﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:a10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title>O'Neal and Associates Insurance Blog</title><link>http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/</link><description>View O'Neal and Associates Insurance's Website Blog</description><language>en-us</language><managingEditor>postmaster@www.onealinsurance.com</managingEditor><generator>Insurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com</generator><a10:id>urn:uuid:f528204e-182a-4f3a-9a23-77c2d3502ec6</a10:id><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/" /><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:482e7d01-74e6-48c4-8b2f-68f4344e8653</guid><title>10 Facts you may not know about cars and driving</title><description>1.&amp;nbsp; Windshield wipers were invented by a woman named Mary Anderson. She patented them in 1903.   2.&amp;nbsp; The nitromethane fuel used to power Top Fuel Dragsters costs $16 per gallon.  3.&amp;nbsp; The fastest known time for replacing a car engine is...</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:26:25 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/10_Facts_you_may_not_know_about_cars_and_driving.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&lt;p style="margin-left: 36pt;"&gt;1.&amp;nbsp; Windshield wipers were invented by a woman named Mary Anderson. She patented them in 1903. &lt;br /&gt;
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2.&amp;nbsp; The nitromethane fuel used to power Top Fuel Dragsters costs $16 per gallon.&lt;br /&gt;
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3.&amp;nbsp; The fastest known time for replacing a car engine is 42 seconds. Gareth Lloyd did so in 1985.&lt;br /&gt;
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4.&amp;nbsp; Many vehicles have an arrow on the fuel gauge that points to which side of the vehicle the gas cap is on. Take a look!&lt;br /&gt;
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5.&amp;nbsp; In Youngstown, OH, running out of gas is against the law. It&amp;rsquo;s considered a &amp;ldquo;Minor Misdemeanor.&amp;rdquo;&lt;br /&gt;
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6.&amp;nbsp; The average automobile consists of more than 2,500 ft. of electrical wiring.&lt;br /&gt;
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7.&amp;nbsp; On average, half an ounce of gas is used to start an automobile.&lt;br /&gt;
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8.&amp;nbsp; The average fuel economy for a vehicle on the road was 14 miles per gallon in 1923.&lt;br /&gt;
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9.&amp;nbsp; From a fuel economy perspective, it&amp;rsquo;s better to turn the air off at low speeds and open the windows. At highway speeds&amp;nbsp;it&amp;rsquo;s&amp;nbsp;more&amp;nbsp;economical to use the air conditioning.&lt;br /&gt;
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10.&amp;nbsp; US 20 is the longest road in the United States, spanning 3,365 miles from Boston, MA to Newport, OR.&lt;br /&gt;
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One fact that may help you is&amp;nbsp;that&amp;nbsp;O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates is an independent insurance agency that works with over 20 quality insurance carriers to help you find the best possible auto insurance rates available.&amp;nbsp; Call our office today or &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;click here &lt;/a&gt;for a free auto insurance quote.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:e4f937d8-37bd-429f-9f02-7b13cb19fded</guid><title>RV-Driving Safety Tips</title><description>Top Five RV-Driving Safety Tips      Have a Copilot. You may think the mirrors will be enough to help guide you, but it can never hurt to enlist an extra pair of eyes even when you're backing up, going down narrow roads or turning sharp corners.     ...</description><pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:03:13 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/RV-Driving_Safety_Tips.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">Top Five RV-Driving Safety Tips
&lt;ol&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Have a Copilot.&lt;/strong&gt; You may think the mirrors will be enough to help guide you, but it can never hurt to enlist an extra pair of eyes even when you're backing up, going down narrow roads or turning sharp corners. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;"Easy Does It" on the Brakes.&lt;/strong&gt; The airbrakes in an RV feel very different compared to hydraulic brakes in cars. There's a slight delay when applying airbrakes. Prevent sudden stops by not jamming hard on the RV brakes to overcompensate for this delay. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Follow the "Rule of 20 Percent." &lt;/strong&gt;RVs take longer to come to a full stop and they accelerate slower. Always add 20 percent whether you're extending your following distance or merging into traffic. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Know Your Propane Tank System.&lt;/strong&gt; Don't travel with the oven, stove or burners lit. Install a propane gas detector. And, never refuel the engine when a propane appliance is running. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Know Your Height.&lt;/strong&gt; It sounds straightforward, but many drivers often forget about the height of their RV. Some of the most common RV accidents occur when RVers run into overpasses. To remind yourself of your RV's height and weight, write it down on a piece of paper and keep it near the dash and visible.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Let O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates help you with your RV insurance needs, call our office or &lt;a href="/rv/recreational_vehicle_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt;.</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:c2e9771e-b486-49ec-ab60-fd223fb20051</guid><title>Are you a distracted driver?