GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Driving a lorry at night can have several advantages, including reduced traffic, availability of parking spots, and a magnificent night sky. While nighttime lorry driving may be relaxing, it is critical to practice safe night driving to avoid mishaps. According to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways of India, road deaths increase three folds at night.

As human eyes have poor night vision, with decreased depth perception and peripheral vision, it is no coincidence that the highways are dreadful and dangerous after the sun sets.

The best safety tip would be to not drive after dark, but if your schedule mandates you to do so, here are some tips that will help keep you safe on the roads.

1. Adjust the headlights:
Check that your lorry's headlights are correctly set. When it's dark, use upper beams whenever it's safe to do so. Uppers beams can see twice as far ahead as dipper. Switch back to dipper when you're within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle.

2. Follow speed limits:
It's a fundamental reality that humans can't see as clearly during the night as in the daytime, no matter how excellent their vision is. So, driving slow at night helps you see the warning signs or other vehicles better. Slow down even more during severe weather and foggy conditions due to less visibility.

3. Reduce glare:
Maintaining a clean windshield is vital to reduce the blindness that an approaching vehicle's headlights may cause. Furthermore, replace your wiper blades regularly to maintain a clean windshield.

*Additional tip – Staring at an approaching vehicle's beams can slow your response time. When you see such lights, gaze toward the center or right side of the highway until traffic passes. Moreover, adjust your mirrors so that headlights from vehicles behind you do not blind you.

4. Beware of your limitations:
As per the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways of India, most police-reported truck collisions are caused by sleepy driving each year. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep before you get behind the wheels. If you ever start experiencing fatigue, pull over right away and rest or refresh.

5. Be responsible:
Do what you expect of others, don't use upper beams unnecessarily, don't drink and drive, always use your side indicators while driving, flash your lights before overtaking, etc. Remember, even a small thing can trigger a severe collision and lead to an accident, so be a responsible driver.

Additional Tips:

• Maintain the health of your truck by carrying a routine maintenance

• Cover the truck with motor insurance. You can also buy motor insurance online now

• Overloading is illegal as well as causes much trouble while driving

• Never forget to wear your seatbelt

• Turn on the mp3 player to avoid feeling drowsy but ensure you don't keep the volume too loud as it might prevent you from listening to the vehicles outside

• Take periodic refreshments breaks

Whether you're a novice or an expert, the roads are uncertain. As we earlier said, the best tip is to drive during the daytime, but if night driving is inevitable, these tips will surely benefit you in driving safely.

Visit HERE to buy motor insurance online now.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Asthma is a health ailment that can take a severe toll on your health. In this condition, the air passage observes inflammation, and the bronchioles of the lungs swell, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma affects the functioning of your lungs and can lead to various long-term diseases as well.

While you can control asthma most of the time, it can affect your daily activities and may even be fatal. If not addressed correctly, the symptoms can worsen over time and lead to severe asthma attacks.

Today we will look at a few ways you can control your asthma.

1. Identifying triggers:
Almost all cases of asthmatic attacks arise due to a triggering agent or underlying factors. It could be pollution, smoke, allergies, exercise etc. Identifying what triggers your asthma is essential to prevent attacks as much as possible. One handy way of doing this is by keeping notes for a few weeks. Take into account all environmental and emotional things that affect you.

2. Avoid allergens:
Once diagnosed with asthma, you can do allergy tests to learn what you are allergic to. A comprehensive understanding of what causes allergies can help you prevent them in the future. Contact with allergens can cause inflammation which may block your airway and worsen your condition due to poor respiration.

3. Immunotherapy:
Immunotherapy or Allergy shots are injected to help mitigate allergic symptoms. Over a period of time, these small doses of specific substances allow the body to adjust to them and become less reactive in the future.

4. Avoid smoke:
If you are asthmatic, you should avoid smoke from vehicles, incense sticks, and cigarettes. Even passive smoking can be a deadly trigger for your asthma. Always carry masks, inhalers, and your asthma medication wherever you go. When stuck in situations where you're unable to avoid the smoke, use masks to cover your face thoroughly. Protecting your air passage should be a priority when you're in crowded places.

5. Take medications:
Even if your asthma has been under control for a while, never skip your medications. Asthma medications are designed to help to prevent symptoms and attacks over time. Skipping on your medications can be dangerous.

