DRIVING TIPS FOR A RAINY DAY

Driving in the rain is never a fun thing but we are forced into driving by our daily obligations to move from one point to another. For most people, driving in the rain can be scary and nerve-racking experience.

To manage the anxiety and stress, we have to give our undivided attention and reduce any possible distractions by turning the radio volume down or turning off our phone to keep our attention fully on the road.

Here are some driving tips for a safe drive on a rainy day;

1. Keep your car clean and maintained

a.    Keep your windows clean and clear

b.    Maintain your headlights

c.    Maintain your tyres

2. Drive with care when it’s raining

a.    Turn on your windshield wipers

b.    Slow down as the road is wet and slippery

c.    Stay focused as visibility is dropping

d.    Turn your headlights on whether it’s day or night

e.    Drive with both hands on the wheel

f.     Maintain a 3-4 second gap between your car and the car in front of you.

g.    Avoid slamming on the brakes, better still just ease of the accelerator instead.

h.    Take turns or enter corner slowly

i.      Do not use cruise control as that can lead to Hydroplaning

j.      Park off the road if necessary

Keep in mind that sometimes the best driving decision you can make is to stay off the road completely until the weather clears.

We wish you safe and comfortable driving during the rains. However for a more comprehensive protection during this season and all year round, check out our variant of motor insurance products: goo.gl/Cvv29y & goo.gl/4bk3th

Follow us on our twitter handle - @con_hallmark 

            & facebook page - conhallmark

Visit our website for more tailor-made insurance covers at: www.consolidatedhallmark.com

Quick & Safe Steps to Change a Flat Tyre

A flat tyre never happens when it’s convenient. Imagine you are all dressed up and about getting into your car in the morning then you notice you have a flat tyre or you may already be on the way to an important event when you ran over an errant nail leading to a punctured tyre.

The best and easy way to handle the situation where your tyre either gets punctured by nail or any sharp object while on motion is to carefully pull off to the side of the road where the surface is flat. Check to make sure no other motorists are going to run you over, turn on the hazard light, get out of the car and inspect the tyre.

Then follow these quick, easy and safe steps to take to get your tyre fixed;

• Place bracing material - like a piece of wood or brick - behind and in front of one of the tyres you’re not lifting, to prevent rolling and increase stability.
• Find the spare tyre and jack. If you don’t know where they are, check the boot of your car.
• Line the jack up properly to make sure it’s in the right place to avoid preventing damage to your car. Usually, the head of the jack goes to the ridge at the bottom of the car closest to the affected tyre.   
• Begin to jack the car up while keeping pressure on the ground (without lifting the car up entirely).
• Remove hubcaps or centre covers so that you can access the lug nuts.
• Turn the lug nuts anticlockwise to loosen them using the lug wrench.
• Finish jacking the car up so that you can slip the tyre off easily. Make sure the jack is stable first.
• Put on the spare tyre and place the lug nuts in the correct positions.
• Tighten the lug nuts a little with your tyre wrench, this time turning clockwise. TIP: Make sure the lug nuts are tight, but don't use too much force. This may knock your car off of the jack.
• Lower the jack fully until the car is back on all four wheels. 
• Properly tighten the lug nuts with the wrench before driving. Make sure they’re as tight as you can get them.
• Stop and check that the lug nuts are still tight after driving for a few miles.

You really don’t need to be worried because changing your flat tyre can be done fast if you follow the above steps.

For more information on motor related maintenance tips and insurance products, follow any of our social media accounts.

Twitter handle - @con_hallmark 

& Facebook page - conhallmark

Visit our website for our tailor-made insurance covers at www.consolidatedhallmark.com

Sources:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5855/how-to-change-a-flat-tire/

https://www.dunlop.eu/en_gb/consumer/learn/changing-a-flat-tire.html

https://www.edmunds.com/how-to/how-to-change-a-flat-tire.html

http://www.bridgestonetyre.com/tread-and-trend/drivers-ed/how-to-change-a-flat-tire

WHY YOU SHOULD UPGRADE TO COMPREHENSIVE MOTOR INSURANCE

Mr. Peter came out of his apartment after a heavy storm to observe that his car has been damaged by the fallen trees. He felt bad and worried about how he would get the money to fix the damage.

Mr. Tunde just concluded a deal with a client but on getting to his car parked outside the client’s residence observed that his right side mirror and headlight have been smashed. Engulfed with anger and worry of how he would get it fixed in this recession.

