Visit www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount to get your free copy of the Safe Teen Driver Guide and to enter our drawing for a $500 College Savings Bond.
This offer ends on March 31st, 2009.
This guide can help you give your teen driver the most important skills to driving safely. It will also help you make the most of your time with your teen behind the wheel. Driver education experts recommend that you spend at least 100 hours with your teen driving before driving unsupervised.
Get your copy today!
Showing posts with label teen driver safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teen driver safety. Show all posts
Monday, March 2, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Win a $500 College Savings Bond and a Free Copy of the Safe Teen Driver Guide
Hi Everyone,
I recently co-wrote the Safe Teen Driver Guide with Officer Poer and other members of the Society of Family Insurance Specialist. The purpose of this guide is to help parents make the most of the time while teaching their kids to drive safely.
Driving School experts recommend that new drivers get 100 hours of driving before they take the wheel unsupervised. This course can help you do this but most importantly, make this time most effective. This is a 16 step home study booklet that provides an outline to follow along with practice exercises.
I am offering this $59 guide at no cost to parents that are willing to give a few minutes to answer a short survey. I will also give parents an opportunity to win a $500 college savings bond for their teen driver.
Visit my website to take this survey at www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount.
Thanks and I wish you and your family a safe and happy new year!
Tom
I recently co-wrote the Safe Teen Driver Guide with Officer Poer and other members of the Society of Family Insurance Specialist. The purpose of this guide is to help parents make the most of the time while teaching their kids to drive safely.
Driving School experts recommend that new drivers get 100 hours of driving before they take the wheel unsupervised. This course can help you do this but most importantly, make this time most effective. This is a 16 step home study booklet that provides an outline to follow along with practice exercises.
I am offering this $59 guide at no cost to parents that are willing to give a few minutes to answer a short survey. I will also give parents an opportunity to win a $500 college savings bond for their teen driver.
Visit my website to take this survey at www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount.
Thanks and I wish you and your family a safe and happy new year!
Tom
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
What You Should Know About Your Teen Driver's Education
Hello Parents of Teen Drivers!
Driving Instruction experts recommend at least 100 hours of driving experience for new drivers before driving unsupervised. Unfortunately, the driving schools just can't give this much experience and it is your responsibility to make sure your teen has this much needed experience.
There is a way that you can accomplish this and make this time most effective. To learn more, visit www.safeteendrivercourse.com or watch this short video:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/TomWiecek/videos/7/
My friend, Master Police Officer James Poer said "Parents must take a proactive role in their child’s driving education. Unfortunately, the driving schools simply cannot provide their students the adequate experience needed to drive unsupervised.”
This time in your child's life is a very exciting time and by using a structured teen driving guidebook, you can make this a very exciting experience for your entire family.
I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
Driving Instruction experts recommend at least 100 hours of driving experience for new drivers before driving unsupervised. Unfortunately, the driving schools just can't give this much experience and it is your responsibility to make sure your teen has this much needed experience.
There is a way that you can accomplish this and make this time most effective. To learn more, visit www.safeteendrivercourse.com or watch this short video:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/TomWiecek/videos/7/
My friend, Master Police Officer James Poer said "Parents must take a proactive role in their child’s driving education. Unfortunately, the driving schools simply cannot provide their students the adequate experience needed to drive unsupervised.”
This time in your child's life is a very exciting time and by using a structured teen driving guidebook, you can make this a very exciting experience for your entire family.
I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
What you Should Know About Insuring Your Teen Driver
Hello Parents of Teen Drivers!
It's been a crazy few months and I know I haven't written in a while. I recently married the woman I love, been traveling too much attending insurance conferences and preparing for the next StreetSafe event (coming in February BTW). No excuse for not keeping up with my postings though.
Well...I have quite a bit of new information to pass on to the parents of teen drivers. To start with, I've been working on some new videos that should help you with keeping your teen driver safe and learn more about how you should be protected.
Please feel free to watch my first video on What you Should Know About Your Insuring Your Teen Driver. This video gives great advice on how you should be protected and is already getting a huge response. I hear it is already #4 on the Google! Please feel free to add your comments.
