Holiday Madness Driving

Every year during the holiday season TV, radio, newspapers and others talk a lot about the hazards of drunk driving and remind us to be careful. Extra police are on the streets and many cities set up sobriety checkpoints to catch drunk drivers on nights when there are likely to be more parties.

This extra focus reduces the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents and makes all of us safer on the road during the holidays. Drunk drivers aren't the only hazard on the road during the holidays, though. While most of us would never dream of getting behind the wheel drunk, we could still be creating serious dangers without thinking about it.

Holiday Madness Juggling normal responsibilities with shopping, parties, and extra school events can make a normally safe driver a literal wreck. Even if you are always calm and collected, remember that other drivers may be more on edge than usual and take these precautions:

• Be extra patient and make allowances for other people and the mistakes they make. Don't forget to watch out for pedestrians as well as other drivers.


• Try to keep your attention on what you are doing. Not only could they cause you to make a mistake, but cell phones, eating and other distractions keep you from paying attention to other people and the silly errors they can make
  
• Be especially careful in parking lots crammed with cars and pedestrians at this time of year. Take it a little slower than normal to avoid fender benders or worse.


• Take note of your emotions and consider taking a break if you get too stressed out, irritated or emotional. Get a cup of coffee or tea and relax for 10 minutes before you dive back in to the frenzy.
  

Holiday Fatigue

• Another danger that is often forgotten, but also a huge problem during this hectic time of year, is driving while drowsy. Falling asleep at the wheel is obviously the most dangerous result, but tired drivers also tend to be more irritable and impatient.
  This year like normal there will no doubt be many people who leave work on Friday and start out on long-distance trips to be with family or friends. College students whose holiday break begin after classes on Friday may be headed home as well.
  Here are some recommendations you should consider and pass along to family members and friends who may be traveling by car during the holidays:



• Don't start your journey tired. Be aware of the risks if you get up unusually early to start your trip or leave directly from work or school when you are tired.


• Plan your trip to include a 15-minute break every two hours.


• Make sure that you and everyone on your trip is carrying emergency contact information and valid identification.


• Share the driving if possible. Safety experts recommend switching off every three hours.


• You're too tired to drive if you start drifting from your lane, hitting rumble strips, yawning repeatedly, having difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open, missing road signs or tailgating. Pull over to a safe place as soon as possible, drink a high caffeine drink and take a 15-minute nap.
  
  Valerie Nay is the founder of http://www.EmergencyContacts.com and writes a free monthly newsletter full of valuable information to help you and your family stay safe.
  

Great Websites to check:

http://www.mass-vacation.com/getAround/travel-tips.php

http://weather.fox.com/

Do you agree that rushing around in this Holiday shopping season is time consuming, expensive (to some extent) and hard work? If you want to purchase unique Holidays gifts for your friends and famaily is even harder.

Finding some gifts that are unique is a little difficult task. But, have you realized that Holiday shopping can be a lot of fun?

It's not so easy in the run up for the Holiday, and it is wise to spend your time on a little planning ahead of the time.

It's very important that making a shopping plan of course is something that probably should be done as early as possible, one thing you should also be noticed that whether you prepare early or lately, the planning process is identical and involves your shopping list. So make a shopping list of all friends you'll purchase gifts for and then set the budget and divide the total budget amount by the number of friends on your shopping list and you'll know exactly how much you could spend on each friend, the last thing is making a list of the gifts in your price range and budget. Bear in mind that everyone is different with his/her tastes so the extra thought is needed when choosing a gift for him/her. Starting writing your Christmas gifts shopping list today!

Here are some selected Holiday gifts shopping ideas for 2009:

1. Buying Lovely Electronic Pets For Your Friends,

Especially For The Children Electronic pets toys have some great features such as their squeaks a variety of amazing sound effects as well as the movements that simulate real animals and these features have made them very popular among the children. Owing to the high consumer demand, the electronic pets toys sell like crazy during this Christmas shopping season. Losts of accessories are also can be offered along with the electronic pets. Different kinds of habitats for the electronic animals can be created by assembling the accessories. Another interesting thing is the electronic pets toys have been programmed to behave aptly in various habitats by making use of their great artificial intelligence.

2. Amazing Personalized Photo Blanket Will Be A Good Choice

In this hot gift shopping season, personalized gifts are in high demand and designer photo blankets offer a great way to do this through the addition of amazing pre-designed borders. These photo blankets designs can be specially created for this Christmas and your friends. This great feature provides another way to find that perfect gift for your family and friends. Let's say an example, when a family welcomes a new addition, this can demand a special type of congratulatory gift. You can just purchase and create such gift in this Christmas shoppping season!

