DON'T BE CONFUSED LIKE TUNDE

Often, we see people carry burdens that isn’t theirs. Some pay for stuffs that should have been the responsibility of another. Do you know that the law doesn’t require you to pay for damages to another man’s vehicle or property while driving yours? What value does a third-party insurance offer you?

This and many more are questions Mr Tunde was faced with some months ago. Tunde, like most Nigerians, purchased a third-party insurance on his vehicle all in a bid to escape the harassment from police and road traffic officials.

Tunde is an upwardly mobile young professional in his thirties. He works in Victoria Island, hence must grapple with the habitual daily traffic in that part of the State. On his way to work this fateful day, in his car, he tried reversing but mistakenly hit a brand-new car. Unfortunately for him, the damaged car is a new one and owned by an oil & gas servicing firm.

Tunde came out of his car confused and bewildered as he never expected this accident to happen. But sometimes accidents happen without any prior notice. The company impounded his car and demanded he repairs their damaged car. This again increased Tunde’s anxiety and frustration as his account was already in red.

Reluctantly, he decided to speak with a friend to borrow some funds for this repair. While his friend questioned him on why he needed that amount, he narrated the accident to him. His friend, Bode, who works with an insurance firm had earlier helped him with his car insurance. Bode told Tunde his insurance will cover the damage on the third-party vehicle up to 1 million naira.

Tunde didn’t believe what he just heard. He had always assumed third party insurance is to allow one drive without police harassment. He thought this was one of Bode’s April fool jokes but realized the month was still February. The relief experienced by this news was surreal. Suddenly he need not borrow anymore or worry about the repair of the third-party vehicle.

To cut this story short, Tunde’s insurance company repaired the third-party car and Tunde’s car was released to him, at no cost. Tunde was so grateful to Bode for this enlightenment and for saving him the hassles and worries. He has since scaled up his insurance from third party to comprehensive cover.

The moral of this short story is to highlight the values that a third-party insurance cover provides. Click http://ow.ly/4nrZiT to see the benefits.

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HOW TO AVOID TRAFFIC GRIDLOCKS

What is it about Traffic jams and gridlocks that drive shivers down our spine?

What we find more terrifying is that according to some psychology studies, traffic jams, and especially sudden gridlocks are indirectly or partly responsible for a number of sanity-related problems in drivers who are frequently finding themselves in this dreadful situation.

Firstly, we should probably summarize what we know so far about traffic jams and it effects.

- It is one of the main reasons for city pollution in most large cities.

- It is a top reason for psychological problems when they are dealt with on regular basis.

- According to studies, travel delays due to traffic congestion caused drivers to waste billion litres of fuel and keep travellers stuck in their cars for nearly billion extra hours in a year. Should we talk about the cost for this horrifyingly high number of traffic jams? Surely around a million naira per each commuter in a year.

- Emergency vehicles are unable to reach their destinations as urgently as they could without being stuck in gridlock. 

Let’s think less about how bad traffic is in most cities in Nigeria and more about ways to improve our lives behind the wheel, starting of course with tips to avoid traffic jams.

The list is exhaustive but a short list of "dos" and "don'ts" on this subject, if read and put in action, will help.

1. Leave your car parked 

If you can use more efficient alternative modes of travel, like public transportation, leave your pride at home and do it. There's no shame in using the subway, the bus or the tram, despite being the proud owner of a luxurious sedan, SUV or a flashy sports car. 

2. Study the route and leave early. If you lose an hour, you can also win an hour

If you slightly change the schedule of your departure to and from work, you might circumvent the biggest traffic jams of the day.

3. Upgrade your knowledge of inner routes

The shortest distance between two points isn't always a straight line. So, instead of taking the most obvious route, which everyone else is already using, go against the flow by using smaller side streets to reach your destination inside the city. 

4. Get better informed even before jumping in your car

You should never rely just on your better judgement since you can't predict the future when leaving home. Always listen to the radio for any gridlock announcements so you can plan your route ahead, before actually arriving right in the middle of a traffic jam. 

5. Use Social Media

Technology has become a vital aspect of our lives. It has impacted our lives in various ways. Social media apps like twitter and facebook help with traffic updates. If you are on twitter, kindly follow @Gidi_traffic for current traffic updates. Confirming traffic updates before leaving for another location can help save time & unnecessary waste of fuel.

6. Avoid road where construction is ongoing Road Construction impacts free flow of traffic in no small way. With the right information, avoid roads undergoing repair or construction, especially at peak moments.

7. Make a mental note of weekly or monthly events in certain areas.

Certain areas are beset with heavy traffic because of social and religious events on weekly and bi-monthly basis. Note these events and seek alternatives.

Note these tips and do have a traffic-free ride always.

For necessary protection on your vehicle, contact us for great car insurance discounts.

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