You may have heard that PEMCO Insurance just recently launched their new website. We think it’s great! Especially their Teen Driver Site is definitely worth a visit!
Head on over to http://www.pemco.com/teen_driver/default.aspx to check it out!
(Oh, and keep in mind that we here at McClain Insurance Services represent PEMCO, but also Safeco, Travelers and Progressive. That’s right! As independent agents we can help with all your personal insurance needs, and we specialize in insurance for families with teen drivers.
Find us at www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/McClain or check out our brand new main website at www.AutoHomeBoat.com )
January 27, 2010 at 4:53 am
Many parents are concerned to have their teen drivers head out on the road at night. And rightfully so! Driving at night is a very dangerous time for teens.
But, a recent study shows that the time right after school is also a very high risk time for teen drivers. A study by AAA indicates that weekday afternoon driving is almost as dangerous for teens as night driving. The researchers studied the number of fatal crashes involving teens between 2002 and 2005.
They found that 16 and 17 years olds were involved in almost as many fatal crashes between 3 and 5 pm on weekdays, as they were on Friday and Saturday nights between 9 pm and 2 am. There were 1100 weekday fatal accidents and 1237 weekend evening fatal accidents.
What causes the high number of crashes after school lets out?
-Distractions. There are a lot of distractions after school, ranging from packed parking lots, other kids walking to their car or to the bus, school buses pulling up and leaving – not to mention friends with whom to review the day or make plans for the next. And – did we mention cell phones, ipods, radio stations and soda cans?
- Inexperience. Correctly evaluating and navigating the busy surroundings while navigating a car doesn’t come without practice. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything that’s going on!
- Additional causes likely include the typical “afternoon low” that hit right around the time school lets out, the beginning of rush hour, and the hurry to get home or to the next appointment.
In these dark, dreary days of winter, many teen drivers deal with both factors: Decreased visibility caused by weather and early darkness as well as treacherous road conditions, combined with the “after-school-stress” make for a dangerous combination.
Please talk with your teen driver about these issues, and help increase their awareness for what’s going on during this busy time of day. You can help them avoid accidents by starting with three simple rules:
- Aim to get to school 5-10 minutes early, and wait 5-10 minutes before leaving, to allow for the “rush hour” to pass.
- Enforce the “No eating, no drinking, no cell phone while in the car” rule
- No passenger in the car for the first six months, and not more than one passenger during the first year.
January 12, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Happy New Year!
Most of us start off the new year by at least considering whether we are going to make any New Year’s resolutions. Generally these have to do with a healthier lifestyle or financial issues (paying off credit, saving more, etc.)
Have you considered making ‘driving resolutions’ this year?
This could positively impact both the health and financial stability of your family. Regardless of whether you previously made any resolutions or not, consider making the following in order to reduce the chances you or someone in your family will cause or be injured in an automobile accident.
1) When I drive I will focus my full attention on driving. This means no texting, no cell phones, no emotional tirades with passengers, no applying makeup, no eating meals or reading papers while driving.
2) I will be a courteous defensive driver. This means I will try to anticipate ways I can help other drivers be safer by yielding when necessary, by not blocking someone from passing, and by not using my car to express my emotions.
3) I will drive only when I am alert. This means I will not drive if I have been drinking, drugged, sick or excessively fatigued.
4) I will drive a safe speed, and I will reduce my speed accordingly for less than ideal conditions, such as heavy traffic, fog, rain, snow or ice.
5) I will maintain a safe distance between my car and the car in front of me regardless of how slow they go or how late I am.
6) I will always wear my seat belt and require that all my passengers buckle up.
7) I will keep my car in good mechanical condition so that I can avoid accidents caused by mechanical or tire failures.
I will do all of these things so that I can set a good example for my new teen driver. I will also:
- Make sure my teen driver has at least 100 hours of structured driving practice with a qualified adult before driving alone.
- Have my teen read and agree to the Teenager-Parent Teen Driving Contract before he begins driving.
Please be vigilant about your teen’s safety, as well as your own, and make 2010 your best driving year ever!
January 5, 2010 at 10:19 pm
You may have heard that PEMCO Insurance just recently launched their new website. We think it’s great! Especially their Teen Driver Site is definitely worth a visit!
