GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Only because you made it home “safely” does not make drunk driving a good choice. People usually tend to neglect the severity of driving under the influence of alcohol. When you decide to drive home in a drunken state, you endanger your own life and the lives of people around you on the road.

Regardless of your driving skills, mixing driving with alcohol can put you at a higher risk of causing an accident, injury, or even death.

In India, statistics say that the cases of drink and drive are on larger sides. As a result, we hear news of accidents, unfortunate deaths of people on roads, and damages to vehicles. The only solution is to avoid driving when drunk.

Here, let’s have a look at the consequences of driving under alcohol influence.

1. Lack of coordination and slowed reflexes:
When you consume alcohol, your body starts reacting to events slowly. Because you won’t be able to respond immediately, the chances of an accident increases. While under the influence of alcohol, your motor control, such as hand, eyes, and foot coordination will slow down. These coordination abilities are vital for safe driving, and alcohol should not hinder them.

2. Increased chances of getting into an accident:
A driver with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.10 percent or above is seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident than a sober driver. A driver with a BAC of 0.15 percent or above increases their risk by 25 times. And, while these figures demonstrate the dangers of drunk driving, being at or below the legal limit does not indicate you are safe.

3. Disturbed vision:
Drinking may cause your vision to blur or cause your eyes to manoeuvre on their own. You will even partially lose control over your eye movement. This vision impairment can influence how you’re able to judge the space between your car and other vehicles or objects on the road. You may even lose your visual modality, which plays a crucial role in safe driving. In general, the more you’ve had to drink, the more impaired your vision could be.

4. Poor decision making:
Even a small amount of alcohol can impair your judgment and concentration. Driving requires so much of your undivided attention that it isn’t worth the risk. You must be able to stay in your lane, control your speed, give other drivers adequate space and attention, and obey traffic signals. Because alcohol affects your attention, it dramatically increases your chances of being involved in an accident.

5. Your insurance premiums may rise:
Your driving risk partly determines your insurance premiums. For example, a person convicted of drunk driving will have to pay higher car insurance premiums. This is because the insurance company will most certainly classify that person as a high-risk driver and increases your private car insurance as a result.

Overall, the risks of drinking and driving significantly outweigh the benefit of hoping to arrive home safely. Even when sober, driving a car is challenging in our country. You need to understand that you all have a family back home, be responsible and take care of yourselves. For additional protection, make sure you take the appropriate decision and invest in private car insurance.

To look for private car insurance, click HERE .

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Children are full of energy, and therefore they tend to have a higher risk of being injured in a moving vehicle. Ensuring the maximum safety of your child is an essential part of parenting, and the same is applicable when you are travelling with your kid.

Especially if you have a toddler, you have a higher responsibility of ensuring their safety. Although Indian law has not made having a child seat mandatory, you as a parent can take numerous measures for your child. Ensuring the safety of your car and yourself is equally important as accidents, and unwanted situations occur uninvited. Search for online car insurance and buy one ideal for you if you haven't purchased the right insurance policy yet.

Here are five reasons why you must have a child seat.

1. Safer compared to holding the child in arms:
One of the common myths parents believe is that holding your baby in your arms will protect them better. However, when an unwanted situation arises, your arms may not be sufficient to hold your kid tightly.

2. Seat belts are not convenient for kids:
Irrespective of the car you own, all the seat belts are designed from the adult's body perspective. In an accident or when you pull a sudden break, this may result in the baby falling and getting injured. Child seats are comfortable, and they keep the baby safe from jerks and bumps.

3. Lack of concentration while driving:
Most parents are worried about what their child is doing in the back seat or whether they are safe when they do not have a child seat in the car. Parents constantly look at their children while driving, and this distraction can cause accidents. Having a child seat will ensure they do not move and are protected with a comfortable seat belt. This will help you to just concentrate on the road and your car.

4. Kids are incredibly active:
Kids are filled with energy most of the time. A baby can try to open the dashboard, attempt to open the door and injure themselves. A child seat will ensure your kids do not attempt to act unsafely.

5. A newborn should only travel in car seats:
The most common myth is that parents believe their newborn is highly fragile in a car seat. However, the truth is, they should only travel in a car seat. A child seat is designed in a way that ensures the safety plus comfort of the baby.