</title><description>2011 GMAC Insurance Study Shows Youngest and Oldest Drivers Least Distracted  Unexpected results from the Distracted Driving Study from GMAC Insurance shows that the least experienced and youngest drivers are the least likely to have distracted drivi...</description><pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:01:37 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Are_you_a_distracted_driver.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">2011 GMAC Insurance Study Shows Youngest and Oldest Drivers Least Distracted&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Unexpected results from the Distracted Driving Study from GMAC Insurance shows that the least experienced and youngest drivers are the least likely to have distracted driving habits. Apart from selecting songs on an MP3 player, teen drivers are far less likely than drivers ages 18 to 34 to engage in all other non-driving related activities. Not surprisingly, drivers over 60 years old are far less likely than young adult drivers to engage in any distracted driving habits.
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Fifty-seven percent of young adult drivers say they eat while they drive, as opposed to only 39 percent of teen drivers and 38 percent of drivers over 60 years old. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;About 30 percent of young adult drivers admit to adjusting their GPS, while only four percent of teens and only 13 percent of drivers over 60 years old admit to doing the same. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Only 28 percent of young adult drivers say they have completely eliminated using their smart phones to text, email, and make calls. That's opposed to 75 percent of teen drivers and 72 percent of drivers over 60 years old who say they have stopped using their mobile devices completely while driving.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p &gt;Let O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates help you with your auto insurance needs, call for a quote or &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:e538a20f-a481-4289-949e-44cf7c1e8d40</guid><title>Avoid Auto Accidents with a Four-Point Safety Check</title><description> Monthly Four-Point Safety Check  To ensure you're driving a safe vehicle, take a few minutes to conduct this monthly Four-Point Safety Check. Your car and your safety may be riding on it!      Tire Pressure: Make sure all tires are inflated to the p...</description><pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:52:26 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Avoid_Auto_Accidents_with_a_Four-Point_Safety_Check.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&lt;br /&gt;
Monthly Four-Point Safety Check&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
To ensure you're driving a safe vehicle, take a few minutes to conduct this monthly Four-Point Safety Check. Your car and your safety may be riding on it!
&lt;ol&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Tire Pressure:&lt;/strong&gt; Make sure all tires are inflated to the pressure recommended in your owner's manual (not the maximum pressure noted on the tire's sidewall). The correct pressure will ensure your tires wear evenly which will reduce the chance of blowouts. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Check Front End Alignment:&lt;/strong&gt; Any pothole or bump can knock your car out of alignment. While driving slowly in an empty parking lot, see if the vehicle is pulling to one side. If so, have a qualified mechanic realign your front end. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Take a Brake:&lt;/strong&gt; When in park, check your brake pressure. There should be resistance to the pedal when depressed. And, any grinding, squeaking or shuddering you hear or feel when you hit the brakes means it's time to have them serviced. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keep Your Lights On:&lt;/strong&gt; Blown out brake lights and turn signals can be a big hazard on the road. Have a friend help you make sure all lights are working properly. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Remember if you need auto insurance please call or &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;click here &lt;/a&gt;for a free quote.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr style="color: #999;" size="1" /&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:6e022b57-eeb0-45dd-8969-e5e752cfb2ec</guid><title>Auto Insurance Savings!!!!</title><description>Just quoted B.H. and family of Macon, GA new auto insurance coverage and we were able to save them over $100 a month compared to their current Nationwide policy.&amp;nbsp; Call us today or go&amp;nbsp;here to get your FREE quote!!</description><pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:56:51 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Auto_Insurance_Savings.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">Just quoted B.H. and family of Macon, GA new auto insurance coverage and we were able to save them over $100 a month compared to their current Nationwide policy.&amp;nbsp; Call us today or go&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to get your FREE quote!!</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:e48c1c71-3c0d-4a2b-af97-3cd6edf86a11</guid><title>Halloween Safe-Driving Tips</title><description>According to Safe Kids USA, children are twice as likely to be killed by a vehicle on Halloween compared to other days of the year. Take extra caution behind the wheel on Halloween and use the following driving tips to keep trick-or-treaters safe.   ...</description><pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:57:00 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Halloween_Safe-Driving_Tips.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">According to Safe Kids USA, children are twice as likely to be killed by a vehicle on Halloween compared to other days of the year. Take extra caution behind the wheel on Halloween and use the following driving tips to keep trick-or-treaters safe.