I truly hope it gives you some valuable information on what you need to do to make sure you're protected and helps you keep your teen driver safe!
Here's the link: http://www.viddler.com/explore/TomWiecek/videos/6/
I hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Tom
It's been a crazy few months and I know I haven't written in a while. I recently married the woman I love, been traveling too much attending insurance conferences and preparing for the next StreetSafe event (coming in February BTW). No excuse for not keeping up with my postings though.
Well...I have quite a bit of new information to pass on to the parents of teen drivers. To start with, I've been working on some new videos that should help you with keeping your teen driver safe and learn more about how you should be protected.
Please feel free to watch my first video on What you Should Know About Your Insuring Your Teen Driver. This video gives great advice on how you should be protected and is already getting a huge response. I hear it is already #4 on the Google! Please feel free to add your comments.
I truly hope it gives you some valuable information on what you need to do to make sure you're protected and helps you keep your teen driver safe!
Here's the link: http://www.viddler.com/explore/TomWiecek/videos/6/
I hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Tom
Friday, October 24, 2008
GPS Teen Tracking Systems- It Can Save Your Child's Life
By Master Police Officer III James Poer
It amazes me when I see kids speeding around town as if they are bullet proof and invincible. All too often, this is why we lose kids in car accidents. Speeding is the number one cause for teen driver deaths and it's because they really don't know better.
Once they get behind the wheel, they think they can control their car at any speed and tend to push the limits. The problem happens when they get into a situation at a high speed and can't react quickly enough. Even professional car racers sometimes can't react quickly enough at high speeds.
When you add speed to any situation, you have what is called the "multiplier" effect. This means that the faster you approach an object, the less time you have to properly react, so the speed of your reaction needs to be multiplied.
So, how can you make sure your teen doesn't speed? Of course, it's up to you to make certain they don't and there is one tool that can almost guarantee your teen driver doesn’t make this dangerous mistake. GPS Teen Monitoring System- In my opinion, this is the best thing invented since sliced bread. This system works so well because the teen understands that if he or she speeds, you will know about it.Here’s how it works.
A small gps unit is installed in your teen’s car, usually under the dash where it can’t be seen. The unit sends a signal to a satellite where it is monitored by the GPS provider. When you teen exceeds the preset speed limit, a signal is sent to you via text message, cell phone, or e-mail.You can log into a special website where you can set the speed as well as monitor where your teen’s car is at any time. You can see how fast he or she is traveling and on what roads too.
Some systems offer other safety features like driving range alerts and driving time alerts. For more information, contact your http://www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount agent for special deals on these units.
During my years investigating accidents, I have seen the effects of speeding and witnessed the deaths of too many teens. If more parents had these units installed in their children’s cars, I am certain more teens would avoid fatal car accidents.
Officer Poer is a 30 year veteran accident investigator. He is also a parent of 4 drivers. His experience, conviction, and advice are demonstrated on his website- http://www.parentalcourage.com/. Please visit his site often and remain vigilant about your teen driver’s safety!
Original article and more information on teen driver safety can be found at http://www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount.
It amazes me when I see kids speeding around town as if they are bullet proof and invincible. All too often, this is why we lose kids in car accidents. Speeding is the number one cause for teen driver deaths and it's because they really don't know better.
Once they get behind the wheel, they think they can control their car at any speed and tend to push the limits. The problem happens when they get into a situation at a high speed and can't react quickly enough. Even professional car racers sometimes can't react quickly enough at high speeds.
When you add speed to any situation, you have what is called the "multiplier" effect. This means that the faster you approach an object, the less time you have to properly react, so the speed of your reaction needs to be multiplied.
So, how can you make sure your teen doesn't speed? Of course, it's up to you to make certain they don't and there is one tool that can almost guarantee your teen driver doesn’t make this dangerous mistake. GPS Teen Monitoring System- In my opinion, this is the best thing invented since sliced bread. This system works so well because the teen understands that if he or she speeds, you will know about it.Here’s how it works.
A small gps unit is installed in your teen’s car, usually under the dash where it can’t be seen. The unit sends a signal to a satellite where it is monitored by the GPS provider. When you teen exceeds the preset speed limit, a signal is sent to you via text message, cell phone, or e-mail.You can log into a special website where you can set the speed as well as monitor where your teen’s car is at any time. You can see how fast he or she is traveling and on what roads too.