6. Keep your environment clean:
Sometimes the bare minimum can go a long way. Regularly vacuuming your couches and floor can help keep dust at bay. Use a dehumidifier to reduce the air's moisture and prevent mold growth. Install air purifiers to get rid of dust mites. Lastly, don't forget to change your bedsheets and liner every week to ensure maximum protection from dust and allergies.

These are a few ways in which you can prevent an asthmatic attack. However, in case of a severe asthma condition, it is advisable to visit a doctor. Having medical reports handy at all times is a good idea to give the doctors a better understanding of your medical history.

We are often not prepared for the expenses we might incur during visits to doctors. Costly medical bills should be the least of your worries in such times. Having the backing of an insurance provider is especially helpful. Consider this a reminder of your health insurance policy renewal and prevent it from lapsing.

Click HERE to know more about health insurance policy renewal.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

India's vast network of national highways is usually busy with trucks carrying hefty cargo across the states. Transportation of heavy-duty materials and goods is majorly carried out by trucks. Their labour happens to be an essential work that contributes to the entire country's economy and aids multiple industries in flourishing and growing.

As essential as the transportation of the loaded cargo is, it can be a complex process to manage. Hauling loaded shipments for kilometers at a stretch is a strenuous activity and can become dangerous. Due to their massive size and load, several rules and regulations are levied upon the lorries. There are standard weight limitations to be followed to avoid any road accidents. All shipment companies and truck drivers must follow these safety provisions.

What are the basic truck requirements to keep in mind?

1. The weight of the load or cargo must be evenly positioned in the vehicle. Distributing the weight evenly throughout the truck ensures that its balance is maintained while driving. It also guarantees that no part of the truck is heavier than the rest so that it drives safely across the distance.

2. The cargo must be positioned and secured firmly in its place. If any items of the shipment move with the truck's movement along the road, it can cause the lorry to tip over or fall while making a turn. This can cause major road accidents and distract the driver from driving.

3. The regulatory bodies imply a standard weight limitation depending on the truck's size. The driver must ensure that these weight limitations and norms are adhered to before setting off on their journey. Not only can they be heavily fined for disregarding these rules, but they can also cause significant weight displacement of the vehicle, leading to severe accidents.

What are the risks of overloading the trucks?

1. The mechanical components of the truck are proportional to its smooth functioning. The weight limits are placed to protect the vehicle's mechanical parts from the damage caused by overloading. Parts like the suspension and engine can be easily damaged.

2. Heavy loads cause high amounts of pressure on the vehicle's braking system. The driver is forced to push harder on the brakes to stop sooner, impairing the system. Extreme pressure on the brakes can significantly increase the possibilities of brake failure.

3. Like the truck's mechanical parts, tyres can also deteriorate due to truck overloading. It causes a significant chance of them blowing out. A tyre blowout can cause the cargo to shift, displace its weight and lead to accidents. If the driver is unable to steer the truck to safely move out of the road, it may cause a major road collision and pose a threat to other vehicles on the road.

Understanding the risks of overloading trucks is essential to securing yourself, people, and vehicles. Following the safety protocols and driving with alertness and lesser (permissible) load is key to avoiding landing into unwanted mishaps. Investing in a motor insurance scheme can ensure your truck's safety at all times and get you compensated in case of damages. A good motor insurance can help you secure your finances and make your journeys stress-free.

Click HERE to buy motor insurance to safeguard your truck.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

With the internet being easily accessible even in remote areas, today, people engage and entertain more through the digital world. Social media is proving to be a significant source of entertainment worldwide. However, it turns out that it is also one of the rising causes of bad mental health. Primarily, the rise of social media has long-term consequences and adverse effects on people's mental health, including cyberbullying, depression, and severe anxiety.

People think that social media is a mood booster, which is true but under certain limits. Excessive socializing can make things odd for you, majorly affecting your mental peace. Let's take a look at how social media is affecting people's mental health.

1. Comparing our lives with others:
The comparison is one of the primary reasons why people feel socially isolated. As we scroll down our social media feeds, we start comparing our lives with other people. This may be in terms of money, their day-to-day activities, looks, or happy moments. Unfortunately, the habit of comparing ourselves to others is linked with symptoms like anxiety, depression and loneliness.

