Has your commute been even more unpleasant than usual due to inclement weather in recent days and weeks? Your not alone, nearly 100 million people and 1/3 of the nation were affected by the Groundhog Day storm. Rhode Island snow totals ranged from 5 to 10 inches. According to the Rhode Island State Police over 20 accidents were reported between Tuesday and Wednesday alone.

Car trouble is not the only concern when storms of this magnitude hit. With forecasters predicting another significant winter weather event for Saturday, RI Emergency Management officials are warning that roof collapse incidents may increase. To date, a number of building structures have collapsed in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts. The progressive accumulation of snow and ice on flat roofed structures as a result of the rain, sleet, and snowstorms of the past two weeks, has been identified as the main contributing factor for these collapses. Winter related damage is the third largest cause of property damage.

Here are some tips to protect you, your car, and your home from this winter weather:

1. Drive according to road conditions

2. Protect your vehicle from extreme cold.

3. Keep vehicle fluid levels topped off. Check your vehicle’s oil, radiator fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield washer solvent.

4. Add a bottle of gas line anti-freeze to your gas tank to prevent gas from freezing.

5. Make sure tires are properly inflated.

6. Keep your cell phone with you and keep it charged.

7. Winterize your home.

8. Check chimney or furnace vents, water heater, dryer and washer vents to keep them free from snow and ice.

9. Use caution when removing snow and ice from your roof.

10. Keep heating vents clean and unobstructed.

Pay attention to winter weather advisories, stay warm!

Remember this morning when you picked up that coffee on the way to work or last night when you went through the drive-through to pick up a hamburger, think about how you probably could not resist the coffee or hamburger and you started to consume them while driving. When you are sipping your coffee or biting out of your hamburger you probably feel immediate satisfaction, but you need to realize this immediate satisfaction will soon be gone when you start to make some risky driving choices because of them.

Everyone has eaten or drank something while driving; Nine out of 10 times you probably made a mess by spilling something or getting food on your clothing, because I know I sure have. On the way to work this morning I was eating a sticky breakfast bar and managed to get it all over my pants, so while driving I attempted to clean it up. Let me tell you that is a BIG mistake. I was not paying attention to the road and had to stop short when the car in front of me put on their brakes. I was lucky enough to catch it in time, but I could have easily not looked up from cleaning off my pants and rammed into the car in front of me. That is why you should never eat or drink while driving! Trying to consume things while driving can almost be as risky as talking or texting on your cell phone when in the car.

Some research has shown that most problems occur when people are trying to clean up the messes that they have made while eating and driving. It seems that the issue is more about spilling things than eating or drinking things. It is scary to think that spilling your small Dunkin Donuts coffee could lead to an accident. Now, you are probably want to know what the worse foods to eat while driving are and we are ready to tell you the top 10.The Providence Journal listed the top 10 most dangerous foods to eat while driving as stated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

1. Coffee – Probably the one thing that almost everyone drinks in the car is the most dangerous because it always manages to spill out.
2. Hot Soup – I’m not really sure why or how you can eat soup in the car, but again the same as coffee always manages to spill.
3. Tacos – Need I say more. This food is probably one of the most dangerous foods to eat sitting still, let alone trying to operate a vehicle while eating it.
4. Chili – Again, I am not sure why you would choose to eat this and drive, but just think of the spilling and dripping that can occur.
5. Hamburgers – All the condiments inside this bad boy are a disaster waiting to happen.
6. Barbecue – While delicious, very messy. The sauce will get all over anything that you touch.
7. Fried Chicken – Very, very greasy.
8. Jelly-filled Doughnuts – Think about this: Have you ever been able to eat a jelly doughnut without the center coming out? No, so don’t eat it while driving.
9. Soft Drinks – Common to have in the car, but these drinks can easily lead to spillage, which means a sticky mess all over your car.
10. Chocolate – It melts. This means all over your hands, your sterling while and your seats.

Eating while driving is messy and dangerous. It means that you are being occupied with something else other than the road. This can result in an accident, and no one wants that to happen because you could not wait 5 minutes till you got home to eat your jelly doughnut. Stay safe while driving and come to Bucci Insurance for all of your auto needs. We are  here to help you with your specific auto insurance policy.

Rhode Island is the 13^th most expensive state for auto insurance! Rhode Island has an average premium of $1,595.97. It is crazy to think that our little state is in the top 15 for most expensive auto insurance. This information was found recently on the NY Times Bucks blog, which came from Insure.com based on a study that Quadrant Information Services preformed for them. The data was comprised from average auto insurance rates of more than 2,400 vehicles across 10 zip codes in each state. They surveyed the rates from six large insurance carriers in each state.

Now, you may be wondering why are rates are so high. Well, there are a few things that drivers in Rhode Island are required to have when it comes to auto insurance. In Rhode Island you must carry liability insurance coverage on all registered vehicles. The minimum coverage for injuries sustained by one person in an accident is $25,000, for all injuries in an accident is $50,000. Aside from purchasing liability insurance, Rhode Island drivers must also purchase uninsured motorist coverage. This helps when you are involved in an accident where someone does not have auto insurance.

Figuring out if your auto insurance is too high or if it is the right insurance for your needs can be tricky. That is why Bucci Insurance Group is here waiting for your call to help you out with all your auto insurance questions. We will make sure that you are covered with all the basics and requirements for auto insurance in our state, as well as customizing your policy for your specific auto needs. We can help to give you discounts, maximum benefits and an unmatched service that will make this 13^th most expensive auto insurance worth it!

Rhode Islanders make sure that you are always maintaining the insurance coverage required and that you have proof of it in your car. Wondering if your car is too expensive to insure? Insure.com has posted a list of the most to least expensive cars to insure, check it out!