat tire. Potholes can also damage your suspension and your exhaust system, causing expensive repairs. These hazards are especially difficult to see when there is sun glare, like when you’re driving to and from work, so it’s important to be extra vigilant. If hitting the pothole is inevitable, “don’t brake”, cautions Vitale. Braking causes your tire to slam into the edge of the pothole more forcefully than if you simply coasted over the hole.

3. Slow down in the rain

Spring is the rainy season in most parts of Michigan and the surrounding states. Wet roads can be slippery and cause your car to hydroplane, that is to skate on top of the water out of control. The middle lanes are usually the safest during and just after a heavy rain, as water tends to collect and pool in the outside lanes. It’s a good idea to turn on your headlights in the rain. In many states, including nearby Ohio, it’s the law to have your headlights on if you are using your windshield wipers.

4. Watch for deer and other animals

Animals get spring fever, too, and that can lead to them running out in front of your vehicle. It’s mating season for some, and for others, it’s the time when they are just ending their long winter hibernation. Animals are particularly active in the hours around dawn and dusk. Make sure to keep an eye on the sides of the road as you’re driving, especially in rural areas.

If hitting a deer or other animal is unavoidable, don’t swerve into the other lane of traffic. More people are injured and more property is damaged by people trying to avoid hitting an animal than by actual collisions. If animals are a problem in your area, consider adding deer horns to your vehicle. While there are no conclusive studies that these devices work, many drivers swear they’ve saved their vehicles from many crashes. Deer horns emit high-frequency sounds as your vehicle goes down the road, sounds that are audible to deer and other animals, but not to humans.

5. Be alert to motorcyclists and bikers

Motorists aren’t the only ones eager to get out on the road in the spring. Motorcyclists and bikers come out in droves on the first warm days. Obviously, they are more vulnerable than people in a car or truck, so make sure to leave plenty of distance between you and those on two or three wheels. Pay special attention when you are changing lanes or turning, as motorcycles and bicyclists are more difficult to see than other vehicles.

6. Remember that there still might be snow or ice on the road

Just because the weather is warming up doesn’t mean that all of the snow and ice is gone. Nights are still chilly, and it takes a long time for those big snow piles to melt completely. Runoff during the day from these piles can freeze at night and be hazardous in the morning. You might not be expecting it as you would be in the middle of winter, so it could take you by surprise. This is especially true in shady areas or on bridges and overpasses.

Accumulated road salt can also present a hazard. Braking suddenly on a buildup of road salt can cause you to skid. It’s a good idea to give yourself a little extra braking time at stop signs or intersections.

7. Stay off of the shoulders

Spring rains and thawing snow make road berms and shoulders especially soft. Winter weather and snow runoff can also cause erosion on asphalt and gravel roads. Avoid parking or stopping on these areas in the spring unless it’s an emergency. You might just find the road crumbling underneath your vehicle.

8. Look out for kids

Animals and motorcycles aren’t the only things that come out when the weather starts to warm up. Kids are also eager to play outdoors and are more inclined to walk or ride their bikes home from school. Be extra alert around school areas and residential neighborhoods. It’s easy for a child to run out into the street after a ball without thinking. It’s up to drivers to make sure that such situations don’t lead to disaster.

9. Make sure that your insurance has you covered

Talk with your insurance agent to make sure that your current vehicle coverage is up to date with your needs. For example, does your policy provide roadside assistance? Will it pay to repair your vehicle if your vehicle is damaged in a collision with a deer? Are you carrying enough liability coverage to help you if you should get in an accident and injure someone or damage their property? Spring is a good time to review your insurance coverage and make sure that you don’t have too little (or too much) coverage.

Peter Vitale knows more than a little about driving in Michigan. A lifelong resident, he has been in the insurance industry in Southeast Michigan for nearly two decades. Today, as an insurance consultant, Vitale concentrates most of his effort into helping owners of small and medium-sized insurance businesses be successful. Peter Vitale is the owner of the Bloomfield Insurance Group in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan’s Oakland University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and still lives in the Oakland County community where he grew up. When he’s not working, he’s actively involved in community affairs and sits on the Board of the Eastern Michigan Better Business Bureau.