&lt;ol&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Yield to Trick-or-Treaters:&lt;/strong&gt; Be prepared for children to run into the street at anytime. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Refrain From Passing Idle Vehicles:&lt;/strong&gt; You never know when the driver in front of you has stopped to drop children off. Be patient and take extra caution when traveling near other vehicles. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Park Your Mobile Phone:&lt;/strong&gt; With children crowding the dark roads, it is especially important to avoid any distractions while behind the wheel. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Communicate With Other Drivers:&lt;/strong&gt; Use hazard lights when picking-up or dropping-off trick-or-treaters. And, always use turn signals. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Consider Alternate Routes:&lt;/strong&gt; Avoid driving near trick-or-treaters by taking routes that go around busy neighborhoods, not through them. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Remember to let O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates Insurance help with your insurance needs, just give us a call.&amp;nbsp; You can get a free online auto insurance quote &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;here.&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:a017e33c-d4ad-4551-b583-d40551f2971b</guid><title>Five Steps to Take After an Accident</title><description>Five Steps to Take After an Accident  If you're ever in an accident, it's easy to forget what to do right away. Follow these five steps to ensure the safety of you, your passengers and everyone else involved:      Call the Police. Even for small acci...</description><pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:38:59 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Five_Steps_to_Take_After_an_Accident.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">Five Steps to Take After an Accident&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you're ever in an accident, it's easy to forget what to do right away. Follow these five steps to ensure the safety of you, your passengers and everyone else involved:
&lt;ol&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Call the Police.&lt;/strong&gt; Even for small accidents, call 911. Police will help redirect traffic and document the incident. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Avoid Additional Damage.&lt;/strong&gt; Move your car from the roadway as soon as possible to prevent additional collisions. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get the Right Information for the Insurance Process.&lt;/strong&gt; You'll need the other driver's name, license, phone number, insurance information and license plate number. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Document the Accident. &lt;/strong&gt;From taking pictures of the damage and the overall accident to interviewing witnesses and taking down their information. The more accident evidence you can gather for the insurance claim, the better. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;File an Accident Report.&lt;/strong&gt; File a state vehicle accident report (available at police stations and DMV websites) to help speed up the claims process.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:389a8eb3-baf9-4775-b215-43a3fb5acdb1</guid><title>Top Five Mistakes Drivers Make</title><description>For many drivers, getting behind the wheel is second nature, so it's easy to make errors without realizing it. However, these errors can lead to serious accidents. Keep yourself and others safe on the road by avoiding these mistakes:      Tailgating ...</description><pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:37:12 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Top_Five_Mistakes_Drivers_Make.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">For many drivers, getting behind the wheel is second nature, so it's easy to make errors without realizing it. However, these errors can lead to serious accidents. Keep yourself and others safe on the road by avoiding these mistakes:
&lt;ol&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Tailgating&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
    Leave a three-second cushion between you and the vehicle in front of you. Leave even more time when road conditions are bad or when you're travelling at higher speeds. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Stopping Instead of Yielding&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
    Accidents can happen when drivers stop at a yield sign. "Yield" simply means to slow down and let the traffic on the road you are entering have the right of way. Most times, this is possible without coming to a stop. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Trusting Mirrors Instead of Your Eyes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
    Relying on mirrors can cause blind spots. Whether backing up or switching lanes, always look over your shoulder. And remember, objects in your mirror are closer than they appear. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Failing to Yield on Green&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
    Even though a green light means "GO," always remember to look at the street you are entering&amp;mdash;especially when turning left&amp;mdash;to make sure no pedestrians or vehicles are in your path. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Multi-Tasking&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
