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Road Rage: The Growing Monster
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It's affecting drivers around the globe. It claims
hundreds of lives every year - and Canada is currently feeling its monsterous grip.
It's called road rage, a condition that often involves anger or violence associated
with on-road driving activities. Many government agencies have determined that road rage is not a
myth or an invention of the media. Rather, it's a real and serious problem that manifests itself
through bizzare and often violent behaviour. Since 1998, in Canada alone over 12,000 road rage
incidents have been reported in the media!
What can be done? Most experts agree that the first step is to prepare yourself so you
will not be the next victim. This means avoidance at any cost. You never know if the the driver beside
you is a ticking bomb or has concealed weapons in his or her vehicle. It's best to avoid any altercation
with other motorists - period! Governments and other groups are currently trying to solve this problem
through regulations, enforcement and increased penalties. Solutions take time. Don't become a victim -
take preventative measures now!
"A real and serious problem that
manifests itself through bizarre
and often violent behaviour."
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DO
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move over to allow tailgaters to pass
allow plenty of time for any trip you take
leave law enforcement to the authorities
use the passing lane only to pass
contact the police with a description of the vehicle, licence number and driver if you are confronted with road rage
ignore gestures from other drivers
avoid eye contact with other motorists
be considerate and courteous
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DO NOT
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tailgate or flash your lights at other drivers
insist on the right of way if challenged by another driver
make eye contact, hand gestures or show irritation with aggressive drivers
assume all foolish or aggressive acts by other motorists are intentional
honk your horn unless absolutely necessary
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What You Should Know About Car Rentals
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If you think that you are protected by using a "gold" credit card, read on.
Many people rent vehicles with these cards believing they have coverage for physical
damage provided by their credit card contract. This may not be correct. Some credit cards
exclude coverage for pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles, minivans, cargo vans, sports cars
or luxury cars. Other card contracts do not cover additional drivers, while some exclude damage
above the windshield. In addition som completely exclude coverage in the U.S. and astonishingly,
do not even cover damage as a result of theft!
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There are some very serious contractual gaps in coverage for rental vehicles, particularly
when you are renting in the United States. People who do not own their own vehicles need to be extremely
careful.
Even if you purchase the Collision Damage or Physical/Loss Damage Waivers, some rental car contracts exclude
the following:
theft on the vehicle
glass, tire and undercarriage damage
animal collision
flood and hail damage
damage above the windshield
Incredibly, some rental contracts even include a contractual shift of liability to the customer. Each car rental
company for their own reasons, provide certain coverages and exclude others. The above list is not complete and it
is not intended to criticize any particular car rental company. It is mentioned here to warn renters of possible
shortcomings in the rental contract process.
If you own your own vehicle, we suggest your best strategy is to contact us to purchase the OPCF 27 rider on your
personal policy. If you are covered under a business policy (and the business owner agrees to cover you), we suggest
the OPCF 27b rider. These riders will extend your coverage on the same basis provided by your standard automobile policy.
Our advice whenever you rent a car is to read the contract carefully. Don't assume you're fully covered by purchasing the
rental company's Physical/Loss Damage Waiver coverage. For your peace of mind, talk to us about including this coverage on
your own auto policy. It's the most convenient and inexpensive way to know you're adequately covered. Ask about the limits
available.
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