Please take a moment to read the following warning signs for spotting a drunk driver on the road:

• Straddling lanes or driving on the center line
• Drifting or moving in a straight line at a slight angle to the roadway
• Driving with headlights off at night
• Erratic braking or stopping without cause
• Driving below the speed limit
• Slow response to traffic signals (sudden stop, delayed start)
• Nearly striking an object, curb, etc
• Weaving or zigzagging across the road
• Driving on the wrong side of the road or completely off the roadway
• Tailgating

To protect families from drunk drivers over the holidays and year-round, here are some potential life-saving tips from Allstate and the National Safety Council:

• Don’t ever drink and drive. If you know you will be drinking alcohol, use a designated driver or public transportation. At New Year’s parties, distribute cards with phone numbers of local taxi services and have non-alcoholic champagne available.
• If you spot an impaired driver on the highway, maintain a safe following distance and don’t attempt to pass.
• Report a suspected drunk driver immediately to area law enforcement from your car phone or a pay phone. Give police as much information (i.e., license plate number, make, model and color of vehicle, direction vehicle is traveling, physical description of driver) as possible. Do not try and stop the vehicle.
• Make sure children are properly fastened in seatbelts or child safety seats in the back seat every time they ride in a car. Six out of ten children killed in crashes are not restrained. Children age 12 and under should always ride in the back seat, especially in vehicles with air bags.
• Allow enough travel time for frequent breaks on longer trips. Drowsiness can reduce reaction time almost as much as drinking.

“Drunk drivers unfortunately share the road with you and your family,” said Allstate spokesman John Heid. “Even if you never drink and drive, you can help save lives by being a responsible party host, preventing friends and acquaintances from driving drunk, and reporting suspicious drivers.”

For more information on safe driving tips or auto insurance, contact our office at

843-766-1221 or 843-881-1921.

Drivers are faced with the added distractions of holiday music, traffic jams, and congested mall parking lots and other shopping areas with pedestrians and moving vehicles. With so many things to do, and so little time to do it, it’s no wonder why we try to multitask while driving.

Allstate has conducted extensive research, which has found that eliminating distractions in the car can help drivers avoid accidents and ultimately save lives. Texting, talking on the phone, changing the radio, eating, putting on makeup and joking around with friends all increase the odds of a crash.

Can you imagine if everyone invited these distractions in during the holidays? Multitask a little less, and keep the roads safer.

Don’t let distractions ruin your holiday spirit this season. Here at Allstate we encourage you to practice caution behind the wheel. We know accidents happen, but that shouldn’t get you down.

Here are some good driver safety tips:

• Keep your eyes on the road.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Do not eat while driving
• Do not apply cosmetics or groom if you are behind the wheel.
• Pull over if you feel drowsy.

For more information on these or any other safety tips, please contact 843-766-1221 or 843-881-1921.

According to the National Fire Association (NFPA), at least one person died in one out of each 18 home fires started due to holiday lights and other decorative lighting between the years of 2005-09. In that same time span, the statistics reveal that one person died per 1,411 total home fires. The NFTA also noted that fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting caused an average of 150 fires, eight civilian deaths, 14 injuries and $8.5 million in property damage annually.

“There are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday,” says Allstate spokesman John Heid. “By following these steps, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday casualty.”

The National Safety Council and Allstate offer the following safety tips to ensure a fire or other accident does not spoil your holiday season:

Christmas Trees:

• A real tree can fill your home with beauty and the scent of pine. But a real tree can also pose a fire hazard. Select a fresh tree by looking for one that is green. The needles of pines and spruces should bend and not break and should be hard to pull off the branches. On fir species, a needle pulled from a fresh tree will snap when bent, much like a fresh carrot. Also, look for a trunk sticky with sap.

• Cut off about two inches of the trunk and put the tree in a sturdy, water-holding stand. Keep the stand filled with water so the tree does not dry out quickly.

• Stand your tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Make sure the tree does not block foot traffic or doorways.