Mrs. Mary came out of her saloon to see that the left door of her car has been dented. She started crying and distressed that she cannot afford the repairs with her current finances.

Looking at all the above scenarios, I believe you can all relate with them and probably might have fallen into one or two category. 

They all have car insurance at least a third party motor insurance as required by law.

Mr. Peter, Mr. Tunde and Mrs. Mary would not have felt bad, gotten angry and cried respectively if they had purchased comprehensive motor insurance. With a comprehensive motor insurance the stress, anger and cry of an unfortunate event will automatically be transferred to their insurer.

Now, let's take a look at some common questions asked about Comprehensive Motor Insurance.

What makes comprehensive motor insurance more stress-relieving and comforting than third party motor insurance?

As already briefly stated above, third party motor insurance only cover the damage done to another person’s car/property. However, comprehensive motor insurance being the highest level of protection would cover the damage to your car and also cover the damage done to another person's car/property.

Why should I upgrade to comprehensive motor insurance?

With comprehensive motor insurance, you can claim from your insurer for all unexpected accidents that are deemed to be your fault. 

It also applies when fault can't be proven, e.g. if you return to your car after shopping to find that someone has hit you and driven off like in the case of Mr. Tunde above.

Without comprehensive insurance cover, you risk having to spend for repairs yourself. Worse still, if your car is written off you'll have to pay for a brand-new car.

A comprehensive policy gives you that added level of protection and peace of mind that you won't necessarily have should you need to pay for expensive repairs.

What does comprehensive insurance really cover?

The cover or benefits offered by comprehensive motor insurance which is a lot more embracing include:

• -       Loss of or damage to your vehicle as a result of accident
• -       Loss or damage to your vehicle resulting from Fire
• -       Loss or damage to your vehicle due to theft
• -       Damage by your vehicle to another up to N1,000,000
• -       Damage to Third Party property by your vehicle up to N1,000,000
• -       Damage to Third parties by your vehicle which caused bodily injury and death is Unlimited
• -        Medical expenses to you or your driver or any occupant of your vehicle to the tune of N10,000
• -       Passenger Liability (N75,000 per person and a maximum of N300,000 per vehicle)
• -       Damage resulting from Riot, Strike and Civil Commotion (SRCC)
• -       Towing Limit up to N10,000 

Where does comprehensive insurance fall short?

Despite its name, comprehensive insurance policy cover in itself is a standard cover that can be enhanced with certain policy extras to meet your needs at additional charges.

Here are a few of those policy extras or add-ons:

Excess Buy Back

Many insurers use the excess proportion to make the vehicle owner conscious to try and prevent losses by making the insured bear part of the claims arising from such accidents. You can buy off this excess at inception of the cover at additional charge.

Courtesy car

Many insurers let you use another car while yours is being repaired, but not all of them. It’s also worth noting that courtesy cars usually aren’t provided if your car is written off. This policy extra is at additional charge.

It’s always best to check the policy details before you buy – don’t assume that you’ll be entitled to all the bells and whistles.

For more inquiries, you can contact us on our  phone - 09056037852
                                                                      twitter handle - @con_hallmark

                                                                      & facebook page – conhallmark

Also visit our website for more tailor-made insurance coverage at www.consolidatedhallmark.com 

HOW TO JUMP START YOUR CAR

Having a car battery failing or completely dead is a situation that has probably happened to you before. You park your car for a while and when you get back in to turn the ignition nothing happens. Maybe you hear a few clicks but the car does not start. That means you have a flat/dead battery and the best way to get you back on the road as fast as possible is to get another car battery to jump start your car. 

To jump start a car safely you need to follow these basics steps;

1. Ensure you have jumper cables that are safe for use.

2. Get a functioning car to help you with the jump start.

3. Park the functioning car so that the two vehicles are facing each other at a distance of 18 inches apart.

4. Ensure both vehicles are in park gear position with engines turned off and keys removed.

5. Attach the red clip which is the positive clip to the positive (+ve) end of your battery.

6. Also attach the other end of the red clip to the positive (+ve) end of the functioning battery.

7. Now attach the black clip which is the negative clip to the negative (-ve) end of the functioning battery.

8. Take the other end of the black clip and clamp it on any unpainted part of your vehicle (preferably any bolt that is not painted).

9. Now start the functioning vehicle and let it run for a few minutes (5 minutes).

10. Then start your car, if it did not start wait a few more minutes and then try it again.

11. If the dead car is running, disconnect all the cables and let the car run for about 20 minutes.

12. You can now drive your car to your destination, but keep in mind that you need to visit an auto-shop to examine the performance of your car battery.

