Avoid these common motorcycle crashes

There is a risk every time you're out on the road. Protect yourself from these common motorcycle crashes by being a proactive driver.

Left Hand Turns Collisions

In these cases, the opposite driver makes a left hand turn at an intersection in front of an oncoming motorcyclist. The driver may not see the biker, or they misjudge the speed and distance at which the biker is coming toward them.

Tips:

• Slow down at intersections.

• Anticipate the direction and speed of oncoming drivers.

• Watch for turn signals. Be ready to slow down or maneuver if a car pulls in front of you.

Head on Collisions

A head on collision is one of the most dangerous situations for a biker. Keep an eye on oncoming traffic, especially as it gets dark.

Tips:

• The National Safety Council stands by the four R's:

  1. Read the road

  2. Drive to the right

  3. Reduce your speed

  4. Ride off the road

• If an oncoming driver enters your lane, direct yourself toward the path of least resistance.

Lane Changing Collisions

The small structure of a motorcycle puts it at a higher risk of not being seen, especially on a highway dominated by semi-trucks. Proactive driving will reduce the risk of being involved in a lane changing collision. If you can't see the mirror or face of the driver, you are in their blind spot.

Tips:

• Never ride in a blind spot.

• Speed up or slow down to create space between yourself and other drivers.

• Anticipate lane changes. Turn signals, mirror checks and turning wheels are signs that a driver is planning to switch lanes.

Rear End Collisions

There are situations when a biker is caught off guard and collides with a vehicle in front of them. Stay vigilant on the road. Traffic conditions can change at any time.

Tips:

• Pay attention to traffic in front of you.

• Watch for brake lights.

• Keep a large distance between you and other vehicles to give yourself time to brake.

Corner Accidents

Be cautious when coming up on a corner. Debris on the road can cause your front tire to slip and lay down your bike. Turns can often be misleading, appearing wider than they really are. Be aware of your skill level and never take on a ride that you don't feel comfortable with.

Tips:

• Assess road conditions and adjust your speed accordingly.

• Be cautious after large storms. Leaves or branches may have fallen, creating hazards around the corner.

• Take turns wide and slow.

• Trust your bike and lean into your turns.

• Stay calm and keep your eyes directed in front of you.

Though some accidents can't be prevented, it is important to do everything you can to keep yourself out of harm's way while you're on the road. Always be aware of your surroundings, and remember these tips when you ride!

Personal Auto Customers - Credits are Coming to You!

In these unprecedented and uncertain times, we all may face challenges and hardships. Through this time, our agency remains here to support you. Even though our door may be closed, we are working diligently on your behalf, and we look forward to the day when we can meet face to face once again. We have updates below for all personal auto policy customers with Arbella and Norfolk & Dedham which we hope will help to provide much needed relief to our community in the form of a credit on your billing statement or a refund check.

ARBELLA - HERE. FOR GOOD.® GIVE BACK PROGRAM

Arbella’s Here. For Good. Give Back Program will provide Arbella private passenger auto customers with a credit equal to 20% of their auto premium for three months, April, May, and June, 2020. The savings will result in an estimated average of $60 per vehicle, and customers with multiple vehicles on their policy could see significant savings.

Arbella customers can expect a credit to be applied to their bill within the next 60 days, pending regulatory approval. Any active auto policyholder at the time the refund is made will receive the full three-month 20% credit. If the policyholder has paid in full, they will be mailed a check. A policyholder must be an active customer at the time the refund is issued. The Arbella Here. For Good. Give Back Program also applies to customers new to Arbella who purchase a private passenger auto policy prior to June 30, 2020.

Customer do not need to take any action to receive this benefit.

If you have any questions regarding the credit or how this may impact your bill please contact us!

ARBELLA BILLING AND PAYMENTS

In addition to the Here. For Good. Give Back Program, Arbella will suspend all cancellations for non-payment from April 1 until June 1, 2020. Customers will continue to receive a monthly bill, but Arbella will not cancel policies for non-payment during this period. They will also waive all fees for late payments or insufficient funds.

If customers are facing difficulties paying their bill, we ask that they contact Arbella’s Customer Service department at 1-800-Arbella. Representatives are ready and waiting to help. For personal lines policies, skipped installments will be spread over the remaining billing installments. If a skipped installment is the last installment on the term, the premium due will go into the renewal and that bill will include both the missed installment and the first renewal installment.

NORFOLK & DEDHAM

Subject to regulatory approval, Norfolk & Dedham personal auto policy holders will receive a check for 20% of your April and May premium. Eligible customers will receive their refund in the coming weeks accompanied by a letter. These checks will be sent automatically; customers do not need to take any action to receive this benefit.

NORFOLK & DEDHAM BILLING AND PAYMENTS

During this time, N&D will suspend non-payment cancellations, and will remain flexible. This includes the suspension of late fees, EDP fees for insufficient funds, and the suspension of the zero-balance renewal requirement.

If you are having financial concerns in regards to paying your Norfolk & Dedham bill, please contact the carrier directly.

Our agency will continue to monitor any developments, changes, and announcements that come from any of our carriers. If you have any questions on the pending refunds or credits, billing questions, or any other concerns, please contact a Benjamin Agency representative today, we’d be happy to assist and answer any questions that you may have.

New hands-free law goes into effect this weekend - What you need to know!

As drivers are out on the roads this weekend, a new law will take effect this Sunday, February 23. A distracted driving law was passed to ban all cell phone use while driving, except for devices in hands-free mode. The ban closes a loophole in the 2010 distracted driving law that made it virtually impossible for police to enforce the ban on texting while driving. The law won’t prohibit drivers from making phone calls but they’ll need to be aware of a number of new rules.

Here’s what you need to know!

• Massachusetts already bans texting while driving and all handheld phone use by drivers under the age of 18. The new law now means that this will also now apply to adult drivers, unless their device is in hands-free mode.

• Drivers under the age of 18 are still prohibited from any sort of phone use, even in hands-free mode.

• Adult drivers may still make calls, but only by using a hands-free device, like a bluetooth earpiece or speaker, or wearable technology like an AppleWatch. Whatever the technology, drivers must have both hands available to operate the vehicle.

• If you must make a call without a hands-free device, you must pull over or off the roadway, without blocking traffic to make the call.

• To make a call while driving, or use a GPS device, drivers must use a voice command or virtual assistant like Siri to operate the device. With exceptions for emergencies, drivers must abide by a “one-touch” rule to receive or dictate a message or to make a call.

Here’s what it could cost you:

• For a first offense, police may issue a $100 ticket. Upon a second offense, a $250 ticket, and upon a third or any subsequent violation, a $500 ticket.

• After a second offense, drivers will be required to complete a course on distracted driving.

• Just like a speeding ticket, drivers who continue to get pulled over and ticketed will be subject to insurance surcharges.

From Sunday through the end of March, law enforcement will be in a public education mode, where warnings will be issued, but soon - drivers can expect to receive a ticket if they are pulled over for having a phone in their hands.

We encourage all drivers to operate their vehicles with care and remain focused on the road!