Some systems offer other safety features like driving range alerts and driving time alerts. For more information, contact your http://www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount agent for special deals on these units.
During my years investigating accidents, I have seen the effects of speeding and witnessed the deaths of too many teens. If more parents had these units installed in their children’s cars, I am certain more teens would avoid fatal car accidents.
Officer Poer is a 30 year veteran accident investigator. He is also a parent of 4 drivers. His experience, conviction, and advice are demonstrated on his website- http://www.parentalcourage.com/. Please visit his site often and remain vigilant about your teen driver’s safety!
Original article and more information on teen driver safety can be found at http://www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Home Study Driving Course Helps Parents and Teens Enjoy This New Rite of Passage
High Point, NC — While teenagers look forward to getting their driver’s licenses, their parents often face this juncture of their children’s lives with fear and trepidation. Car accidents are a leading cause of severe injuries and death among teenagers all across the U.S.. Local insurance agent Tom Wiecek, owner of Paramount Insurance Agency, has been committed to changing that trend in the High Point area since he learned three years ago that a long-time client’s teenage son died in a car accident. Wiecek has dedicated his resources for helping families prevent similar tragedy.
His website, www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount contains many useful tools to help parents keep their kids safe. He also writes a free monthly e-zine, “Driver’s Seat,” for which people subscribe through the website. Recently retired, Police Officer and Accident Investigator James Poer contributes to the newsletter.
Wiecek is also a charter member of the Society of Family Insurance Specialists which is a national organization of insurance agents that are committed to helping families protect themselves through education and insurance protection.
The Society recently released the Safe Teen Driver Guide that was co-authored by Wiecek, Officer Poer, David Evans, a certified driving instructor and other members of the Society.
“One of the most common reasons why teenagers get into so many accidents is that they just don’t have enough experience behind the wheel.” Explains Wiecek. Driver education experts recommend at least 100 hours behind the wheel before driving unsupervised. Driving Schools in North Carolina are required to provide 6 hours of driving time. With the high number of students in a class, it is very difficult for the schools to provide any more than the required time.
“Parents need to take the responsibility to provide their teens with more driving experience.” Said Officer Poer. “This new home study Safe Teen Driver Guide gives parents a tool that can help their teen experience the most common driving skills while being supervised.”
The Safe Teen Driver Guide provides a step by step outline of driving skills and practice exercises that parents can use to teach their teen to drive. “This time in a child’s life is exciting and should be enjoyed by the entire family.” Says Wiecek. “By using this guide, parents can spend time with their child and make this experience most enjoyable. Plus, it gives parents peace of mind knowing that their child is a safer driver.”
You can learn more about the Safe Teen Driver Guide by visiting www.safeteendrivercourse.com, or contact Tom’s office at 336.869.3335 or 866.869.3335.
His website, www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount contains many useful tools to help parents keep their kids safe. He also writes a free monthly e-zine, “Driver’s Seat,” for which people subscribe through the website. Recently retired, Police Officer and Accident Investigator James Poer contributes to the newsletter.
Wiecek is also a charter member of the Society of Family Insurance Specialists which is a national organization of insurance agents that are committed to helping families protect themselves through education and insurance protection.
The Society recently released the Safe Teen Driver Guide that was co-authored by Wiecek, Officer Poer, David Evans, a certified driving instructor and other members of the Society.
“One of the most common reasons why teenagers get into so many accidents is that they just don’t have enough experience behind the wheel.” Explains Wiecek. Driver education experts recommend at least 100 hours behind the wheel before driving unsupervised. Driving Schools in North Carolina are required to provide 6 hours of driving time. With the high number of students in a class, it is very difficult for the schools to provide any more than the required time.
“Parents need to take the responsibility to provide their teens with more driving experience.” Said Officer Poer. “This new home study Safe Teen Driver Guide gives parents a tool that can help their teen experience the most common driving skills while being supervised.”