• If you use an artificial tree, choose one that is tested and labeled as fire resistant. Artificial trees with built-in electrical systems should have the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label.

Tree Lights:

• Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors. Look for the UL label. Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or barbed wires, or loose connections. Replace or repair any damaged light sets.

• Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Extension cords should be placed against the wall to avoid tripping hazards, but do not run cords under rugs.

• Turn off all lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

Tree Ornaments:

• Always use the proper step tool or ladder to reach high places.

• Read labels before you use materials in jars, cans and spray cans.

• Never place lighted candles on a tree or near any flammable materials.

• Avoid placing breakable tree ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower branches where small children or pets can reach them.

• Do not hang popcorn chains and candy canes on the tree when small children are present.  They may think that other tree ornaments are also edible.

Don’t let a Christmas tree fire ruin your holiday season. Instead, focus on what matters most – keeping your family safe and happy during the holidays.

For more information on these or any other safety tips, please contact our office at

(843) 766-1221 or  (843) 881-1921.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), there are 1.6 million deer-vehicle collisions annually, resulting in 200 occupant deaths, more than 10,000 injuries and over $3.6 billion paid out in vehicle damage.

“Once the first frost arrives, male deer activity increases and we see more auto and deer collisions,” says Allstate spokesman John Heid. “Drivers need to be extra cautious when driving to make sure that they do not hit deer running across the road. Not only can the deer be harmed, but it is also a dangerous situation for the passengers in the vehicle, not to mention the potential damage to an automobile.”

Allstate Insurance Company offers the following tips for avoiding deer and auto collision from the I.I.I.:

• Deer are not just found on rural roads near wooded areas, many deer crashes occur on busy highways near cities.
• Deer are unpredictable, especially when faced with glaring headlights, blowing horns and fast-moving vehicles. They often dart into traffic.
• Deer often move in groups. If you see one, there are likely more in the vicinity.
• Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland.
• Always wear your seat belt and stay awake, alert and sober.
• When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.
• Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not proven effective.
•  Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.

Call our office at 843-766-1221 or 843-881-1921 for more safety tips.

The survey reveals that the average American driver has experienced more than four individual instances of a disabled vehicle, and nearly two in three have suffered some form of inconvenience or delay because of it. One in five Americans has been stranded for more than two hours due to a disabled vehicle.

Yet 84 percent of drivers say it’s not likely that they would find themselves in a situation where their car is not drivable due to a mechanical breakdown or a number of other common problems. This sense of security is even shared by 82 percent of those who have personally experienced four or more such situations.

Break down 
Despite what drivers say they think will happen, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of Americans have experienced an auto breakdown or other situation:

• Seventy-nine percent have experienced a flat tire, 77 percent have had a dead car battery, 68 percent had a car that wouldn’t start, and 67 percent have been in an accident.
• Fifty-nine percent say they have locked keys in the car, 33 percent have lost keys, 38 percent have run out of gas, and 36 percent have had their car vandalized, broken into or stolen.

Maintenance has its benefits
Many occurrences of disabled vehicles happen as a result of unforeseen accidents, unavoidable circumstances, or simply bad luck – situations over which drivers have little or no control. But the survey reveals there may be a correlation between how frequently drivers have routine maintenance performed on their vehicles and the occurrence of a disabled vehicle.

• The 63 percent of drivers who say they keep up with all routine maintenance and service on their car report an average of 3.7 occurrences, while drivers who report less frequent maintenance and service report 5.7 occurrences.
• Drivers who keep up with all routine maintenance are less likely than those who don’t keep up with all maintenance to have:
• Had a dead battery (72 percent versus 87 percent)
• Had a car that would not start (62 percent versus 80 percent)
• Run out of gas (33 percent versus 46 percent)
• Nearly a quarter of American drivers (22 percent) say the economic downturn has caused them to delay or skip routine maintenance of their car.

Mr. and Ms. Fix-it
Drivers express a high level of confidence in their own ability to fix common problems that can occur to their cars while driving.