3. Gadgets Are Your Perfect Gifts For Your Friends

Gadgets are the great possible gifts you can purchase for your friends and family. Saying that no one can understand this, better than a gadgets geek. Going for gagets is a wise shopping tip that makes it a little easier for you. It's no doubt that one cool gadget such as xposed xray bag, roman candles and funny party cups can be an item of your unique Christmas gifts shopping list for your family and friends this year.

Before the shopping list planning, please be in mind that you can purchase most of your gifts through online stores. CouponSmarter.com provides lots of amazing coupons and promotional offers from over 3000 online stores. You can use the online coupons to get instant savings for your shopping and you can save up to 65% off! Dont's miss out, grab the coupon codes and get your savings!

Here we picked out some great offers for your Chirstmas gifs shopping 2009:

Apple Store Promotion Offers: Price drops in the US & Canada on Apple-Certified Refurbished iPod classic 120G models!-

KOHL's Christmas Coupons Offers: Receive $10 in Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend in store or online on all sale-, regular- and clearance-priced merchandise!-

Newegg Online Coupon Offers: Get 10% Off Nikon D3000 DSLR Camera with PayPal, You need enter promo code at checkout to get this instant savings.-

Old Navy Gifs Guide & Coupons: Shop great gifts by price: $5, $10, $15, $20, only at Old Navy for your gifts guide.- DrugStore Coupons Offers: Great Gift with Purchase + Awesome Offers! Spend $25 on Nexcare, Buf-Puf or Titrilac and get a free Nexcare cream ($15.99 value)! Get all your first aid, skin care, and antacid products right here and then get a free gift too!

taken from [http://www.couponsmarter.com/article/christmas-gifts-shopping-tips-2009-electronic-pets-personalized-photo-blanket-and-gadgets-article-5.html]

No cellphone while driving!

How many times do we catch ourselves texting and driving. Many states have created laws to prevent people from using their mobiles phones while driving. People who use their phones while driving are not responsible drivers and they end up causing accidents on the road.
Take a look at ten accidents in recent history that were caused by the use of a mobile phone while driving:

OC man faces trial in text-messaging

There is just no getting around it: text messaging while driving can never result in anything good. (A friend once joked that people who drive and text message are stupid – phones these days are capable of Internet and so much more.) Martin Kuehl, 41, of Costa Mesa, California is now facing potentially up to nine years in prison if he is convicted for gross vehicular manslaughter. On August 28, 2009, Kuehl hit and killed Martha Ovalle, 32, as she was crossing the street. The prosecution in the case contends that Kuehl was text messaging while driving and became inattentive resulting in the accident.
It was determined somehow that Kuehl did not send or receive a text message at the exact moment of the accident, but he’s still facing felony charges (requests to lower the charge to a misdemeanor, which is unthinkable, were denied). Why? For several miles prior to the accident, he had been text messaging back and forth with someone else. Perhaps he was anticipating the next message or looking at his phone at the time of the incident – we’ll never know. One thing is for certain: cell phone use while driving is absolutely illegal in California and has been proven time and again that it is unsafe. Why take that chance?

[source]http://trueslant.com/marcflores/2009/09/30/oc-man-faces-trial-in-text-messaging-manslaughter-case/

Man texting while driving when he hit Taunton teen with SUV, prosecutor says
December 28, 2007 By Anna Badkhen, Globe Staff

The man accused of killing a 13-year-old boy in a hit-and-run in Taunton told police he was behind the wheel typing a text message on his cellphone when he lost control of the sport utility vehicle and hit what he thought was a mailbox, a prosecutor said today in court. Craig P. Bigos, 31, told investigators that he did not realize the SUV had struck the boy on the bicycle until he drove back down Poole Street hours later on his way to work at a restaurant, said Bristol County prosecutor Aaron T. Strojny.The boy, Earman Machado, was sleeping over at a friend's house Thursday night. The teens had gone out at 12:30 a.m. to meet two girls, Strojny said today in Taunton District Court. Machado was riding a bicycle and his friend was walking on the soft shoulder of the road. Police said the friend, also 13, attempted to call 911, but was unable to get through on his cellphone. Bigos hung his head in court today and was released on $5,000 bail. He was arraigned on charges that included motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and driving without a license. He is scheduled to return to court Jan. 23. His lawyer, Daniel R. Igo, said in court that Bigos has never been convicted of a crime and has four children with his girlfriend of 12 years. He was driving from his mother’s in New Bedford to the home he shares with his girlfriend on Williams Street. Eight of his relatives came today to court. Police said Bigos's 1995 Ford Explorer was found parked at his home. After driving back by the crash scene, Bigos waited several hours before turning himself in Thursday afternoon, said Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney. Taunton's schools superintendent, Arthur Stellar, said Thursday that the boy who was killed was a pupil at Friedman Middle School who has at least one school-age sibling, a brother who attends Taunton High School. This morning a boy who said he was Machado's brother sat with on a bench at the back of the courtroom with another young man. They both wept