The Safe Teen Driver Guide provides a step by step outline of driving skills and practice exercises that parents can use to teach their teen to drive. “This time in a child’s life is exciting and should be enjoyed by the entire family.” Says Wiecek. “By using this guide, parents can spend time with their child and make this experience most enjoyable. Plus, it gives parents peace of mind knowing that their child is a safer driver.”
You can learn more about the Safe Teen Driver Guide by visiting www.safeteendrivercourse.com, or contact Tom’s office at 336.869.3335 or 866.869.3335.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
"People don't want to be inaccessible for even 15 minutes driving up the street," said Harrison, 19, a sophomore at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. "They're so used to being accessible all the time.
"Targeting inexperienced motorists, several states have passed laws during the past five years restricting cell phone use by teenage drivers.
But a recently released insurance industry study looked at whether teens are ignoring such restrictions contends enforcement and parental influence are just as important as new laws. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety studied specific state laws which fine motorists under age 18 who are caught using a cell phone.
Researchers who watched as high school students left school found that teenage drivers used their cell phones at about the same rate both before and after the laws took effect.
"Cell phone bans for teen drivers are difficult to enforce," said Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president for research and an author of the study. "Drivers with phones to their ears aren't hard to spot, but it's nearly impossible for police officers to see hands free devices or correctly guess how old drivers are."
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, according to the government's auto safety agency, and teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.
The institute says 17 states and the District of Columbia have cell phone restrictions in licensing requirements for teen drivers. The National Transportation Safety Board in 2003 recommended that states limit or bar young drivers from using cell phones, leading many states to act.
Harrison, who serves with Students Against Destructive Decisions, an advocacy group focused on highway safety issues, said few of her friends know about laws banning cell phone use by novice drivers.
Bill Bronrott, a Maryland state delegate who sponsored a successful bill in 2005 prohibiting rookie drivers under 18 from using cell phones, except to make 911 emergency calls, said a "combination of education and enforcement" was critical. So, too, parental involvement.
Added Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association: "What these kinds of laws do is send the message to the parent more than anything else."
In the North Carolina study, researchers found that 11 percent of teenage drivers observed departing 25 high schools during the two months before the ban took effect were using cell phones. About five months after the ban took effect, during the spring of 2007, nearly 12 percent were observed using phones.
In the North Carolina phone survey, 95 percent of parents and 74 percent of teenagers supported the restriction. But 71 percent of teens and 60 percent of parents felt that enforcement was rare or nonexistent.In North Carolina, 37 citations were issued in 2007 by the state highway patrol to teens using a cell phone while operating a vehicle. Twenty-eight citations have been issued in 2008.
Selena Childs, executive director of the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force, said in an e-mail that with many child safety laws in the state, "knowing that it's against the law is enough for many people to choose to comply with a law."
Childs said the state's driver's license system for young drivers has been effective "not so much because of law enforcement/citations, but because parents and teens self-enforce the law, resulting in reduced crashes.
"Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures, said many state laws on cell phones are new, making it difficult to assess their impact. He said more states are considering similar restrictions.
The institute conducted two separate telephone surveys: the first, before the cell phone restriction took effect, was in November 2006 and involved 400 pairs of parents and teenagers; the second, after the law had taken effect, was in April 2007 and involved a different sample of 401 pairs of parents and teenagers. Each survey had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Please share your thoughts here to help keep our young drivers safe and alive!
"Targeting inexperienced motorists, several states have passed laws during the past five years restricting cell phone use by teenage drivers.
But a recently released insurance industry study looked at whether teens are ignoring such restrictions contends enforcement and parental influence are just as important as new laws. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety studied specific state laws which fine motorists under age 18 who are caught using a cell phone.
Researchers who watched as high school students left school found that teenage drivers used their cell phones at about the same rate both before and after the laws took effect.
"Cell phone bans for teen drivers are difficult to enforce," said Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president for research and an author of the study. "Drivers with phones to their ears aren't hard to spot, but it's nearly impossible for police officers to see hands free devices or correctly guess how old drivers are."
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, according to the government's auto safety agency, and teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.
The institute says 17 states and the District of Columbia have cell phone restrictions in licensing requirements for teen drivers. The National Transportation Safety Board in 2003 recommended that states limit or bar young drivers from using cell phones, leading many states to act.