We hope the above steps have enlightened you on the process of jump starting a vehicle easily. 

Drive safely and always take note of all signals displayed on your car dashboard to avoid car trouble or disappointments. 

For more interesting read, follow us on our twitter handle - @con_hallmark & facebook page - conhallmark

You can also visit our website for our tailor-made insurance covers at www.consolidatedhallmark.com 

STAYING SAFE & HEALTH DURING HARMATTAN

Harmattan is the season when dry and dusty wind blows from the Sahara to the western coast of Africa between the months of November and March. It is usually characterized by a cold, dry, dusty wind in the evenings until the early hours of the morning.

When the harmattan blows hard, the heavy amount of dust in the air can severely limit visibility and even block out the sun, comparable to a heavy fog.

During this period people experience cold especially in the morning while visibility is also affected because of the early morning haze making motorists wait sometimes for clear vision or drive with fog lights on while those who could not afford to wait drive at very low speed to avoid accidents.

The season comes with its own challenges on health, skin and also the hair. Due to the dusty wind, some diseases like conjunctivitis, asthma, cough and catarrh are more frequent most especially in the North.

However, here are proven basic remedies and tips to cope with the harshness of this season:

·         Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration

·         Wash your eyes regularly to avoid red eyes which is common during harmattan

·         Cover your nose and mouth with a mask or towel when it is dusty

·         Avoid or reduce outdoor activities, especially if you have allergies

·         Stay indoors to avoid dust inhalation of harmful particles coming with the wind

·         Wear clothes that keep your body warm

·       Get medical help if you have red, itchy, watery eyes, running, sneezing, and stuffy nose

·         Keep the doors and windows closed

·         Always use moisturizers to prevent dry skin and dry palms

·         Use lip balm to prevent cracked lips

·         Application of oily creams to the soles of the feet will prevent them from cracking.

·         Asthma patients should carry their inhalers with them at all times.

·       Picking your nose during harmattan may make it bleed, so avoid that as much as possible

·         Washing your face with clean water will also help reduce the exposure of your eyes to dust and germs.

“Finally, take in more fruits and vegetables to help boost immunity and also take enough time to rest.”

For more health information tips,

Follow us on - @con_hallmark & - conhallmark

Also visit our website for our tailor-made insurance covers at www.consolidatedhallmark.com

"Insure your assets now and leave the stress and risk to us".

Sources:

http://www.authorityngr.com/2015/12/How-to-stay-healthy-during-harmattan/

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/home-front/42883-how-to-protect-your-health-during-harmattan-season

http://www.aun.edu.ng/campus-life/health-safety/clinic/172-health-tips/1181-stay-healthy-harmattan

http://healthematics.com/stay-healthy-beautiful-harmattan/5/

2016 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ESSAY COMPETITION

As part of our corporate social responsibility, we commissioned in 2011 an essay competition among tertiary institutions offering insurance courses at degree.

The essay topic for this year is “The Effect of Current Economic Downturn on Insurance Underwriting Performance”.

Eligibility:  The essay is open to all University/ Polytechnic students from 300 Level/HND 1 and above, studying Insurance and Actuarial Science.

Length of Essay - About 1000 words

Entry closes on December 31, 2016

Kindly forward essays on the given topic using the guidelines below:

• Essay must be original works of the student, with clearly acknowledged references.
• Essay should be typed written with double line spacing.
• Essay would be judged on content, Organization and mechanical accuracy
• The decision of the judges is final

Mode of Submission

Essay should be submitted to the Head of Insurance Department of the student. The respective HODs or their representative shall forward, with contact details of the students (Including phone numbers) to info@consolidatedhallmark.com

The hard copies should be posted to The Chairman Award Committee, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, 266 Ikorodu Road, Obanikoro, Lagos

Envelope/Parcel should be marked “CHI ESSAY COMPETITION” at the top left-hand corner.

All enteries shall be marked by an independent panels and assessed for the award of prizes.

As our tradition, cash and award plaque prizes shall be presented to the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd winning essays each with media publicity. The author of the best essay shall be offered immediate employment (Post NYSC) by the Company.

Live Happy. We Care.

Follow us on our twitter handle - @con_hallmark 

& facebook page - conhallmark

Visit our website for more tailor-made insurance covers at www.consolidatedhallmark.com

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.

Follow us on our twitter handle - @con_hallmark 

& facebook page - conhallmark

Visit our website for more tailor-made insurance covers at www.consolidatedhallmark.com