Driving Lessons

A recent study done by Insurance.com has named the most dangerous drivers according to their profession, and dog groomers have come in at number six! The study’s findings were based on the number of accident claims people declared when receiving a quote from Insurance.com. This study begs the question: Why are so many dog groomers getting into accidents?

One reason might be the tight schedules that mobile groomers try to keep. The more appointments a groomer can make in a day, the more money they will come away with, and showing up late for an appointment can really damage a groomer’s reputation. But is one extra client per day really worth the safety and financial risk of an accident? If you find yourself rushing around (speeding from client to client to make it on time), try booking one less appointment per day and leaving yourself more time between appointments. If that is not an option for you financially, try mapping out your route the night before to save time.

Another reason people get into accidents is that they become distracted behind the wheel. While it may be tempting to book future appointments when you have a few moments to spare, listening to messages and making calls while driving is extremely dangerous. Insurance.com’s vice president Sam Belden says, “Professions that demand multi-tasking – being on the phone, moving fast on a tight schedule – are prone to more distractions and, from there, more accidents.” To avoid this hazard, set aside an hour at the beginning or end of the day to listen to your messages, return calls and book appointments.

One more tip is to try to avoid scheduling appointments that will have you driving during rush hour. Start your day a little later to avoid traffic jams, or groom a dog during rush hour and then hit the road when the traffic has subsided.

Not only will these tips make you a much safer driver, they should also help you relax during a busy day of grooming. If you’re not as stressed out, you will be able to greet each client with a genuine smile and a great attitude – and you wont have high insurance rates or claims to worry about either.