2. It triggers sadness:
The more you use social media, the higher it triggers your sadness. For example, a person already dealing with mental health issues may see things that can make her feel down. This way, people feel the fear of missing out, leading to higher anxiety.

3. Low self-esteem:
People on social media are all about showing off materialistic things. We tend to feel excluded from these show-offs, which can lead to higher insecurities. Seeing someone ‘perfect’ on social media further lowers self-esteem. You'll begin to judge your self-worth, and that's dangerous.

4. Social acceptance:
Social media has taken over people's minds by its craze for ‘followers’ and ‘likes’. Youth indulge in the thoughts that if they don't get a certain number of likes or followers, they are probably not good enough or aren't socially acceptable.

5. Abrupt sleep cycle:
Social media is like that one toxic addiction you want to leave, but you can’t. According to research, almost two-thirds of the youth check their social media at least once before sleeping. Sometimes you may come across a specific post, and you decide to check about them more out of curiosity. Within a blink of an eye, you'll lose hours just scrolling on social media.

6. Leads to jealousy:
Besides comparing ourselves to others, another way social media affects one's mental health is by inducing jealousy. Seeing other people's success stories, luxurious accessories, and vacations can be envy-inducing. This vicious cycle of jealousy can lead to severe consequences.

The rise in the influencer culture has further brought plenty of side effects on today's youth. Unfortunately, draining mental health can affect one's physical health too. While these health problems may not look concerning, they can turn out more significant and take a toll on your overall well-being, productivity and finances in the future. Therefore, it is in your best interest to get HEALTH INSURANCE so you do not drain yourself financially to protect your mental well-being.

Social media is not just scrolling feeds and looking at what's going on in other people's lives. If you use it wisely, social media is a perfect medium to make you productive and happy. You will find profiles and posts related to improving your well-being, practising mindfulness, drawing positivity through education, and even the importance of mental balance, health insurance and a perfect lifestyle.

Click HERE to buy the best health insurance that fits your needs.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

The year 2020 was considered the year of WFH (work from home). In the beginning, everyone took it as a blessing, and people experienced enough flexibility at work and more time for family. However, as the trend continued into 2021, it presented new communication and collaboration challenges among teams, mental health issues, and imbalance in the work-life cycle.

Working from home looks like a job incentive for many employees, as suddenly they have more flexibility to get their work-life balance. But that's not the whole truth; reality seems to be different. Work from home culture has depended significantly on one question: Is remote working a sustainable option? In this article, we'll discuss some of the most common challenges that home-based workers are facing.

WFH affects your mental health:
Though work from home has proved to be helpful, it is also adversely affecting our mental health. A report states that about 76% of the global workforce recorded negative impacts on their mental health in 2020 due to WFH.
WFH results in total exposure to the computer all day, leading to headaches, fatigue, tiredness, and eye problems. In addition, rather than the benefits of work-life balance, some people lose sleep due to workload and family chores altogether. This continuous work-family adjustment results in emotional exhaustion. People who are hyperactive at work find it hard to detach themselves from work at home.
On the other hand, work from home has turned out to be an advantage for many introverts. You can work from the convenience of your customary conditions without any physical human interaction.

WFH takes a toll on physical health:
Because you are in front of the screens all day, there is no time for physical activities. Due to prolonged remote working hours, people are more often facing health issues. A sedentary lifestyle, irregular food intake, and sleep deprivation are common concerns. Parents working full time, taking care of household chores, and home-schooling their kids face much bigger physical health issues.
Tossing within the many tasks simultaneously; it takes the life out of those employees with productivity shame, lack of motivation and burnouts in most cases. Most surveys suggest that as many as 50% of people have back and neck pain and other musculoskeletal problems leading to more stress. Although the pandemic has blurred the boundaries between work and home, we learned a lot from WFH culture. These alarming health-related issues have brought well-being to the forefront. Both employers and workers are more aware than ever of the impact of mental and physical health.

We all know that stress and fatigue are not just resulting in some temporary problems but are also impacting cognitive health with some life-threatening issues such as anxiety, diabetes, heart diseases, and clinical depression. As a result, the corporate sector is taking measures to ensure the well-being of the employees and assuring better working conditions, flexibility and HEALTH INSURANCE coverage to their employees.