Things to know before picking the right child seat:

• Pick a seat that meets the safety standards set by the country. You can see this on the label of the child seat.

• Learn how to install the seat. The label has all the instructions, plus there will be someone in the store who will assist you or help with the first installation.

• Make sure to fill the product registration form. Furthermore, check out the warranty and the brand's name by doing a little research about it on the internet and checking the reviews. Since it's a question of your child's safety, be cautious while picking the right one.

There are professional companies involved in making a child seat with expertise and immense research background. If you are travelling with a baby, having a child seat should be your priority as a responsible parent. And, as a responsible owner, getting online car insurance should be the next thing on your priority list. Implement all these points, and then you are all set to go on joy rides with your child.

Click HERE to know more about an online car insurance policy.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Living long is not a myth. There are plenty of ways to improve your life expectancy rate and improve the overall quality of your life. Since childhood, we have been hearing the adults guide us on our habits. That’s right; there is no rocket science behind adding those extra five years, but everything that your mother told you. Besides it, having health insurance is also a part of protection you need to consider, as it keeps you stress-free and allows you to focus on your well-being.

In this post, we will spotlight all the right moves giving you extra five years to enjoy life! Let’s dive in!

1. Healthy food for a wealthy mood:
Maintaining and eating a healthy diet has never been as challenging as it is now. Due to hectic work schedules and trying to balance our social and personal lives, we often neglect our food. Most people prefer grabbing a quick fast food on the go. However, they often fail to realize the consequences of regularly consuming fast food in the long run.
A healthy diet must include lots of green vegetables, nuts, dry fruits, natural sources of proteins including beans and fish, and more. Adding turmeric to your diet also plays a vital role as it has curcumin that facilitates anti-ageing strategies. You can also consult a nutritionist if you want to focus on your food intake highly.

2. Getting drunk makes your junk:
Everyone likes to take a few drinks during parties, festivals, holidays, and other events. However, when you’re taking that sip of your favourite wine, be extra careful over how much you are consuming. Alcohol can play the role of both – being healthy and damaging simultaneously, depending on your intake. Regular higher intake of alcohol can cause life-threatening diseases and damage your liver and other organs.

3. Look fit, feel fit – exercise regularly:
This is something that we’ve been hearing as a child. Fitness and your life expectancy go hand in hand. Keeping your body physically active alone includes plenty of health benefits. According to research, 15 minutes of physical exercise a day can add up to three years in your life and promote a healthy lifestyle.

4. Smoking isn't cool:
No, you do not need “just one drag”. Whether you smoke one a day or a packet a day, you’re at an equal risk of early death and health problems, especially lung damages. In addition, smokers may reduce up to 10 years of their life compared to those who have never touched a cigarette. If you are already a smoker, know that you can always find the right solution and take the initiative to quit. You may seek help to quit smoking and find a healthy and non-damaging alternative.

5. Better weight, better life:
Many diseases can be signalled goodbye when you maintain a healthy weight. A healthy weight varies from one person to another depending on various factors, including gender, age, height, and more. Being underweight can welcome unnecessary health issues. Similarly, being overweight also puts you at a higher risk of health conditions. It is in your best interest to contact your physician and take their guidance on your ideal weight.

Although these five tips are enough to push you towards a healthy lifestyle, health issues can still arise. Irrespective of your age, you can encounter multiple problems, from a simple pain in your leg to severe disease.

Protecting yourself and your loved ones with health insurance can be another primary step that you should consider to live a healthy and long life.

Click HERE to know more about the health insurance plans that fit your needs.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Transport is the lifeline of civilization, and the role of low-cost transportation in a developing country like India is crucial. For a larger section of society in urban, semi-urban and rural areas, cars are non-affordable. Therefore, two-wheelers are an all-time favourite among the middle class who can afford something more sophisticated than a bicycle.

While two-wheelers are necessary for many, poor road conditions, unorganized and rash driving, and traffic rules violations make bikers unsafe. Therefore, it is always important to stay safe on the road, ride with proper safety gear and always wear a helmet. To get additional protection for your two-wheeler, you can purchase 2 wheeler insurance online. Insurance can be of great help to overcome the losses due to mistakes that happen on the roads.

Let's have a look at a few common mistakes to avoid while riding a two-wheeler.