    Drivers are distracted by just about anything these days&amp;mdash;including the radio, eating and using the phone. Focus on driving and turn off all gadgets when you turn the key. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:df84c95c-2459-4e38-a4ca-0f982c46e132</guid><title>Tips for Parents of Teenage Drivers</title><description> Tips for Parents with Teenage Drivers, from GMAC Insurance  According to the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, what restrictions are parents putting on their teenage drivers to help them be safer drivers?      Sixty-four percent of parents are i...</description><pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:31:17 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Tips_for_Parents_of_Teenage_Drivers.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&lt;br /&gt;
Tips for Parents with Teenage Drivers, from GMAC Insurance&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, what restrictions are parents putting on their teenage drivers to help them be safer drivers?
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Sixty-four percent of parents are imposing the "no mobile devices while driving" rule. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;About 50 percent of parents implement a driving curfew. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;About 35 percent of parents allow their teenagers to drive only locally and restrict them from driving on any highways. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Thirty-two percent of parents don't allow their teenagers to drive with friends in the car. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Twenty-two percent of parents allow their teenagers to drive only if a parent is with them. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Only nine percent of parents don't impose any driving restrictions on their teenage drivers. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;a href="http://click.service.gmacinsurance.com/?qs=1a8bd203fed6ffc81407b8f72d6a4039f8a7d3deea078689f84ebcc75dabdbf9" title="http://click.service.gmacinsurance.com/?qs=1a8bd203fed6ffc81407b8f72d6a4039f8a7d3deea078689f84ebcc75dabdbf9"&gt;Click Here&lt;/a&gt; to see the "Top Five Distracted Driving Habits" for personal auto drivers&amp;mdash;discovered by the 7th Annual National Drivers Test conducted by GMAC Insurance! &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:0c27cbb3-9471-4246-95a7-81da9afb32d9</guid><title>Women More Distracted Than Men Behind the Wheel?</title><description>Along with gauging drivers' knowledge of the rules of the road, the 2011 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test also tested driver behavior. According to the study, women are more likely to engage in distracted driving habits than men. Distracted drivi...</description><pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:39:24 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Women_More_Distracted_Than_Men_Behind_the_Wheel.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">Along with gauging drivers' knowledge of the rules of the road, the 2011 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test also tested driver behavior. According to the study, women are more likely to engage in distracted driving habits than men. Distracted driving habits include eating, adjusting GPS devices, changing songs on MP3 players, taking pictures, applying makeup and even changing clothes. Here's a glimpse at some of the numbers:
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Fifty-two percent of female drivers say they eat while driving (a 25 percent increase from 2010), as opposed to only 44 percent of male drivers &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Eighty-three percent of female drivers admit to texting while stopped at red lights, as opposed to 71 percent of male drivers &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Thirty-eight percent of female drivers said they did not engage in any distracted driving activities, as opposed to 46 percent of male drivers &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
The National Drivers Test encourages drivers to educate themselves on the rules of the road in order to prevent accidents that may result from distracted driving habits. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Remember to let O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates Insurance help with your insurance needs, just give us a call.&amp;nbsp; You can get a free online auto insurance quote &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:02f90cc3-867a-4a94-9b27-58b19991a39f</guid><title>Take the national drivers test!</title><description>Take the National Drivers Test at www.gmacinsurance.com so&amp;nbsp;you can test their driving knowledge! You will be able to share and compare your&amp;nbsp;scores with family and friends, and see just how well you&amp;nbsp;know the rules of the road, and if&amp;nb...</description><pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:37:03 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Take_the_national_drivers_test.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">Take the National Drivers Test at &lt;a href="http://click.service.gmacinsurance.com/?qs=be62bfe62b9fd17f9800e8b0ade547c85fb84b28e384cf26c17cbb9e179dd520" title="http://click.service.gmacinsurance.com/?qs=be62bfe62b9fd17f9800e8b0ade547c85fb84b28e384cf26c17cbb9e179dd520"&gt;www.gmacinsurance.com&lt;/a&gt; so&amp;nbsp;you can test their driving knowledge! You will be able to share and compare your&amp;nbsp;scores with family and friends, and see just how well you&amp;nbsp;know the rules of the road, and if&amp;nbsp;you need to turn your&amp;nbsp; phones off when they turn the ignition on. