Foremost Insurance Group | Foremost Insurance Group encourages safety on the road and water during parades

Grand Rapids, MI – Foremost Insurance Group encourages all consumers to make safety a part of their parade plans as they prepare for the holiday weekend.

“The Fourth of July is not only a great time of celebration for our country, but it’s also one of the busiest parts of the summer for outdoor recreation,” said Doug Tepper, vice president of specialty product management for Foremost^®. “A classic way people choose to showcase their boats or vehicles is by participating in their local parade.”

Whether a person is getting out their classic car, motorcycle or boat to participate, it’s important keep safety in mind leading up to and throughout the event.

Follow the rules. Every parade is different and each parade and municipality has their own set of guidelines that all participants must obey. Know what they are before getting to the event.
Take it slow. Parades set low speed or no-wake guidelines to make sure that participants and spectators are safe. It’s also important to maintain a margin of safety around the vehicle or boat in case something happens in front or behind them.
Watch for potential hazards. Parade participants must remain acutely aware of their surroundings as a number of safety risks could quickly appear. Spectators or children may dart in the road, swimmers or personal watercraft may appear, and other participants may need to stop quickly to avoid their own obstacle.
Decorate safely. If the parade involves decorations, do not cover up the headlights, other safety devices, or inhibit the ability to safely operate the vehicle or boat.
Don’t mix alcohol and vehicle operation. Even though a parade is a celebration, it’s necessary for all car, motorcycle and boat drivers to act responsibly. Even a little bit of alcohol and operation don’t mix, especially in a parade setting where judgment and reaction time is critical.
Make sure the vehicle or boat is legal. Even if the vehicle or boat is out of storage for a couple of hours, it needs to be in compliance with the law. Make sure it’s properly licensed, registered and insured before the event.

“We love when people take the time to showcase their boats, cars and motorcycles in any holiday event. We want everybody to act safely while doing so,” Tepper added.

To learn more about Foremost’s products or to share feedback, visit Foremost.com, our Facebook page at Facebook.com/ForemostInsurance or our Twitter page at Twitter.com/Foremost.