1. Listening to music:
Nowadays, many helmets come equipped with a Bluetooth system, with which you can attend calls. They can also communicate with other riders during a group ride, but many people misuse this feature by listening to music through Bluetooth. Music can be distracting to severe extents. It reduces your alertness, and you compromise with your listening ability too. It is always important to have situational attentiveness when in traffic. You can listen to music on a long trip, but that too on a low volume. Be sure that you are still able to hear the faint noises of other approaching vehicles.

2. Travelling at night:
People try to cover long distances at night to avoid the harsh sun during the day, but it can be hazardous. Riding at night is way more challenging than riding in broad daylight. Naturally, the human biological clock winds down at night, thus, making you feel sleepy. So, if you are not a professional rider, it is highly unsafe for you to ride long distances at night. Try to start early in the morning and ride till midday to cover long distances instead of riding at night.

3. Carrying heavy loads:
People have a habit of using their scooters to transport goods for a short distance which can be dangerous. Not only does it deteriorate the performance of the vehicle in the long run, but also affects the braking mechanism. Riding with more than the gross axle weight compromises the vehicle's ability to stop under panic braking situations. So be sure to check out your vehicle's gross axle weight (GAW) on the manufacturing company's website.

4. Overtaking at a blind curve:
At the blind curves on the road, you can only see a few meters in front of you. In such situations, it is risky to overtake the vehicle ahead of you because you may be unaware of any vehicle approaching from the blind side of the curve.

We all have come across at least one person who has met with an accident while riding a bike. Two-wheelers are convenient and cost-effective, but they are also more prone to accidents. So, be doubly sure to have a valid insurance cover, and if you don't have one, we suggest buying a 2 wheeler insurance online. It will financially back you in case of an accident. Be cautious while riding to have safer journeys!

Planning to buy 2 wheeler insurance online? Click HERE for details.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

It is our lifelong emotional dream to have a home for us. It is where we make the most memories with our families and cherish them for the rest of our lives. So, have you already decided to build your house? Congratulations to you on your decision!

But you can't imagine a piece of land as your home as it requires a lot of planning and proper construction. It is advisable to hire professionals as you will spend your life savings on this one project. In this article, we have put together some suggestions to help you design and construct your house.

1. Decide your budget:
The crucial aspect of constructing your own house is the budget. Your budget should be precise and inclusive of the expenses involved, from laying the bricks to finally stepping into your newly constructed home after completion. Remember, after building your house, you should have enough money to support a comfortable living for your family.

2. List the space requirements:
Have an idea of how many bedrooms you wish to have. What should be the appropriate size of your living room and kitchen? Will you need a separate kid's play area or a pooja room? Listing all the requirements will make the design work hassle-free, and the blueprint of your house can be accordingly finalized.

3. Hire an architect:
Find a good architect by looking at some of the portfolios online to better understand their expertise and intent. Then, make sure that the architect offers you the best suggestions for your house. An architect will,

• Make a few designs for you to select from.

• Supervise construction periodically.

• Check and certify the contractor's bills.

• Prepare structural design, Bill of Quantities (BOQ), cost estimates, drawings for approval to the authority, a tender document with T and Cs.

Always sign a formal contract with the architect specifying responsibilities and payment of the architect and associates.

4. Concept Phase:
Finalize the architectural design and appoint an interior designer if necessary. Based on the designer and finishing, you can get a better idea of the final budget.

5. Detailed design:
The structural engineers and electrical consultants will develop the designs and details based on architectural drawings. So it becomes convenient for these people to arrange for the materials and manage the required manpower. A detailed design also helps decisions regarding the flooring materials, ceramic fixtures, CP, fittings, requirements of light points, internet, ceiling fans, etc.

6. Approval from the authorities:
It is essential to obtain prior approval and sanctions for the drawings prepared by the architect. Make sufficient copies of the drawings as these will be required to get power, water, and sewage connections.

7. Tender phase:
The architect prepares a tender document to get the best prices and shares it with a few contractors. Then, you can meet the contractors to negotiate further and discuss essential points like the date of commencement and completion, terms of payment, any additional requirements, etc.

Once the construction phase gets over, the finishing stage commences. Now, collect all the documents related to the project, such as architectural, structural, and services drawings, warranties, final bills, and other necessary documents.