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Remember to also let O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates help you with your insurance needs and get a free auto insurance quote &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:9cc5ed6a-8f0d-40ca-8185-8c66f645292c</guid><title>Tweeting while driving?</title><description>An alarmingly high percentage of drivers are still using various features of their smart phones while operating their vehicles, according to the Distracted Driving Study which is part of the 7th Annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. According ...</description><pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:33:16 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Tweeting_while_driving.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">An alarmingly high percentage of drivers are still using various features of their smart phones while operating their vehicles, according to the Distracted Driving Study which is part of the 7th Annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. According to the study, almost two-thirds of drivers say they make phone calls and 8 in 10 drivers admitted to reading and sending text messages while stopped at red lights. Fifty percent of the drivers in the study say they make phone calls while driving in "slow traffic" or "while driving on an open highway." Fifteen percent of drivers from the study admitted to sending and reading texts while driving. Conversely, 80 percent of drivers who took part in the study say it is never safe to text, email or use their smart phones while driving. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The results revealed people are saying they mostly use their phones for calling and text messaging while driving. But, almost ten percent of drivers admitted to sending and reading emails and using their downloaded applications on their smart phones while operating their vehicles. About three percent of drivers say they use their smart phones to take pictures and some are even updating their Twitter and Facebook pages.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The message to take away from this?&amp;nbsp; DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE!!!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Please call us for&amp;nbsp;your&amp;nbsp;insurance needs and you can get a free on line auto quote &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:d98f0d16-e6df-4743-852a-01f26a114f22</guid><title>Protecting Your Motorcycle Against Theft</title><description>According to National Insurance Crime Bureau statistics, motor vehicle thefts are on the rise, and among the vehicles being targeted are motorcycles. It&amp;rsquo;s one thing to have your property stolen, but if it is something you love and have become a...</description><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:49:15 -0500</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Protecting_Your_Motorcycle_Against_Theft.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&lt;p&gt;According to National Insurance Crime Bureau statistics, motor vehicle thefts are on the rise, and among the vehicles being targeted are motorcycles. It&amp;rsquo;s one thing to have your property stolen, but if it is something you love and have become attached to, that is a different story altogether. And only 25% to 30% of motorcycles are recovered after theft.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thieves steal motorcycles to resell the whole bike or to strip it down and sell the parts. The fact that motorcycles are small and relatively easy to move makes them particularly vulnerable to theft. Smart thieves will find a way to steal your bike if they really want it, but there are things you can do to protect your investment and make your motorcycle less appealing to a thief. You can make it bothersome for them to try to steal it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There are several relatively simple and inexpensive ways to help protect your motorcycle from ending up in the back of a thief&amp;rsquo;s van. One of these methods alone might not be enough to deter a determined thief, but using more than one &amp;ndash; or better yet, several &amp;ndash; of these methods just might make the difference in whether a thief stops at your house or keeps going.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Keep Your Bike Out of Sight&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The best bet is to keep your motorcycle in a locked garage. For some people, this might not be an option. If you have to keep your bike parked outside, start by keeping it in a well-lit area and out of direct view from the street. It should be covered with a plain cover that is free of logos or brand names. If the thief can&amp;rsquo;t tell by the cover what type of motorcycle is underneath, they may be more inclined to pass it over. In addition, you should keep the cover locked to the bike with a cable lock. However, this won&amp;rsquo;t prevent a thief from picking up the whole bike and taking it, cover and all. That&amp;rsquo;s why it is important to use this in conjunction with other security measures. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Lock Your Bike to a Stationary Object&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Even if you have your bike in a locked garage when not in use, it is a good idea to also have it locked to something immovable. One method would be to cement a steel eye to the floor to put a chain or cable through. When using a chain or cable lock, be sure to loop it through the frame or another stable part of the bike. When you&amp;rsquo;re out riding and leave your bike parked outside, always use your steering lock &amp;ndash; this is your first step of defense. In addition, you should use two or more locks of different types. If possible, park your bike where you can see it and check on it periodically.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Make Good Lock Choices&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;When choosing locks, it&amp;rsquo;s not a good idea to spare expense. Choose good locks. Types of locks include serpentine link locks, u-locks and chains. Record key numbers and then file them off the locks if they are stamped on them. Locks attached to your bike should not touch the ground. If a lock is lying on the ground, it is easier for a thief to use a hard item to pound the lock until it breaks. Even if you keep your motorcycle in a locked garage, it&amp;rsquo;s always a good idea to look around to make sure you&amp;rsquo;re not providing a thief with the tools to dismantle your locks. There are usually a lot of tools in a garage and with time and determination, a thief will be able to remove the locks from your bike.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Other Devices&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There are several new mechanical devices that can help ensure you&amp;rsquo;ll find your bike where you left it. Many dealers are now selling motorcycles with alarms as a standard feature, as well as similar anti-theft devices. An alarm alone is not an effective deterrent, but in combination with other methods, a wailing alarm is liable to make a thief think twice. Even if your motorcycle isn&amp;rsquo;t equipped with an alarm, you can get stickers that say that there is an alarm installed and put them on your bike. You can also purchase anti-prying devices, pick-resistant mechanisms or you can install one or more kill switches to make the motorcycle impossible to start.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Common Sense&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The best way to protect your motorcycle from theft is to use common sense. Don&amp;rsquo;t leave the keys in the ignition or anywhere within close proximity to the bike. Make sure that you choose the safest places possible to park or store your bike. And don&amp;rsquo;t lock your bike down to something that can easily be moved or broken and assume it&amp;rsquo;s still going to be there when you come back.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Insure Your Investment&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/b&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In addition to being confident that you are doing what you can to protect your motorcycle, it&amp;rsquo;s important that you have the right insurance. You need an insurance policy that offers the coverages that are important to your specific bike and lifestyle. If you think your motorcycle is adequately covered when you add it through an endorsement on your homeowners policy, chances are you&amp;rsquo;re mistaken...a lesson that you don&amp;rsquo;t want to learn first-hand come claim time.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Important things to look for when choosing a specialized insurance policy for your motorcycle are things like:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;dir&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Safety Apparel Coverage to protect your investment in helmets, leathers, gloves and any other clothing designed to minimize injury in the event of an accident.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Optional Equipment Coverage for chroming, custom painting, side cars or anything else that was not included as standard by the manufacturer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Optional Towing and Roadside Assistance in case your bike breaks down and can&amp;rsquo;t be ridden when you&amp;rsquo;re away from home or you run out of gas, get a flat or have mechanical issues.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Optional Replacement Cost Coverage on bikes purchased new and insured within 30 days.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Flexible payment plans so you can choose the plan that best fits your budget.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Deductible and coverage limit options.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Premium discounts.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Let O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates help you with your motorcyle insurance coverage,&amp;nbsp;request a &lt;a href="/motorcycle/insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;quote now&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/dir&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:fc35b408-3f91-42ba-ae29-af0108fe88f1</guid><title>Uninsured Motorist Coverage</title><description>UNINSURED MOTORISTS COVERAGE:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Portion of an auto insurance policy that protects a policyholder from uninsured and hit-and-run drivers.  ****  The number of uninsured and underinsured drivers on the road is amazingly high.&amp;nbsp; I know we ...</description><pubDate>Sat, 22 Jan 2011 08:42:14 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Uninsured_Motorist_Coverage.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&lt;strong&gt;UNINSURED MOTORISTS COVERAGE:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/strong&gt;Portion of an auto insurance policy that protects a policyholder from uninsured and hit-and-run drivers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
