23 Apr, 2024
3 mins read

DOT Drug and Alcohol Test Consortium | Drugged Driving

Staying Safe and Sober: FAQs About Drugged Driving (H1)

Around 20 to 50 million people around the world get caught into a road traffic crash each year, which leads to the death of over 1 million of them. This is according to the data collated by the World Health Organization that has been published this year. 

 

There are many reasons why road accidents happen, and one of them is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or drugged driving. Since this is the most concerning issue among others, government agencies make an effort to harness awareness and set up action plans in preventing this. For example, those who hold or are in the process of obtaining a commercial driver’s license are required to enroll in a DOT Drug and Alcohol Test consortium and get tested.

 

Drugged driving is indeed dangerous, but, unfortunately, not many people are aware of its risks. This article lists down some of the facts and figures related to this topic. Read on to learn useful information, like the common drugs used and laws surrounding the issue.

 

What Is Drugged Driving, and What Dangers Does It Pose?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines “drugged driving” as being impaired while driving a vehicle due to the intoxicating effects of the drugs the user has taken. It is illegal in all 50 states in the country because of the inherent danger that comes with it. For instance, a driver can be caught in an accident that will cause them to suffer injuries, ranging from minor concussions to fatal conditions.

 

Drugged driving does not only affect and trouble the user. After all, if a traffic collision were to occur, everyone near the vicinity is put at great risk, including fellow operators or motorists, pedestrians, and bystanders. It can also cause great damage to property, both public (such as road signs and barriers) and private (such as roadside establishments and vehicles owned by other people).

 

How Often Does Drugged Driving Happen?

In 2017 alone, over 12 million individuals who are 16 years and older drove after using illicit drugs. This is ؘbased on a report of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Illicit drugs refer to highly addictive substances that are illegal to be made, taken, or sold, such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Also, in 2016, nearly half of the drivers who were killed in a road crash tested positive for drugs, like amphetamine and marijuana. This is according to a separate study conducted by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

 

What Drugs Are Commonly Used, and How Do They Affect Drivers?

Illicit drugs impair a person’s senses and ability to process information, which makes it difficult for them to think and judge based on different circumstances. Here are some of the drugs commonly used by people involved in drugged driving, according to NIDA:

 

  • Marijuana – In certain amounts, it can lead to drowsiness and hallucination. It
3 mins read

Dental Insurance | COVID-19 Pandemic

Finding Affordable Insurance and Medical Help Amidst the Pandemic (H1)

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a massive impact globally. The event led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and changed how people all over the world engage with one another.

 

Not only is COVID-19 a health crisis, but it’s also an economic nightmare as it led to the disruption of businesses and loss of livelihoods. These changes could also mean the loss of job-provided coverage plans such as health insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, and more.

 

If we’ve learned anything about 2020, it’s that being equipped for uncertainty is a really valuable asset. For that reason, individuals need to find a way to gain access to health benefits despite the challenges the pandemic presents. Listed below are some ways you can find low-cost insurance and medical assistance.

 

Use the Government’s Insurance Exchange Website

Visit Healthcare.gov and look for assistance programs that you are qualified for. No matter what your financial status is, this website will show you what kind of aid you can get to pay for a portion of your insurance.

 

Under normal circumstances, this website is used every enrollment period by individuals who need to purchase insurance for the following year. But that’s not its only purpose. All year round, this website allows people to buy coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

 

People with major life events are qualified for health insurance subsidies under the act. Losing employment is considered one of those events. If you happen to have lost medical care coverage because the person whose plan you were covered by lost theirs, you are also qualified for financial assistance.

 

If you aren’t eligible for financial help due to your overall income, you can also utilize the website to find affordable health and dental insurance plans from local agents.

 

Financial Loss Opens Up New Doors

As your financial status changes, there are new assistance plans that are made available to you. If you’ve suffered a decrease in income, you might be eligible for health insurance programs you weren’t previously qualified for.

 

One of these programs is Medicaid, which grants free health coverage to individuals and families who fit into an eligibility group. Should you qualify, Medicaid will send payments directly to your health care providers. 

 

You should still apply for Medicaid even if you’re not eligible based on your income. It’s possible to qualify for your state’s program if you have kids, are pregnant, or have a disability. Depending on your state’s rules, however, you may be required to pay for a small portion, called co-payment, for some medical services.

 

Look for Free and Charitable Clinics

Across the United States, several health centers are accessible to economically disadvantaged people. These clinics are established to provide free or low-cost medical care, depending on the patient’s financial capability.

 

Charitable health centers allow patients, who otherwise may not have access to high-quality medical care,

3 mins read

Why Would Buyers Want to See a Classic Auto Appraisal MD?

If you’re selling one of your classic vehicles, it’s a good idea to have it appraised before you begin to promote it on the open market. That’s because may potential buyers will want to see the appraisal before they will enter into any serious negotiations. Why would the classic auto appraisal MD be so important to a classic car collector? Here are a few examples of why seeing the appraisal will matter.

Confirming That All the Parts are Original

Many collectors are only interested in vehicles that are all original. That means that the car or truck still has the same components as the day it rolled off an assembly line. It can also mean that if the vehicle has been damaged in some sort of accident, all the replacement parts were produced by the original manufacturer.

If the appraisal indicated diminished value because of the use of parts that are not original, the collector may not want to go any further. On the other hand, confirmation that all the parts are original may be the motivation for continuing the discussion.