It feels incredible when you see the steel bars, layers of bricks glued with cement taking the shape of your house. You will feel accomplished by observing your progress because just thinking of building a house is itself a bold decision, and successfully making it is even bolder!

There is much discussion on how to construct your house, but what once it is ready? How will you ensure its security? For this, you can go on the web and search for a 'general insurance online quote' and buy the most suitable home insurance to secure your priceless possession financially.

Planning to buy a new home? Click HERE to check out a home insurance plan suitable for you.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

When you start driving, you don't become an expert overnight. For any perfect driver, it takes a good amount of practice every day. Also, for error-free driving, it is necessary to identify and rectify the common driving mistakes. The statistic shows that nearly 98% of the road accidents result from human errors and sheer unawareness. Here are some of the common driving errors that you might be doing ignorantly.

1. Distracted driving:
Most road accidents happen because of our distracted driving. So what are the most common reasons for distraction? Usage of mobile phones while driving tops the list. We feel an urgency to read the message or answer the call immediately that we can't resist it even while driving. But in reality, it's not always the case. We forget the fine line between urgency and emergency and end up committing this small error that can land us in massive trouble while driving.

2. Sitting position and driving posture:
Sometimes your driving pattern harms your body. Getting comfortable in your car with the correct sitting position is necessary. It might affect your back and spine. In addition, your posture can compromise your control over your vehicle, such as pushing the brakes and clutch, which can cause you some trouble.

3. Disobeying/ignoring signal lights:
Now, without getting caught by traffic police, the advancement of CCTV over the roads will burn your pockets when you break the signal. But, we still end up making those silly mistakes like ignoring the yellow/amber signal light. Yellow/amber signal lights are an indicator to "slow down", and when it turns red, you are supposed to "stop". But we prefer to "speed up" so that we don't need to stop and wait at a red light. And that's where most of the car crashing occurs.

4. Unused mirrors/indicators of your vehicle:
The rear-view and side mirrors of your car have some purpose. These mirrors are used to look for the vehicles behind you and on either side of your car.

5. Light indicators while driving:
Lights installed on your vehicle play a vital role in safety. Unfortunately, many of us don't use indicators. It can be unfortunate for you and the vehicles following your car on curvy roads or turnings. It is a good practice to use indicators so that vehicles behind you can be alert and slow down without hitting your car.
Driving with a high beam at night is prone to disaster; it is useful when driving on streets or roads without streetlights. However, it can distract and even blind the other drivers on a two-way road especially.

6. Switching lanes at turns:
Driving and switching lanes is equally dangerous. Start early, if you anticipate some traffic, so that you don't have to indulge in rash driving and over-speeding. Know that life is much more important than the destination you want to reach.

On a conclusive note, we must hold ourselves responsible for ensuring safety on roads. Therefore, practice safe driving and purchase car insurance for more safety of your car and yourself. And timely car insurance renewal is equally necessary for extended protection of your valuable possession.

Are you looking for a renewal of car insurance? Click HERE.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

The concept of "no time" gradually becomes an excuse for most urban populations not to exercise at all. The long working hours and corporate lifestyle has made life more stressful than before. The hectic schedules leave little or no time for us to go to the gym for workouts.

Remove the idea that hitting the gym is the only way to have a good physique and a healthy life. Instead, take out just 25 minutes from your daily schedule to do some easy workout exercises to fit.

Here is an exercise plan for you that you can practice without the need for any extra weight other than your body weight.

Warm-Up Exercises

Warm-up is crucial before starting any exercise or physical activity to avoid the possibility of serious injuries. You may include the following exercise in your warm-up routine;

• On spot jog

• On spot jumps

• Knee to chest stretch

• Heel to butt stretch

• Side bends (both sides)

• Forward bend

• Arm and wrist circling

After a good warm-up, it's time to go all-in.

1. Chin-ups (Trains your back and arm strength) –
Directions: You can either purchase a chin-up bar or simply use a structure or a solid beam in your home for doing chin-ups. Place your arms at shoulder width on the bar to get a proper grip for performing the exercise. Hold yourselves at the upward position for 30 seconds, and then gently lower yourself. You've just finished one rep; buckle up for the next!