****&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The number of uninsured and underinsured drivers on the road is amazingly high.&amp;nbsp; I know we have customers that complain "why should I pay for uninsured driver?" which is a very good question however the answer&amp;nbsp;can take a lot more room than I have here to explain but lets just say it&amp;nbsp;is a coverage that you &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;SHOULD&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; have on your auto insurance policy.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In our opinion uninsured motorist coverage can be the most important insurance coverage on your automobile insurance policy, and it is usually the least expensive!&amp;nbsp; If you are involved in an auto accident with&amp;nbsp;someone who is uninsured and don't have collision coverage then you &lt;em&gt;just don't have coverage&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;for your vehicle&lt;/em&gt;.&amp;nbsp; While the other party may be at fault and responsible for the damages if they do not have insurance how will you get your vehicle repaired?&amp;nbsp; What if there are injuries in the accident, who will pay for those?&amp;nbsp; Yes you can take the "guilty" party to court and probably win but if they don't have the money it may take years for the financial burden you are suffering to be taken care of by that party.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The simple solution is to make sure you have uninsured motorist coverage on your policy.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Talk to our representatives today about this coverage or get a &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;quote now&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Don't forget to &lt;a href="/newsletter.aspx"&gt;join our newsletter &lt;/a&gt;so we can keep you informed about important coverage information like uninsured motorist coverage!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:f2521e1b-ccae-4573-b6b2-e92e20efe45a</guid><title>Twitter</title><description>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Please "twitter" us at our new Twitter account under&amp;nbsp;"Onealinsurance"  &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Don't forget to join our newsletter&amp;nbsp;and for a free auto insurance quote go here.  </description><pubDate>Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:09:34 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Twitter.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Please "twitter" us at our new Twitter account under&amp;nbsp;"&lt;a href="http://twitter.com/OnealInsurance"&gt;Onealinsurance&lt;/a&gt;"&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Don't forget to &lt;a href="/newsletter.aspx"&gt;join our newsletter&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;and for a free auto insurance quote &lt;a href="/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;go here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:da173e5d-f2bf-4868-9a5a-c413324d22a1</guid><title>"Legal for Less"</title><description>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;You see these commercials where they advertise and "brag" on the fact that they can make you "legal for less".&amp;nbsp; I guess if all you want to be is "legal" then that may be the company for you.&amp;nbsp; However any insurance co...</description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:46:54 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Legal_for_Less.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;You see these commercials where they advertise and "brag" on the fact that they can make you "legal for less".&amp;nbsp; I guess if all you want to be is "legal" then that may be the company for you.&amp;nbsp; However any insurance company will make you legal if you pay the premiums for the minimum coverage but whats the old saying - "you get what you pay for".&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;At O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates Insurance we want to make you "legal" but we also want you to have quality coverage with a quality company.&amp;nbsp; We want you to become a part of our insurance family.&amp;nbsp; We want you to be&amp;nbsp;a part of this agency for years to come, not just for a month or so, and let us help you with all your insurance needs not just "making you legal for less".&amp;nbsp; Our agents have many years of experience dealing with customers and companies and we work to match the coverages you need with your budget the best we can.&amp;nbsp; As an independent insurance agency we represent many companies and can find the insurance coverage you need regardless of your driving record.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;So don't be fooled by&amp;nbsp;advertising and take the time and "shop" around.&amp;nbsp; As a matter of fact let our agents&amp;nbsp;do the "shopping" for you with all the companies we represent.