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eTags often promotes driving safety on its blog and social channels. Unfortunately, as eTags has pointed out, too many people are dying on roads. Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released new statistics reporting that the number of people who died in traffic crashes in 2016 rose 5.6 percent from the year before. In total, 37,461 people died on the roads in car crashes.

Federal Highway Administration figures and other safety officials have said that an improved economy is part of the reason there are more traffic crashes and deaths from those crashes. When you have an improved economy, more people are on the road for business, shopping, and vacations. In fact, according to their figures, Americans traveled more than 3.2 trillion miles in 2016, which was the ever recorded.

However, a good economy is not the only factor here, and it certainly doesn’t tell the whole story. First, we should say that smartphone use has had enormous implications on driver safety. Distracted driving is still a major problem and every driver should be made aware of  its consequences. Distracted driving applies to any time you lose focus on the road, and glancing down to look at your cell phone is certainly one of the most common examples of this.

But it should be noted that NHTSA statistics have shown a 2.2 percent drop in 2016 for casualties related to distracted driving. While always a concern, it appears more drivers are aware of this problem and doing something to alter their behavior. In addition to that, there is now technology available that can prevent drivers from having access to their phones when they drive including apps and manufacturer built-in safety functions on phones and cars themselves.

An always serious concern is drunk driving and speeding: the two causes of traffic crashes and fatalities that safety officials know all too well. NTHSA statistics show that alcohol-related deaths rose 1.7 percent in 2016 and speeding-related deaths increased four percent. In addition to that, the number of people who died who were unbelted rose 4.6 percent despite national and local “Buckle-Up” campaigns that have been running for years.

If you want to learn more about tips for driver safety, we highly encourage you to check out this driving safety blog from eTags as well as other relevant resources to help inform you, your family, and friends on being a safer driver.

eTags provides online vehicle registration renewal services to motorists in California, Florida, and Maryland. They offers vehicle owners an alternative to standing in line at the DMV or even having to deal with confusing and sometimes frustrating online platforms with other online renewal options. They want their California customers to be aware that registrations fees will be slightly higher for certain vehicle owners next year when it comes time to renew.

In the state of California, registration fees go towards paying for the DMV and the California Highway Safety Patrol. However, new fees legislation passed in the California legislature and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown would go towards improving California’s roadway infrastructure. There will be two news registration fees that will go into effect on January 1^st of 2018.

The first is called a “Transportation Improvement Fee.” This will be calculated on the value of the vehicle, but public officials note that most vehicle owners will spend around $50 for this fee based on average vehicle values. The second fee will be specifically for Californians who own zero-emissions vehicles. This will be $100, and it will offset some of the lost revenue that California has missed in the past year as these vehicle owners are not paying any taxes on gas, which are used for highway improvement projects.

Also, please keep in mind if you live in California that gas taxes will be going up soon as well as part of this bill. The gas tax will be bumped by 12 cents, and the diesel tax will go up an additional 20 cents. This increase is slated to take effect in November. If you renew your vehicle registration in 2018 through eTags or the DMV or just simply go to the pump, you will be paying more, so it’s important to keep this in mind when you budget out your vehicle expenses.

The air is chilled and the first winter snow has fallen across the country. For many, driving in the snow is a commonplace affair. For others in more temperate climates, dealing with the snow and ice comes once in a while and takes some getting used to. Severe weather, like snow, sleet, and ice, can create hazardous and frightening driving conditions. According to the Federal Highway Administration, over 500 people are killed annually on average due to snow/slushy conditions. As responsible drivers, it’s important to know how to handle driving in inclement weather. eTags offers a few tips and reminders on how to handle your car in the snow.

Know Before You Go

• Always keep an eye on worsening weather conditions. If you don’t have to go out, don’t.
• Keep your car’s gas tank at least halfway filled
• Be sure that tires are properly inflated and equipped for winter driving before getting on the road
• Keep your windshield and windows clear and make sure your windshield wipers are in proper working condition.
• Completely clear your car of ice and snow. The last thing you want is snow flying off the roof of your car and affecting your line of vision and others. Remove ice and snow from your windshield, roof, mirrors, hood, etc.

Driving for the Winter

• Speed limits do not take into account inclement weather conditions. Reduce your speed accordingly even if it means driving well under the posted speed limit.
• Refrain from using cruise control on slippery surfaces. This includes roads that have been sanded or are extremely icy as well.
• Utilize your All-wheel drive. This helps with acceleration and control of power and traction in all of your wheels. This is especially handy on slippery surfaces and inclines.
• Drive with your headlights on but keep your high beams off unless you absolutely need them.

Though staying off the roads in inclement weather is always advised, it is not always easy to do. Between commuting to work and taking care of regular errands like grocery shopping, there always seems to be a reason to leave your house even when it is snowing. If you do find yourself driving in the snow, follow these safe winter driving tips from eTags to get you to your destination safely.

When was the last time you had your tire pressure checked? If it’s been a while, now might be the time to take a look at those all-too important parts of your car that get you from Point A to Point B. It is still relatively warm in most parts of the country, but it will be winter before you know it. If your tires are worn and have lost their tread, it might be a good idea to get new tires now before ice, sleet, and snow make their appearance. In addition to that, you might wonder if you should get seasonal tires for the colder months. Consumer Reports recently provided several tips to keep in mind when making tire decisions this fall. Here are a few things the consumer-centric publication recommended:

Examine Your Tires Very Carefully for Signs of Wear and Tear:  Experts recommend using the quarter test to determine the depth of the thread. All you need to do is put the quarter down headfirst onto the tire. If you see the top of the head, you will need to replace the tire or tires as soon as possible to avoid risk when the snow and ice hit.

Consider Whether or Not You Will Need Snow/Winter Tires: On wet and icy roads, traction is greatly affected. If you live in an area where it snows, have snow tires, also known as studded tires, is useful. If you choose not to change out your tires throughout the year, make sure you have all whether tires that are able to adapt to all seasons.

Check Your Pressure Often When the Weather Gets Cooler: You might notice that your tire air pressure light goes on more in the winter. This is no accident. Air pressure drops one psi for every ten degree drop in air temperature. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on air pressure and check it periodically; especially if you notice that it is colder than usual.  Low tire pressure can lead to anything from premature wear of the tire to tread separation, which is something that you definitely don’t want.

Learn more about tire care and safety on eTags.com.

One of the most common questions car owners will have is whether or not they should maintain full coverage on their vehicle when it gets up there in years. Even if you love your car, there comes a time when it might not be worth it anymore to pay the premium required for full coverage. If you are looking to save some money on your monthly payment, it might be worth it to change your insurance policy. But how do you know when that point is?

First, review your policy and see what your full coverage entails. Is roadside assistance and towing covered? How much of a deductible do you have to pay before coverage can go into effect? What are approved repairs and maintenance services? By looking over your policy, you can really see what you’re paying for and whether or not that extra $50-$100 a month is worth it.

Second, you’ll want to find out the value of your car. You can easily find this out by going to online resources like Kelley Blue Book. According to some industry experts, $5000 is the magic number. If your car isn’t worth this much, full coverage probably isn’t worth it. Although you will have to pay for any repair costs and roadside assistance, you will most likely save on the long run.

And, always remember, if you are looking to lower your rate, you can always shop for quotes at eTags.com and receive quotes from a variety of providers instantly.