• Solid majorities of Americans say they’re confident in their ability to fix the following problems by themselves without help from another person: a flat tire (77 percent confident), an empty gas tank (87 percent), a dead battery (74 percent), keys locked in the car (69 percent), and a blown fuse (67 percent).
• Regarding every one of these potential problems, men are considerably more confident in their abilities to fix the problem. The percentage saying they’re “very confident” in their ability to fix the following problems are: a flat tire (88 percent men/39 percent women), an empty gas tank (77 percent/60 percent), a dead battery (72 percent/39 percent), keys locked in the car (51 percent/39 percent), and a blown fuse (71 percent/29 percent).

Survival of the most prepared
Just 51 percent of American drivers say they’re confident that they would be able to survive with the items currently in their car if they were stranded for up to three days. Men are significantly more confident in their ability to survive (62 percent) than women (40 percent).

While most American drivers say they currently have the bare emergency essentials in their car, a much lower percentage report having the full list of recommended items, and many drivers say they’re missing some crucial safety aids.

• Ninety-five percent have a spare tire and 93 percent have a jack and tire iron.
• Seventy-two percent have a flash light, 69 percent have jumper cables, 68 percent have a cell phone charger, and 60 percent have a basic automotive tool kit.
• Fifty percent have a first aid kit and 47 percent have a warm blanket.
• Just 30 percent say they have emergency drinking water, 24 percent say they have flares, and only 16 percent say they have emergency food.

Who you gonna call?
Fewer than three in ten American drivers say that their first instinct would be to call a roadside assistance service in the case of a disabled vehicle during their average daily driving. In the case of a disabled vehicle far from home, however, American drivers would be nearly twice as likely to call a roadside assistance service. So who are they calling?

• Forty percent say they would call a friend or family member, while 28 percent would try to fix the problem themselves. Four percent would call the police, wait for other emergency assistance or flag down another driver.
• Women are most likely to seek help from someone they know, with 54 percent saying their first instinct would be to call a friend or family member.
• Men are most likely to take the “go it alone” route, with 44 percent saying their first instinct would be to try to fix the problem themselves. Twenty-five percent would call a friend or family member.

Roadside assistance by the numbers

• Sixty-one percent of Americans say they belong or subscribe to a roadside assistance service, but roadside assistance service membership varies by household income level.
• Only 52 percent of those with a household income of less than $50,000 belong to a service, compared to 72 percent of those in $100,000+ households.
• Drivers with older cars are less likely to belong to a roadside assistance service. Eighty percent of drivers with a car one year old or newer belong to a service, compared to 64 percent of those with a two-to-five year-old car, 57 percent of those with a six-to-ten year-old car, and 56 percent of those with a car that is 10 years old or more.
• Eighty percent of those who subscribe to a roadside assistance service have used it at least once, and 20 percent have used it five times or more.

About Good Hands Roadside 
Good Hands Roadside Assistance, which Allstate introduced last year, is the first free-to-join, pay-per-use, roadside assistance service that is available to all drivers, not just Allstate customers.

A member in need of roadside assistance can call 1-800-ALLSTATE and receive access to a 24/7 nationwide network of reputable towing companies. The program offers pre-negotiated, flat rates that the average consumer may not be able to access without a membership. Consumers with passenger cars or light trucks will pay a flat rate of $75 for a tow up to 10 miles and $50 for other roadside events such as service for a flat tire, a dead battery or keys locked inside a car.

About the Survey
The survey of American drivers age 18 and over was conducted October 12-17, 2011, among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 American adults reached via landline and cell phone. The margin of error for the national sample of drivers is ±3.1 percent. The survey was conducted by FTI Consulting, Inc. (FTI) for Allstate.

For more information Call our office today 843-766-1221 or 843-881-1921.

In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated 41 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 headed out for trick-or-treating fun around the country in 2010. As many youngsters look forward to a night of dressing up and filling bags of candy while going door-to-door, special emphasis should be placed on safety to ensure everyone has a good time.