Since WFH impacts your overall well-being, re-think your current remote working style. There are undeniable benefits of work from home if you have a positive WFH culture, flexibility, work-home balance, time for other activities and a health insurance plan to address your mental and financial stress. So go, set in motion the true meaning of WFH!

To get the best deals on health insurance, click HERE .

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

'Big business starts small' – wise words by Richard Branson. If you plan to become your boss, a bike rental business can be a good venture. A rental bike allows people to ditch cars and public transport without owning a motorcycle or being bothered by BIKE INSURANCE, storage, and maintenance hassles.

In recent years, the opportunities and demands for a bike rental business have increased considerably due to the convenience of two-wheelers. With just a helmet and a 2-wheeler, a person can go around the city efficiently running their errands; or take in some fresh air on an empty highway.

Now that you are ready with your business idea let's proceed to the next step. We have brought together these seven easy steps to help you start your bike rental business.

Step 1
Plan – 'A target to accomplish without a plan is just a dream!'
• Estimation of setting up your business

• The business operation cost

• Potential customers (set up the target audience and promotion offer accordingly)

• Method of business (hourly or daily rates, whether or not you will sell bike-related merchandise, policies concerning damage caused, etc.)

• More profits (consider extra services, like bike sales and repairs; if in a tourist place, offer tour guides)

• Name of your business (what's there in the name? Your brand, logo, website, etc.)

Step 2
Tax – 'Pay for doing the right thing!'
Register for taxes; your small business will be taxed depending upon your business structure (e.g., LLC or Sole Proprietorship.)

Step 3
Bank accounts and credit cards – 'Start your financial journey!'
A business bank account separates your assets from your company's assets. Similarly, getting a business credit card will help you separate your business and personal expenses, and it builds your company's credit history, allowing you to acquire your investments later.

Step 4
Daily cash flow and expenses – 'Maintain a proper business account!'
Keeping track of various expenses and income is crucial to understand financial performance. It also simplifies the tax filing for you. Carefully manage the cash flow, make all entries and maintain a daily account sheet.

Step 5
Legal requirements – ‘Keep the books clean!’
Get your company’s name registered, obtain GST, PAN card, trademark certificate, and other prerequisite licenses and permits to avoid any fines or legal issues in the future.

Step 6
Insurance – 'Keep your umbrellas ready before it rains!'
Similarly, for your firm's financial security, it is necessary to get the right business insurance. There are several types of insurance policies designed to cover different risks. For the growth of a bike rental business, the security of bikes makes a huge difference. With the rising operation cost of the bike rental business, having robust bike insurance plans helps you overcome financial risks related to your bikes.

Step 7
Move online – 'Make the internet your new market!'
Maintaining a good website and the social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram will help your business to grow with more user engagement. In addition, you can flash special offers, exclusive deals, trade merchandise as a part of your marketing strategy to draw more sales.

For running a bike rental business, you need to have mechanical skills or hire at least one full-time mechanic. Remember, a nonoperating bike won't earn you any money. Also, a significant amount of your customers can be tourists, so you should be well acquainted with the location to build a good customer relationship. Follow your passion and work in the direction of making your vision a reality with this quick guide.

Are you starting a new bike rental business? Click HERE to buy insurance that will ensure the safety of your bikes.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

The two-wheeler segment is considered the most convenient mode of commutation in our country. It is believed that 'life is better on two wheels.' With a couple of benefits like fuel efficiency, compact design, and budget-friendliness, two-wheelers are people's personal favourite to withstand the fast pace of life. From youths to retirees, you will find a large Indian population riding two-wheelers.

Despite many worthy features, two-wheelers elevate the risk involved in riding them. No matter how good your driving skills are, you can't deny the risks involved with two-wheelers. Unfortunately, people tend to overlook it while riding two-wheelers. Following traffic and safety rules is essential even if you have many years of experience under your belt. In addition, pursue another good habit of renewing your 2 WHEELER INSURANCE to ensure security in case of mishaps.

We bring these eleven good habits every rider should consider:

1. Start your two-wheeler only after wearing the helmet. It is unlawful and dangerous to ride a two-wheeler or a bike without wearing a proper helmet. The helmet should be ISI certified and of the best fit.