[source] http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2007/12/man_texting_whi.html

Click here for cell phone driving laws as of December 2009

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

Please click on the link below to see a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I54mlK0kVw
[Not recommended for children under 18]

Theses are just two of many cases that you can find in the internet about texting while driving.
If driving, concentrate on the road instead of picking up messages or even making phone calls, there are many lives involved, parents, children could get hurt by reckless drivers.

Be a part of our Plymouth Rock Family

Plymouth Rock, being one of the companies we represent I thought I give you some information:


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The First Thanksgiving

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. This harvest meal has become a symbol of cooperation and interaction between English colonists and Native Americans. Although this feast is considered by many to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, it was actually in keeping with a long tradition of celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops. Native American groups throughout the Americas, including the Pueblo, Cherokee, Creek and many others organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America.
Historians have also recorded other ceremonies of thanks among European settlers in North America, including British colonists in Berkeley Plantation, Virginia. At this site near the Charles River in December of 1619, a group of British settlers led by Captain John Woodlief knelt in prayer and pledged "Thanksgiving" to God for their healthy arrival after a long voyage across the Atlantic. This event has been acknowledged by some scholars and writers as the official first Thanksgiving among European settlers on record. Whether at Plymouth, Berkeley Plantation, or throughout the Americas, celebrations of thanks have held great meaning and importance over time. The legacy of thanks, and particularly of the feast, have survived the centuries as people throughout the United States gather family, friends, and enormous amounts of food for their yearly Thanksgiving meal.
What Was Actually on the Menu?
What foods topped the table at the first harvest feast? Historians aren't completely certain about the full bounty, but it's safe to say the pilgrims weren't gobbling up pumpkin pie or playing with their mashed potatoes. Following is a list of the foods that were available to the colonists at the time of the 1621 feast. However, the only two items that historians know for sure were on the menu are venison and wild fowl, which are mentioned in primary sources. The most detailed description of the "First Thanksgiving" comes from Edward Winslow from A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in 1621:

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, among other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed upon our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

source:[ http://www.history.com/content/thanksgiving/the-first-thanksgiving]

What exactly is auto insurance?

What is auto insurance?

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.

Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:
Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.
An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.

Most auto policies are for six months to a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it's time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.



What is in a basic auto policy?

Your auto policy may include six coverages. Each coverage is priced separately.

1. Bodily Injury Liability

This coverage applies to injuries you, the designated driver or policyholder cause to someone else. You and family members listed on the policy are also covered when driving someone else's car with their permission.

It's very important to have enough liability insurance, because if you are involved in a serious accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. Definitely consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as your home and savings.

2. Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

This coverage pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder's car. At its broadest, PIP can cover medical payments, lost wages and the cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may also cover funeral costs.

3. Property Damage Liability

This coverage pays for damage you (or someone driving the car with your permission) may cause to someone else's property. Usually, this means damage to someone else's car, but it also includes damage to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, buildings or other structures your car hit.

4. Collision

This coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with another car, object or as a result of flipping over. It also covers damage caused by potholes. Collision coverage is generally sold with a deductible of $250 to $1,000-the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Even if you are at fault for the accident, your collision coverage will reimburse you for the costs of repairing your car, minus the deductible. If you're not at fault, your insurance company may try to recover the amount they paid you from the other driver's insurance company. If they are successful, you'll also be reimbursed for the deductible.

5. Comprehensive

This coverage reimburses you for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or deer.

Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $300 deductible, though you may want to opt for a higher deductible as a way of lowering your premium.

Comprehensive insurance will also reimburse you if your windshield is cracked or shattered. Some companies offer glass coverage with or without a deductible.

States do not require that you purchase collision or comprehensive coverage, but if you have a car loan, your lender may insist you carry it until your loan is paid off.

6. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This coverage will reimburse you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

SDIP - How to figure out your Massachusetts Driving Record

*RULE 56. THE SAFE DRIVER INSURANCE PLAN (SDIP)


The following summary is a general overview of the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) and its impact on underlying rates. For specific details, you can visit the Massachusetts Merit Rating Board.

Surcharge Points/Experience Period

Each listed operator on a policy is assigned an Operator Surcharge Factor or a Credit Factor based on the operator’s driving history record. The Operator Surcharge Factor is the factor applied to the otherwise applicable rate which reflects the number, type, and age of Surchargeable Incidents during the Policy Experience Period. The Credit Factor is either the Excellent Driver Discount, awarded to operators with Incident-Free Periods of more than five but less than six years, or the Excellent Driver Discount Plus, awarded to operators with Incident-Free Periods of at least six years. The Experience Period is the six year period immediately preceding the effective date of the policy. The points for the 2006 policy year, and subsequent policy years, will range from 0 to 45; the Commissioner may establish or modify this point range annually. The Merit Rating Board will compute and report to the Insurer the total number of operator Surcharge Points or Credits for each listed operator.

Classification of Surcharge Points

SDIP surcharge points are assigned as follows:

Minor traffic law violation 2 points

Minor at-fault accident 3 points

Major at-fault accident 4 points

Major traffic law violation 5 points

A claim payment for Bodily Injury Liability, Damage to Someone Else’s Property, Collision or Limited Collision of at least $500 and up to $2,000 constitutes a minor at-fault accident. A claim payment of more than $2,000 constitutes a major at-fault accident. An “at-fault” accident is one in which the company determines that the listed operator is more than 50% at fault.

Surcharge points are not assigned to a non-criminal minor motor vehicle traffic law violation if it is the first such violation or if it occurs in the sixth (oldest) year in the operator’s six year Policy Experience Period.

If you have further questions about the system of surcharges and credits that apply in the Massachusetts Safe Driver Insurance Plan, you can reach a Consumer Service Representative at the Merit Rating Board any weekday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM by calling 617-351-4400.


source[http://www.massautoquote.com/blog/?tag=ma-driving-record]

RMV Interactive Web Service

Patrick-Murray Administration Unveils First RMV Interactive Web Service
New online experience makes it easier to get a new license at branches

(Springfield, MA) - Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) officials today launched a new interactive web experience for Registry of Motor Vehicle customers at the Springfield branch where the service was first piloted. First-time drivers and new residents who want to convert their out-of-state license can now pre-stage their permit or new license application online at www.mass.gov/rmv. The program is expected to speed up the time it takes to process new license transactions and eliminate repeat visits to branches.

"This is an important milestone for the RMV because new license transactions can't be done online and drive the wait times at most branches," said MassDOT Secretary & CEO Jeffrey B. Mullan. "Using new technology to deliver more efficient government service is just the kind of reform you'll be seeing a lot more of from MassDOT divisions."

The program takes the applicant through the new license process then prints a completed application that's tailored by their responses to a series of questions. The applicant also receives a check list of necessary documents to bring to a branch. In an RMV customer survey last October, 18% of respondents said their license transaction couldn't be completed in one branch visit because of problems with their documents, 13% reported they were back for a second visit to get a new license.

"You would be amazed at the number of permit or new license applicants who do not bring sufficient identity documents with them," said Registrar Rachel Kaprielian. "Proving identity is a tedious, rule-based process that this online tool will make easier and less time-consuming and better prepare applicants to get a permit or new license and that will benefit all our customers.

The RMV also plans on implementing several future stages of the new program that are expected to significantly improve customer traffic at branches. The second phase will make branch appointments available to customers who pre-stage their license applications. The third stage will enable customers to pre-stage almost all other license transactions from license renewals to ordering a duplicate license while the final stage will offer website customers the chance to view more detailed information about why a license can't be renewed because of unpaid parking tickets or suspensions.

MassDOT's RMV division serves more than 4.7 million licensed drivers and handles 5.9 million vehicles. In the last two years, 11 new services have been added to the RMV website virtual branch which now conducts 1.8 million transactions a year.

Through transportation reform promoted by the Patrick-Murray Administration, the RMV division has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by consolidating RMV office space and use of rent-free locations for new express branches.

For transportation news and updates visit the MassDOT blog at www.mass.gov/blog/transportation or follow MassDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/massdot.


source:[http://www.mass.gov/rmv/rmvnews/2009/pr_111209prestage.htm]