“It seems like the buildup to Halloween gets bigger every year,” said Allstate spokesperson John Heid. “And before parents get their children ready for trick-or-treating, some simple steps for child safety should be taken before the doorbell ringing and candy gathering begins.”

Allstate Insurance and the National Safety Council offer some excellent guidelines for preparing children and parents for a truly Happy Halloween:
• Ensure children under age 12 are supervised by an adult or older responsible youth. Plan and discuss the route your trick-or-treaters intend to follow.
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well lit, never enter a stranger’s home and establish a return time.
• Drivers should watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
• Dress children only in fire-retardant costumes.
• Keep costumes hemmed so they don’t cause children to trip. Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.
• Decorate Halloween costumes with light-colored and light-reflecting material if kids will be out after dark.
• Use facial make-up instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Give children an early meal before sending them trick-or-treating. Tell children not to eat any treat until they return home and – when in doubt, throw it out

Memories of Halloween trick-or-treating last for years after the candy is gone, so make it a safe holiday by looking out for young participants of one of our oldest annual traditions.

For more information on this or other safety topics, contact our office at 843-766-1221
or 843-881-1921.

“Sometimes we forget to keep in mind some of the most obvious safety tips,” said Allstate spokesman John Heid.

Allstate and the National Candle Association remind consumers of the following tips while burning a candle:

• Never touch or move a burning candle. Never move a votive or container candle when the wax is liquefied.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches of wax remains (1/2 inch if in a container).
• Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before re-lighting.
• Always keep the candle within your sight. If you are going to leave the room, be sure to first blow out all candles.

“Should a fire occur in your home, you’ll need to think fast,” says Heid.

The following are some important things to have prepared, accessible, or in mind if a fire breaks out in your home:

• Have your fire extinguisher handy. Keep at least one on each floor – especially near the kitchen, garage, laundry room and workshop.
• Create a fire safety plan, with a designated meeting place. Talk with your family and make sure everyone knows what to do in case a fire breaks out.
• Designate two exits from your house. If one should be blocked, then you will the other one to use.
• If the home’s rooms and hallways are filled with smoke, then get down close to the floor and crawl to the nearest stairs. You will breathe in less smoke if you stay low.
• If you have a pet, have a plan for taking the pet with you when you leave.

Contact our office at 843-766-1221 or 843-881-1921 for more information on fire safety tips and homeowners insurance questions.

“Fire safety is an important issue for everybody to think about,” says Allstate spokesperson John Heid. “By following the tips below, hopefully the only things that consumers lose in a fire are their possessions.”

Allstate offers these important fire safety tips:

• Check the batteries in your smoke detectors often. Keep extra batteries on hand and replace them every six months.

• Check your smoke detectors monthly. Replace any that are 10 years or older. Make sure everyone knows that the piercing sound means danger, and they should escape quickly.

• Position detectors smartly. Place one on every level of your home and near areas where you and your family sleep.

• Keep detectors away from heating and cooling ducts and at least six inches from where walls and ceilings meet.

• Keep fire extinguishers handy. Make sure there’s at least one on each floor – especially near the kitchen, garage, laundry room and workshop.

• Talk with your family and make sure everyone knows what to do in case a fire breaks out. Make sure you have two ways out of your house.

• Create a fire safety plan, with a designated meeting place.

The following tips are for residents of high-rise buildings in the event of a fire.

• Go down the window fire escape if your building has one.

• If your building does not have a window fire escape, take the following actions:

1) Feel the door to the hall with the back of your hand. If it is hot, put a wet towel along the floor crack to keep smoke out. Go to the window and wave a colorful cloth to catch the attention of firefighters.

2) If the door to the hall does not feel hot, leave the apartment and go down the nearest stairs. In the event of a fire, never try to take an elevator. If the power in the burning building fails, you could be trapped.

• If the hall is filled with smoke, get down close to the floor and crawl to the nearest stairs. You will breathe in less smoke if you stay low.

For more information on fire safety topics, contact our office at 766-1221 or 881-1921.