A post from Travelers Insurance reminds us of the importance of not being distracted while driving.  The original post can be found here at http://travl.rs/1MdkpWB.

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert your attention away from the main task of driving.

1. It is something that is both dangerous and disturbingly common. In fact, drivers spend more than half of their time focused on things other than driving.
2. You may be surprised to learn that cell phones and texting are just part of the problem when it comes to distracted driving. While stowing your phone while you drive is an important safety step, other behaviors behind the wheel, from drinking coffee to using a navigation system, may also be putting you at risk.

“The fact is, everything that occupies your mind or your vision can contribute to distraction behind the wheel,” explains Chris Hayes, Safety Professional from Travelers. “While many distracted driving studies focus on cell phones, any type of multi-tasking activity and driving simply do not mix.”

A list of driving distractions may include:

• Dialing or using a smartphone
• Texting
• Eating or drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading
• Programming a GPS or navigation system
• Adjusting a radio or MP3 player

If you are a first-time homeowner, you may be hit with a lot of details at once. Of course, you knew you would have a mortgage and that taxes and other fees would be included. You probably also knew that you would have to buy homeowners insurance, but you may not recognize what a real challenge that purchase can be. Use these four tips to understand which homeowners insurance types fit your needs and budget.

1. Tackle Insurance Payments In A Smart Manner

   When you choose a policy provider, you will want to talk about a payment plan in order to alleviate and fit your budget. You can pay your insurance all at once, do quarterly payments, monthly payments, or even have it rolled into your regular mortgage payments in order to simplify the manner. Many mortgage lenders appreciate having the homeowners insurance lumped in with the mortgage so they can ensure you have insurance and are paying it. Think about what works best for your budget and remain flexible to the payment ideas.

2. Put Safety First And Save

   There’s nothing like saving on your policy by taking a few small steps that also make your home safer. You can do things like install new fire detectors, check over the heating system to make sure it’s functioning, install a deadbolt, or put in a home security system. These small things can upgrade the safety of your home, but they can also help you save money on your policy because things are less likely to happen when you live in a safe and secure home. Keep in mind that when you live close to a fire station or even a fire hydrant, you will save more as well. Bring those up in the policy discussions to make sure they aren’t overlooked.

3. Decide What Coverage Is Necessary

   It will save you a lot of time and effort on buying homeowners insurance if you know a little bit about the policies and what will best suit your needs first. There are several different types of coverage and some of the most common are:

   • HO-2
     This policy covers a list of 16 perils, including the house itself, personal possessions, and liability insurance.
   • HO-3
     This common policy covers all perils except for those that are excluded from the list.
   • HO-5
     This premium policy upgrades version HO-3 and is meant for newer, more expensive homes.
   • HO-6
     Those who live in condominiums should consider this policy to cover damage repair, liability, and personal possession coverage.
   • HO-7
     This policy covers mobile homes under any peril except for the items excluded from the list.
   • HO-8
     This policy works well for older homes and covers the monetary value of the home.

   Inventory Items

   It’s a good idea to make a list of your possessions and their costs, especially if they are valuable. You might receive compensation for thousands of dollars of items if you needed to replace them because of a fire, flood, or another disaster.