Determining if the Asking Price is in Line With the Current Value

Serious collectors already have an idea of how much they are willing to pay for a classic vehicle with all the original parts. What they may not know is how much the current market value happens to be for a specific vehicle. An appraisal can bridge the gap between the two figures and provide the buyer with some idea of how much of an offer to make.

The buyer may find that what he or she is willing to pay is very close to the appraised value. At other times, the appraisal may reflect a figure that is much higher than what the buyer will pay. In the latter scenario, the buyer may choose to focus on other vehicles that have an appraised value that’s more in line with what he or she can afford.

Proof That the Vehicle is All The Owner Claims It to Be

There’s a lot of detail in a classic auto appraisal MD that buyers want to know. It’s not just original parts or the fact that the vehicle has not been through an unusually high number of accidents. Little details that are documented as part of the appraisal make it easier to determine that the seller is being transparent about the overall condition and quality. That’s important when the plan is to add a classic vehicle to a collection.

Knowing the Vehicle Was Recently Examined by a Professional

Appraisals are only done by professionals who are certified for that purpose. The fact that an appraisal exists provides a lot of comfort to the prospective buyer. Along with a date that’s fairly recent, the appraisal confirms that an expert has been over the vehicle and considered every line item on the checklist. Combined with the maintenance records that the current owner maintains, it’s easier to get an idea of whether or not …

3 mins read

What to Expect from a Reliable Classic Car Appraisal Detroit

When it comes to investment options, there are many options to consider. One of such ways is owning a classic car as these assets only tend to appreciate with time. If you own one however and want to know what it’s worth currently, you might need to carry out a classic car appraisal Detroit.

Whether you are employing a professional appraiser or making it a DIY project, your appraisal reports must have the following information.

Full Description of the Vehicle: an appraisal is worth nothing if it doesn’t give a detailed description of the physical, electrical, and mechanical components of the appraised car. Details such as Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), serial number, year, make and model should be included in the report.

For a thorough description to be carried out, the car must be inspected as well by a professional appraiser. The purpose of an inspection is to ensure that all part of the car is in prime and perfect working conditions.

Since a full description can’t be carried out without a physical inspection, it is always advisable to avoid the services of appraisal companies who only request for a pictorial representation of the car and conduct appraisal using the picture provided.

A History of Necessary Documentation: For a regular car, documentation would include service history, date of manufacture, maintenance records, list of previous owners (if any), repairs and restoration records, and receipt of purchase made available by the present owner. For a classic car, however, a little more might be included in an appraisal. There should be a clear mention of awards, trophies, or other sorts of achievement that is in the cars’ history. All history recorded in the report must be backed up by photos or paper documentations.

Its Current Market Worth: while different appraisers might have their own way of determining the current market value of your classic car, the report would be nonetheless incomplete without that information. While determining the value of a classic car on the market might be tricky because no two cars are exactly the same considering factors such as mileage, repairs, upgrades, etc., an experienced appraiser would know how to get the information he needs to determine a fair market value. This might involve going through several sources of listings of vehicles that are both on the market and that have been sold.

An Appraisal Report: an appraisal report can serve a number of purposes. It might be required by someone who wants to buy a car and wants to know if it’s worth it or could be required by an insurance agency before they issue a policy on a car. Whatever it is, an appraisal must come with a very detailed and easily understood report. This should include the name or company of the appraiser, as there might be a need to refer to their credibility.

There are a number of other details that a classic car appraisal Detroit should contain, but the above mentioned are the …

3 mins read

What Factors Could Lead to a Car Diminished Value Tacoma?

Diminished value has to do with a change in the value of a vehicle after some sort of event has taken place. Depending on what has taken place, this can impact the class or state that can be used in offering the vehicle for sale. What could lead to some sort of car diminished value Tacoma? Here are a four examples.

Decrease in Value Immediately After an Accident

Assume that your vehicle is damaged in an accident. Instead of choosing to repair the vehicle, you decide to sell it as is and use the money as a down payment on a new car or truck. In this scenario, you would not be able to sell the vehicle for typical market value; it would be necessary to reduce the price due to the damage. An appraisal can help you set an equitable price for the damaged vehicle.

Repairs That Don’t Fully Restore the Vehicle

You’ve opted to repair the vehicle and it’s once more road-worthy. However, the repairs did not fully restore the vehicle to the former state. For example, the paint used on the replacement fenders is close to the rest of the body, but it’s not a perfect match. That difference would be all it would take to lessen the vehicle’s value. While you may plan on driving the vehicle for several more years, that slight difference in the paint will mean that the market value will remain lower.

Use of Anything Other Than Original Parts

When making repairs after an accident, opting for original parts is always the way to go. Even if you own a classic vehicle and will need to rely on finding used original parts, that’s a better way to go than opting for third-party components. By choosing to only use original parts made by the same manufacturer, you can still claim that the vehicle is all original. Using third-party components – no matter how high in quality they happen to be – means that the vehicle is no longer fully original. That will lead to a car diminished value Tacoma that must be taken into account when you decide to sell the car or truck.

Multiple Accidents Over Time

A series of accidents over time can also lead to a diminished value for a vehicle. Even if the car or truck is repaired using original parts, there’s the assumption that some unknown damage has occurred due to the multiple accidents. In effect, this has to do with the risk that a buyer assumes that some mechanical or other issue will develop that tracks back to the series of accidents. This is true even if the vehicle looks perfect and it seems to perform like new.

Diminished value does not mean that a vehicle is unsafe or that whatever damage is present cannot be repaired. What it does mean is that the car or truck cannot command the same market value as a vehicle that has sustained minimal or no damage, or one that …