During warm weather and especially during heat advisories – NEVER leave babies/children/elderly and pets alone in hot vehicles – it can quickly become a death trap. I’ve seen two pets left in vehicles this past week and was about to call 9-1-1 when the owners returned.

If you love them – don’t leave them!  And don’t walk your dogs on hot asphalt and side-walks during hot weather days – this will burn their paws!

http://news.aaa-calif.com/news/auto-club-warns-hot-cars-can-be-death-traps-for-kids-and-pets?fbclid=IwAR08D_ScSOFmLUH0nvZ54X6CPDhOIZJ6RDe_OyTJvKy9MpqaWvfA1C2-woI#.XUfqkeM5Mpo.facebook

As cities began turning off RED Light cameras, in San Diego, I personally saw the dramatic increase in red-light runners at lighted intersections.   In the news, I also saw the rise of collisions involving red-light runners.   A red light camera police officer told me several years ago, that there was a 300-percent increase in collisions at intersections the first time San Diego turned off red-light cameras, the second and final time they turned off cameras, that same day, there was a fatal crash when a nanny pushing a baby stroller was struck and killed by a red-light runner.

In August of 2019, the Automobile Club of Southern California released a report on the dramatic increase in red-light running fatalities at intersections.

Here are their findings: https://newsroom.aaa.com/2019/08/red-light-running-deaths-hit-10-year-high/

I cover this topic in my safe driving talks, alerting motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists to use extra caution at intersections:

• Slow down for intersections – so drivers behind you will slow down.
• When sitting at a red light and the light turns green for you – HOLD IT!  DON’T GO UNTIL IT’S SAFE TO GO!
• Before going – “look” to your right and then left, and then look again – watch out for the red light runner who floored a block or two away.  They may be traveling 60 to 70 mph – that’s why crashes that occur are often fatal.

Stay Alert-Stay Alive!

Monica Zech

Important information…

It’s time to check your motorist insurance policy.  The BIG question, for your protection, do you have “uninsured/underinsured” motorist insurance coverage???

It’s important to make sure you and your passengers are well covered if you’re involved in a collision.   A must-have should the driver at fault has little or “no” insurance.  The minimum insurance coverage in California is only $15,000 to obtain a driver’s license.  This does not cover much if you are transported by ambulance to the hospital with serious injuries.

This coverage is a must-have according to the Padilla Law Group.  Please click on the following link for a clear explanation of the importance of this insurance coverage.

UM Handout

Thank you to the Padilla Law Group for providing this valuable information.

Please Note:  The following is a link to a news story reported on November 14, 2019.  It’s regarding a man who was seriously injured by a driver who had the minimum insurance coverage of $15-thousand.  His medical bills were almost $100-thousand.  If he had the above coverage, his bills would have been taken care of, if not lower.  At least $1-million coverage is recommended.

https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/san-diego-veteran-billed-nearly-100000-for-a-3-hour-hospital-visit/509-b762eb30-582e-4c86-8111-b5f81c4ef4f4?fbclid=IwAR1xIFyUyaLXhBJHWkXoDi1fYXN5n4GfhP_Y_Ura_7FLum0Rn0qgLBXrt00

Straight from the Office of the Medical Examiner’s Office in San Diego County, a report on what’s killing us in our County.  The hard facts…

Medical Examiner: Drugs, Falls, Cars, Suicides Lead Death Investigations

See the latest news from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

https://www.iihs.org/news

Learn the Facts about Distracted Driving from EndDD.org

https://www.enddd.org/the-facts-about-distracted-driving/

What Is Distracted Driving? Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

*Note: “I’ve been impacted three times drivers on their cell phones – so I personally know the dangers!”

Monica Zech

Safe Driving Speaker

Dear Friends,

Thank you for checking this posting.

Many of us have experienced the feeling of loss, sadness, depression, and stress…sometimes leading to thoughts of “suicide.”  The worst thing you can do is to drink alcoholic beverages – this will only make the problem seem bigger.  Alcohol is a drug – a depressant, thus making you depressed.

Please click on the following link for a story about “help” available in our County.  There is “hope” – and sometimes, by having a clear-rested mind, such as good nights sleep, the problem is not as bad as it first seemed.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255

If you’ve had thoughts that “no one cares” – “wrong” – I care about you, and that’s why I’m posting this very important link.  There is hope – here are additional resources.

http://www.suicideispreventable.org/