&amp;nbsp; We can save you the time and get you the QUALITY coverage you need at an affordable price.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Let us help you with a &lt;a href="/automobile/quick_insurance_quote.aspx"&gt;free auto insurance quote&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Also don't forget to &lt;a href="/newsletter.aspx"&gt;join our newsletter&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:1012cd7b-cb9f-481c-a98a-fca46b7a3845</guid><title>Why do I have to have auto insurance?</title><description>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Because it is the law?&amp;nbsp; Of course it is the law in the State of Georgia to carry minimum liability limits of $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 but that&amp;nbsp;should NOT be the only reason&amp;nbsp;you&amp;nbsp;should carry auto insurance.&amp;n...</description><pubDate>Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:27:47 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Why_do_I_have_to_have_auto_insurance.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Because it is the law?&amp;nbsp; Of course it is the law in the State of Georgia to carry minimum liability limits of $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 but that&amp;nbsp;should NOT be the only reason&amp;nbsp;you&amp;nbsp;should carry auto insurance.&amp;nbsp; When you are in an accident you could be legally liable for injuries and damages so if you do not have the proper liability coverages who do you think will be responsible?&amp;nbsp; YOU!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Whether you have insurance&amp;nbsp;or not DOES NOT make you any less liable if you were at fault in&amp;nbsp;an accident.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; By having the proper liability coverages you will have a company (your insurance carrier) that will "back" you up and help with the financial loss that could occur, up to the limits of your policy of course.&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;This is just one reason that you should ALWAYS maintain liability coverage on your vehicles.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;One other note - just because there are minimum liability limit requirements you should also explore higher limits.&amp;nbsp; Consider the cost of doctors, lawyers, hospital stays, etc. and you should know that "minimum" requirements probably will not meet the financial liability that you may have in the event of a serious accident.&amp;nbsp; Once your "minimum" liability limits are exhausted then you may be personally responsible for those expenses.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Give us a call and let us help you with your auto insurance needs.&amp;nbsp; Remember you can get an auto quote with O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates Insurance 24 hours a day/7 days a week on line or by calling our office at 478-788-1104 or 800-355-5411.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Make sure you &lt;a href="/newsletter.aspx"&gt;join our newsletter&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:fcccfaaf-c1c4-4d6b-b3ea-a65179c15cf4</guid><title>Happy Holidays!!!</title><description>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;All of us here at O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates Insurance want to wish all of you and your families a&amp;nbsp;very Happy Holiday season!&amp;nbsp; Please be sure to keep our military troops stationed all of this world in your thoughts and ...</description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:34:06 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Happy_Holidays.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;All of us here at O'Neal &amp;amp; Associates Insurance want to wish all of you and your families a&amp;nbsp;very Happy Holiday season!&amp;nbsp; Please be sure to keep our military troops stationed all of this world in your thoughts and prayers, and please don't forget about the sacrifices of the families of these brave men and women also.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;</a10:content></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">urn:uuid:e6a1a731-73eb-44b7-88bc-679d79c144a6</guid><title>Brand new agency website!</title><description>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Welcome to our brand new agency web site!&amp;nbsp; We are excited about the new site and we would love to hear from you&amp;nbsp;and get your thoughts.&amp;nbsp; Check out&amp;nbsp;our&amp;nbsp;Facebook page and please add your comments!&amp;nbsp; P...</description><pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:13:07 -0600</pubDate><a10:link href="http://www.onealinsurance.com/blog/Brand_new_agency_website.aspx" /><a10:content type="html">&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Welcome to our brand new agency web site!&amp;nbsp; We are excited about the new site and we would love to hear from you&amp;nbsp;and get your thoughts.&amp;nbsp; Check out&amp;nbsp;our&amp;nbsp;Facebook page and please add your comments!&amp;nbsp; Please look over&amp;nbsp;the site&amp;nbsp;and send us an email with your thoughts and any recommendations you may have!&amp;nbsp; Our ears are always open to great new ideas.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Make sure you &lt;a href="/newsletter.aspx"&gt;join our newsletter&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;br /&gt;
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