This sort of ID theft could easily go unnoticed until your child is 16 years old and applies for a driver’s license – and gets denied because somebody else already claimed it, using your child’s Social Security Number!

And that may not be the only fraudulent activity that has affected your child’s name.  Think credit cards and bank accounts…  which could seriously damage your child’s credit report and impact his/her eligibility for student loans, when the time comes.

What can you do?  Be very carful about sharing your child’s personal information.  Doctor’s offices, preschools and other businesses often ask for a child’s Social Security Number, but may also accept different forms of identification.  Just ask.

Also, consider checking your child’s credit report once a year (along with your own) to find out if fraudulent charges have already occurred.  If so, take the necessary steps to freeze the account and get charges removed as soon as possible.

By the way, if you are insured with PEMCO Insurance, you have access to PEMCO’s ID Smart program, which provides support from ID theft specialists free of charge.  Call us for a free quote at 425.379.9200 or visit our website at www.AutoHomeBoat.com.

Under the previous cell phone law in Washington State, talking and texting while driving was considered a secondary offense.  This meant that law-enforcement officers could not stop a cell-phone using driver unless there was another reason, such as speeding.

The new law will allow an officer to pull over a driver for using his/her cellphone while driving, and issue a $124 citation.

The new law also completely bans any cell phone use for young drivers under 18, even if they use a hands-free device or Bluetooth.  (Talking with a hands-free device remains legal for older, more practiced drivers.)

As KOMO news recently reported, Cindy Baker-Williams was among those who supported passage of stronger rules. Her son, Billy, age 12, suffered a brain injury four years ago while walking to the school bus. Billy Williams was in a coma for nearly a month and suffered injuries to his brain’s speech centers.  Witnesses to the crash said the driver was talking on a cell phone at the time.  “It’s a very emotional time,” Baker-Williams said. “Behind this bill, we see faces of people in our community who hopefully will never have to go through a pedestrian-car accident.”  

To get an idea of just how distracting texting while driving can be, the New York Times published a game that simulates the distraction.  Please click here to play:  Gauging Your Distraction.

(For the record:  I didn’t do so well.  But no matter how high you score – please don’t text and drive in real life.)

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 )

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?

- 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:

According to an analysis conducted for AAA, in 2006 drivers ages 15 to 17 were involved in approximately 974,000 crashes that injured 406,427 people and killed 2,541. Here are some more sobering statistics:

But did you know that distracted driving can be just as deadly?  5,870 people lost their lives in 2008 due to being distracted, or due to another driver being too distracted to react in time.  In many cases, the at-fault distracted driver didn’t even notice the person they ended up killing!

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a study researching distracted driving just this past September.  And guess what?  “Driver distraction was reported to have been involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes…” 

The biggest culprits when it comes to distracted driving are, of course, talking on your cell phone and texting.  But activities such as eating, drinking, reading, talking, putting on makeup, or daydreaming while driving are just as disruptive to your concentration.  A conversation on a hands-free device is a distraction. Even strong emotions like anger or excitement can shift your focus off the road.

Yet, distracted driving, somehow, seems to be acceptable in today’s society.  It seems to be a sign of multitasking, of efficiency, of capability.  It is not.  Distracted driving is causing rising death-tolls.  It is irresponsible towards yourself and others.

To raise awareness of this hot topic, the Department of Transportation hosted a 2-day ‘Distracted Driving Summit’ in Washington D.C. last week.  Senators, scientists and victims spoke up to share facts and stories.  Read about it in the New York Times.

If you don’t believe just how distracting texting while driving can be, play this game by the New York Times.

Please Don’t Text and Drive.

1. Nothing
If you’re lucky, nothing will happen for the time being. You may think, “Well, that isn’t so bad”. I disagree. Why? Because, if they get away with it one time, they do it again and again, risking every time that something worse can happen.

2. Speeding Ticket
Probably the best case scenario, although this can be very expensive. In addition to the fine, your teen will collect points, which can cost as much as $3,000 to $4,000 over the next 3 years.

3. Car Accident
If they are lucky and no one gets hurt, this will also be very expensive. This can cost you $5,000 to $8,000 in insurance points and fines. It may also put you in danger of losing your insurance, especially if you are insured with a preferred carrier.

4. Car Accident with Injuries or Worse…
Most fatal car accidents that involve teens happen because the teen driver was speeding. In some cases, the teen driver survives and others are injured or worse, killed. I can’t tell you how much this will cost you because there is no way to place a value on someone’s life.

So, how can you prevent your teen from speeding?

Talk with your teen, practice with your teen, and set rules. Implement consequences if the rules are broken. And consider installing a GPS Monitoring system in the car that your teen drives – you will receive alerts if your young driver exceeds a certain speed limit. For more information about this system, please contact me at claudia@autohomeboat.com

Actually, that part may be true. But the flipside is that on a separate policy, the rate for the teen driver’s car goes way up for two reasons:

First, there won’t be a multi-policy discount for the single car on the teen’s policy
Second, you will have to buy a policy from a “high-risk” insurer. “High-risk” insurance companies charge rates that are more than double of a standard company.

Not only that. Placing your teen on a separate policy can cost you much more than higher rates. The most dangerous problem when insuring your teen with a high-risk insurance company is that you can’t buy high enough limits for a teen driver. The liability limits offered by these companies are usually no higher than 100/300/50, that means $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident and $50,000 for property damage.

Some parents think that’s fine – that in case of a big claim, the other party will only sue their child’s insurance company if there’s a big claim. That’s wrong! Any good attorney will go after the parents too, as long as the child is living in the parent’s home or is a dependent. The smartest way to insure your young driver is to keep them on your own auto insurance policy, with the highest liability limits you can get.

Prom night makes teens look and feel more grown-up, but it doesn’t necessarily make them behave more maturely. Most teens heading off to their prom will tell their parents that they know everything they need to know about drinking and driving, and any other concerns their parents may have.

Unfortunately, too often, prom night is linked with drunk-driving injuries, deaths, date rapes, and pregnancies. It has become the night where teens often demonstrate poor judgment and make dangerous choices. The following tips may ease prom anxieties:

- Know and discuss the school code of conduct before the prom with your child.

- Find out whether the school code of conduct applies to off-site functions that have been approved by the school.

- Know who your child is attending the prom with and obtain their cell phone numbers.

- Discuss the events for pre and post prom parties with other parents. Find out where they are located and who is responsible for maintaining good behavior.

- Talk with your child about the dangers of club drugs, warning signs and who to notify for assistance. Pre-plan and role-play answers that your child can use to get out of uncomfortable situations. (e.g., offered alcohol, getting a ride from an intoxicated driver, unwanted sexual advances,etc.)

- Discuss guidelines and a curfew. Discuss the consequences of violating these rules. Discuss travel plans, and if you use a limousine service, use a reputable one that will not allow alcohol in the vehicle.

- Know who is driving to the prom and who will be a passenger. Limit the number of passengers to increase safety and reduce driver distractions.

- Talk to your teenager about the serious dangers and consequences of underage drinking and driving. If your child’s plans change, confirm the change with the parents of other children.

- Remind your child that you are there for them, if they need a ride home, or to an after prom affair.