2. Squats (Trains your Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Glutes):
Directions: Keep your feet hip-width apart, and all of your hips, knees, and toes should be pointing forward. Bend your knees and stretch your buttocks outward as if you were preparing to sit on a chair. Make sure your knees are not crossing your toes, and your weight is on your heels. Rise and repeat the process by maintaining the proper posture and focusing on your breathing.

3. Push-ups (Trains your Triceps, Pectoral muscles, Shoulders):
Directions: Push-ups are the most effective exercise in a workout segment. To do a push-up, get down on your arms and legs, position your hands slightly wider than your shoulders. Then, straighten your arms and legs and go down till the point where your chest touches the floor.

You should feel that tightness in your triceps, chest, and shoulders. But, it is important to manage your breathing pattern during a push-up. When going down, take a deep breath, and release it when coming back up.

Complete as many repetitions as possible in 45 seconds for each exercise. Once time is up, take a 1-2 minutes break before starting round 2. Then, complete a couple of rounds of the whole set, and don't forget to stretch nicely after a good workout session.

To sum it up, practice these home exercises and encourage your family members to do them for at least 25 minutes a day. The results will be slow, but they’ll be evident. Also, we suggest you have a health insurance plan that serves as additional protection and a safety net for you and your family.

Click HERE to know about the best health insurance plans.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

YouTube is a great platform to interact with millions of people and show your creativity through videos. According to the current industry facts, YouTube is the second most visited website after its parent website Google.

Where there is potential, opportunities dive in. The enthusiastic Millennials and Gen Zs go crazy for video blogging culture and wish to seize the big opportunities to start a YouTube channel. They want to create and post video content of their own to inspire others.

If you are passionate about riding motorcycles, you have an incredible chance to integrate your passion with inspiring video content through moto vlogging. If you are looking for a roadmap on how to turn your ambition of starting a YouTube moto vlogging channel into reality, you are at the right place!

Let’s start from the basics. A moto vlog is a video filled with cinematic shots highlighting a rider’s bike journey to a destination in a few minutes. Riding trips are known for exploring, and when someone captures his experiences in a video, it looks incredible!

1. Where to begin?
Start by planning your video. Your video must convey a story; otherwise, it is just a random clip. Avoid throwing in random facts anywhere; instead, prepare a script to narrate the video in an enticing story. Whenever you are putting your content online, like uploading your moto vlog on YouTube, you must analyze your content from the audience’s perspective. Therefore, your vlog should have ‘WOW’ elements that will steal the attention of your audience every single second. On your channel, you can also make informative videos about bike reviews, the latest models and trends in mobility, awareness content like the importance of Bike Insurance to avoid content saturation. In addition, you can refer to other moto vlogging videos.

2. Planning a route:
For the first video, select a well-versed route that you have frequently visited so that you won’t face any difficulties while expressing your experiences. Next, film your journey with spectacular and diverse views to make it visually appealing for the viewers. Also, consider routes that are challenging for bikers as those always excite the people to watch them.

3. Equipment:
Quality equipment and accessories are an essential part while creating content as they help you make your vlog with ease and ensure top-quality video content. The three main things you require are –

Camera: Cameras are the essential elements of vlogging video because the overall quality of your vlog depends upon your camera and its results. Therefore, investing in a high-quality camera is an intelligent choice. Buy the best action cameras which can capture even a single second of recording of any perfect shot

Microphone: You can’t seriously rely on your camera’s microphone to record your voice. Instead, you will need an external microphone to filter the background noise and record your speech.

Mount: Your video will keep people engaged if you have shots from multiple angles. To get the best angles, you will need a mount to attach your camera to your helmet, different parts of your bike like the steering handlebar, side mirrors, etc.

4. Focus on Editing:
Brush up your editing skills and try to be creative with video editing. You can always hire an editor or use some online video editing tools for the best results. Just recording videos is not it; editing is one of the significant checkpoints to make the vlog ready to be posted on your channel.

Though moto vlogging is becoming increasingly competitive with each passing day, it is still exciting to see new vloggers share their latest stories through cinematic videos. So kick-start it if you have a deep passion for motorcycle riding and share it with everyone out there.

Looking for a bike insurance plan? Click HERE to get the best insurance for your bike.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.