2. Always go for a bike that you can comfortably ride and control. Choose one that is appropriate for your physical capabilities, low maintenance, and compliments your budget.

3. Overtaking a vehicle from the left is always the wrong decision you'd ever make. Stay away from overtaking at intersections, schools and public zones, bridges. Honk before you take a turn.

4. The rider must be visible to other vehicles during the night and extreme weather conditions like fog. Stick reflective bands on the helmet, use dipper lights appropriately, especially when riding at night.

5. Riders must be cautious of their proximity to the vehicles ahead of them. Understand the distance required to go to a complete halt and brake correspondingly.

6. Maintain your motorcycle or scooter in excellent working condition and get regular servicing at an authorized workshop or service centre.

7. Always look out and be aware of potential dangers such as speed bumps, potholes, environmental disasters, and pedestrian crosswalks.

8. Obey all traffic rules religiously. Always signal first so that others can anticipate your next action. Make sure you don't slam on the brakes or make sharp bends suddenly.

9. Using your phone on the bike is a big threat for the rider and the pillion rider. If it is exceptionally urgent, pull over your bike at the side of the road to use your phone.

10. Only because you own a vehicle does not make you superior on the road. Be considerate of pedestrians and allow them to move before you in all situations.

11. In addition, an overall increase in service cost, maintenance fee, or a sudden accident may impact your financial plan. So, prepare for uncertainties in advance with 2 wheeler insurance. 

2 wheeler insurance will not just cover your finances at times of damage but will also provide you with compensation if your two-wheeler is stolen.

Keep the above-mentioned habits in mind and enjoy the pleasure of a bike ride to chase more smiles per hour.

Looking for 2 wheeler insurance, click HERE.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Bikes are the most commonly used vehicle when it comes to riding on India's busy roads. But did you know that your safety relies on one more thing than just your driving skills? Your choice of tyres and how you maintain them are two major factors contributing to a safe and smooth ride.

Still, most of us don't take the health of our bike's tyres very seriously. Tyres suffer a lot while making your riding experience pleasant. Besides this, bike tyres face significant external damage and develop cracks due to constant wear and tear. You cannot afford to leave the tyres unattended because a faulty tyre can be a threat to your life and others around you. Below are the five best tips to increase the life expectancy of your bike's tyres.

1. Wash them regularly:
Cleaning the tyres of your bike is an essential routine that you shouldn't miss. Leaving dirt will expose them to damages, thereby affecting their quality. The dirt racks up on the tyre's surface and affects its grip, which tends the bike to skid on the road. So, next time you go to the washing centre, get the tyres clean and dirt-free thoroughly.

2. Schedule regular repair checks:
Your bike runs over any sharp object like a nail or edgy stones on the road. With time, tyres also meet with alignment and wheel balancing issues. This happens due to extensive riding and wear and tear of treads or grooves. Get these issues fixed at the earliest, as otherwise, such things can damage the tyres inside out.

3. Get the best fit:
Sometimes we opt for fancy or trendy tyres and don't pay heed to the actual requirement. Always look out for the best fitting and necessity of your bike and its model. Mismatching tyres is never a good option – neither for your bike nor for you.

4. Timely replacement of tyres:
Tyres don't come with a lifelong guarantee. Ideally, they need to be changed every 4-5 years, or the kilometres you cover, depending on your bike's specifications. Due to resisting the friction continuously, tyres tend to lose their grip. Taking out your motorcycle with such tyres on the road is dangerous, especially on uneven roads or during the rainy season. So, timely replacing of tyres is required before the situation gets uncontrollable.

5. Check for ideal pressure:
Refer to the user manual of your bike to know the perfect pressure of the tyre and maintain it consistently. Don't forget the essential maintenance of air filling and oiling the engine. Riding under less pressured tyres is risky as there are chances of bursting or unexpected puncturing.

Your bike is your responsibility, and keeping it in good shape will give it an extended life. Moreover, regular maintenance to your bike and tyres promises comfortable and safe rides to you. Along with good care, buying suitable BIKE INSURANCE also counts as a wise step. Bike insurance comes with plenty of benefits that can help you as an owner during unfortunate incidents like accidents, theft, or damages due to calamities.

Click HERE to buy or renew your bike insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.