GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Learning to drive is a thrilling moment for teenagers. Transitioning from remote-control cars to handling the steering physically boosts the adrenaline for every youth. But this situation can be daunting for the parents. Statistics suggest that parents have valid reasons to be concerned because underage drivers are more likely to be involved in a car accident than any other age group.

Teenagers have better vision, faster reaction timing, and an acute sense of hearing than adults. Then why are accidents more common in this specific age group? In this article, we share the top reasons for accidents involving teen drivers;

1. They think differently, to begin with:
Teenagers are still maturing, and their brains are highly active. Studies have shown that the part of their brain that supervises planning and controlling impulses is still developing. Hence they’re more prone than adults to indulge in dangerous activities and struggle to evaluate the consequences of their actions while driving.

2. Lacking experience:
Teenage drivers are unprepared to make the judgments that drivers must make to be safe. They are still learning the road laws, traffic discipline, and the fundamental operations of a car. Furthermore, being impulsive, as mentioned above, combined with inexperience, lead to disastrous results.

3. Distractions are everywhere:
From smartphones, talkative co-passengers (mostly peers), or the latest track by their favourite artist blasting on the music system, the list goes on for the things that distract the young drivers while driving.
Teenage drivers may be cautious and stay focused to avoid distractions in their early stages of driving. However, the more comfortable they get behind the wheel, the more likely they are to participate in activities like texting on the go, scrolling through their social feed, or searching for a song.

4. Driving under the influence of intoxication:
As they’re underage, they are not legally allowed to drink. If you think from a teenager’s perspective, the safest place to chug some beer is in the car. Driving under the influence of a substance is a significant threat to other commuters as the mistake can adversely affect the lives of many.

5. Seatbelts? Not a need:
According to statistics, youngsters take wearing seatbelts casually. This casual approach leads to injuries and increases the chances of life-threatening situations in case of an accident.

If you're a parent and reading this article, imagining such situations can make you worry. Your best bet is to create a healthy environment with your children by laying out driving rules and ensuring they follow them. Your kids often take you as an example when they drive; make sure you set a good example for them by driving responsibly. Tell them about the possible consequences of their actions and the trouble they can get into. Also, make it clear that they cannot drive without holding a valid driving license.

Many things can be taught to your young one to get started, like wearing a seat belt, avoiding speeding, especially during the darker hours of the day. To give your car additional protection, make sure you invest in good private car insurance. This will help you adhere to the mandatory laws of our country and cover your loved one in case of an accident.

Click HERE to buy new private car insurance today.

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.

At some point in time, you've consciously or subconsciously imagined worst-case situations for your car, including accidents, terrible weather encounters, or theft. Ever wondered about infestation attacks on your car?

Underneath your engine, it's dark and warm - a healthy and ideal environment that suits these little creatures. The chance of your car getting infested by rodents drastically rises during these colder months as your car acts as a shield for them against predators and insulates them from the cold.

Rodents often cause significant damage to your vehicle by eating wires, defecating, creating nests, and accumulating food inside your engine. To save you from the trips to pest controls and spending your hard-earned money on repairing the damaged parts, we've put out some pointers that will help you in keeping the rodents off of your vehicle.

1. Keep your car moving:
Rodents like to make their base into cars that don't often move. Taking your car out once in a while can help. A moving vehicle won't give them the time to get comfortable, and they are less likely to make the car their camp.

2. Clean your car thoroughly:
Rodents will build their nests in places where they can readily collect food. To begin, make sure your car is free of any dropped food. Vacuum through your vehicle and collect each bit of fallen food, no matter whether it's the snack you ate while stuck in traffic or it's your dog's food. Get rid of the leftovers and trash thoroughly.
If, unfortunately, your car was already home to rodents, the scent of them remains. This creates a possibility that the same creature or someone is attracted to the smell and returns. Be sure to get rid of all the droppings, nesting material, and chewed-up debris.

3. Have an anti-rodent parking space:
Keeping food and water off your garage is equally essential. Rats like to relax and feed in locations that are dark, quiet, and appear to be safe. They dislike being in open spaces. You don't want to have any hiding spots that aren't required. You should keep grain sacks, food containers, and everything else of a similar kind away from your car and the parking spaces.

4. Keep the hood of your car open:
When your car stays parked for an extended amount of time, leave the bonnet open. Additionally, leave a light on above the bonnet during the night time. As we mentioned earlier, rodents love dark places. Keeping the engine area bright makes them less likely to settle in.

*Pro-tip: Focus some lights on your tyres and place traps beside them; this will help keep rodents at bay. Rodents generally enter the vehicle engine climbing through the tyres.

5. Insure your car against animal attacks:
Car insurance helps safeguard the car and the driver and protects against the damages caused by animals, including rodents. The stress on your pockets caused due to the repairs of chewed wires can be immense. Control it by getting comprehensive car insurance today to add value to your car!

Rodent attacks are a common problem in India that frustrates car owners. They bring in unexpected damages and financial losses and, most importantly, leave the car inoperative at the time of need. Follow these tips mentioned above to stop the activities of these little trouble makers early on. If you've already faced an issue with them, take care that you don't repeat the same mistakes.

Click HERE to get the best car insurance in the market.

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.

Frugal living contemplates a lifestyle in which a person is cautious about spending money and utilizing available resources. Many people mistake frugal living for cheap living; first let us clear the air about it. Even though the ultimate aim of both the groups is to save money, being frugal and cheap are two distinct concepts that possess different approaches. Individuals who prefer going cheap are solely motivated by the price tag, while frugal individuals prioritize the value of service over its cost.

Do you love savings but don't want to be inferior to your life priorities? Here are the 08 benefits of a frugal lifestyle.

1. It helps you understand your priorities:
Frugality enhances your outlook toward the goods you buy. When you spend money for a month on only the genuinely essential things, you'll be astonished at how simple it is to identify your priorities.

2. More time for your passion:
Once you start living frugally, your financial status improves with each economic decision. Once this is achieved, you'll move further away from a cycle of pay-checks. This is how you start enjoying financial freedom.

3. You become more eco-friendly:
You do your bit for mother earth when you make frugal choices. It's straightforward. Your only essential shopping habits help reduce the carbon footprints. The most noticeable environmental benefit of less shopping is the less waste created by it.

4. Declutter your life:
We buy goods in our consumerism-driven society that we don't really need. When you attempt to be a frugalist, you only spend on what you actually need and ignore the rest. When you have less stuff to deal with, you'll feel less burdened and stressed. This way, a frugal lifestyle will improve your standard of living.

5. Gain your peace of mind:
When the going gets tough, frugal living allows you to handle it better. Losing your salary isn't as frightening if you live a low-cost lifestyle, have a rainy day fund at your disposal. It is simple to get out of debt and develop a financial cushion to fall back on when you live frugally.

6. Improves your happiness quotient:
With less stress and worries, you invite extra happiness in your life. Also, it's essential to understand that real happiness is not materialistic. Next time you get an urge to go on a shopping spree, try volunteering for a social cause and measure your level of satisfaction. You'll feel great.

7. Planning early retirement:
Your dream of taking early retirement can be a reality with a frugal lifestyle. As you'll have a financial cushion for you, it will be easier for you to say goodbye to your working days.

8. More money to add to your savings and expand investments:
It can amaze you to realize the amount of money you can save once you start making economic choices. Every time you make a frugal decision, the money you will save can be invested into your portfolio of socks, repay your loans, buy essential general insurance etc.

Your quest to live a simpler life gets a new definition with frugality. It is an effective strategy for sailing your financial ship and bringing much-needed peace of mind as well as a sense of security. Remember, you don't have to cut short on your essential needs, such as a healthy lifestyle, home, travel or general insurance. Instead, you are required to be mindful of your spending on every action. The key to the door of happiness is in your hands. Unlock it!

Click HERE to know more about general insurance.

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.

Climate change is not a new threat to our planet, and we all are well aware of it. Large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions endanger wildlife and nature, and the bare minimum we can do is watch our actions, refine them, and reduce damage as much as possible. As per the studies, airlines alone are one of the biggest reasons of carbon emissions for the environment.

At the time of severe climate challenges, both the tourism industry and travellers are adopting green ways to minimise their carbon footprints. Most conscious travellers recommend embracing a travel culture that is environment-friendly and sustainable. As a traveller, you can always opt for a minimal carbon footprint and a sustainable form of travel.

We recommend following travel practices that help contribute towards zero carbon footprints:

1. Flying to nearby destinations should be shunned; instead, use public transportation like buses or trains. Take flight only if the distance is far, and make sure to book flights with no layovers.

2. One-time use of plastic products such as water bottles will increase the weight and the waste. Instead, carry mostly reusable items and do not pack heavy.

3. Choose efficient modes of transport to travel to your destination. Simply do walking, ride a bike, or take local public transportation when sightseeing.

4. Avoid looking for your traditional food abroad and try the local cuisine. The imported food items emit a tremendous amount of carbon footprint.

5. Purchase meaningful, valuable, and authentic local souvenirs only. Avoid mass-produced clothes, plastic trinkets and cheap articles made on an assembly line in third countries.

6. Rather than packing or purchasing new equipment for your adventures, look for options to rent it on location. Again, sharing is better than possessing for the environment.

7. Stay in an environment-friendly local hotel and contribute to the local economy. Avoid unnecessary use of modern amenities if you have greener options.

8. Plan the tour in a manner that does not include exploitation of the wildlife and the life of the residents - question yourself about the ethics and effectiveness of each trip you take.

9. Keep an eye out for the local resources. The holiday attitude should not be an excuse to overlook how your presence negatively affects the people and environment in the area.

10. Evidence shows that travel makes individuals more sympathetic and creative and stimulates them to engage more actively in intercultural contexts. Be considerate to your purchasing if you want to reduce your carbon footprint.

11. Support projects and organisations that promote sustainable tourism. You may also donate to non-profits that advocate for climate action and help the tourist sector transition to a carbon-free future.

Travel has the power to change a person’s perspective of everything literally, and one should never discontinue it. However, during your journey, you should ensure that it preserves destinations and that our future generations have the opportunity to travel too.

With the planet's future at stake, conscious travel is the key to contributing to a better local environment and communities. But Remember to be sensible enough to protect your travel as well from any mishap while you undertake these trip. Always ensure general insurance that covers your travel you are planning next. You can easily get general insurance online quotes and purchase one for yourself before starting that meaningful trip.

There is no planet B, and with little effort from each individual, we can reverse the clock on this. So, let us travel green!

Get quick general insurance online quotes 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.