Harrison, who serves with Students Against Destructive Decisions, an advocacy group focused on highway safety issues, said few of her friends know about laws banning cell phone use by novice drivers.
Bill Bronrott, a Maryland state delegate who sponsored a successful bill in 2005 prohibiting rookie drivers under 18 from using cell phones, except to make 911 emergency calls, said a "combination of education and enforcement" was critical. So, too, parental involvement.
Added Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association: "What these kinds of laws do is send the message to the parent more than anything else."
In the North Carolina study, researchers found that 11 percent of teenage drivers observed departing 25 high schools during the two months before the ban took effect were using cell phones. About five months after the ban took effect, during the spring of 2007, nearly 12 percent were observed using phones.
In the North Carolina phone survey, 95 percent of parents and 74 percent of teenagers supported the restriction. But 71 percent of teens and 60 percent of parents felt that enforcement was rare or nonexistent.In North Carolina, 37 citations were issued in 2007 by the state highway patrol to teens using a cell phone while operating a vehicle. Twenty-eight citations have been issued in 2008.
Selena Childs, executive director of the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force, said in an e-mail that with many child safety laws in the state, "knowing that it's against the law is enough for many people to choose to comply with a law."
Childs said the state's driver's license system for young drivers has been effective "not so much because of law enforcement/citations, but because parents and teens self-enforce the law, resulting in reduced crashes.
"Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures, said many state laws on cell phones are new, making it difficult to assess their impact. He said more states are considering similar restrictions.
The institute conducted two separate telephone surveys: the first, before the cell phone restriction took effect, was in November 2006 and involved 400 pairs of parents and teenagers; the second, after the law had taken effect, was in April 2007 and involved a different sample of 401 pairs of parents and teenagers. Each survey had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Please share your thoughts here to help keep our young drivers safe and alive!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Why Insurance Rates for Teens Are So High?
As an insurance agent, this is probably one of the most frustrating responses I get from parents who are adding their teen to their car insurance. I understand this frustration and after I explain the reasons, they usually respond with “But, my teen is a good driver…”
That may be true and you’ve probably spent countless hours helping your teen become a safer driver. If you have, then you should be glad that the chances of your teen getting into an accident will be less likely than most teens on the road. But let me emphasize… Less Likely Than Other Teens… not experienced drivers.
It takes thousands of hours behind the wheel to get the experience to avoid accidents and become the safest of drivers. And this can take years. Here’s a statistic to prove this point.
The crash rate for 16 year olds is nearly 3 times higher than 19 years and nearly 6 times higher than drivers 20 to 24 years old.
Unfortunately, you are going to have to pay high rates for your teen to drive. But, you can take steps to avoid paying the highest rates and keep them down.
Step One- Use an insurance agent that specializes in insuring teen drivers. Family Insurance Specialists represent companies that offer good rates but most importantly offer quality insurance protection that can help you avoid paying out of your own pocket for an accident if your teen causes an accident.
Step Two- Make sure you are getting every discount you deserve. Available discounts may include safe driver, claims-free, good grades, multiple policies with the same company, and in some states you can qualify for a lower rate by keeping a good credit rating.
Step Three- Buy a safe, older, lower profile vehicle for your teen to drive. Make sure it has airbags and anti-lock brakes and is not considered a dangerous vehicle. Your Family Insurance Specialist can help you decide which vehicles are least expensive to insure.
Step Four- Increase your deductibles or drop the collision on older vehicles. If your teen is driving an older, less expensive car, you can “self insure” the car. That means of course, if something happens, you’ll have to pay for the damages to your car, but it can save you a lot of money- nearly 1/3 to 1/2!
Step Five- Get a Teen Driver Monitoring Device installed in your teen’s car. Some insurance companies offer special discounts for these systems. The greatest advantage of these systems is that this will most likely prevent your teen from speeding. Speeding tickets can greatly increase your insurance rates and jeopardize your insurance coverage. Insurance companies know that if a teen driver gets a speeding ticket, the likelihood of an accident in the near future is great. You could get cancelled and it may be more difficult to get another insurance company to pick you up.
To learn more about how you can get the right protection for your teen driver, find out other ways you can save on your car insurance, and keep your teen driver safe visit my website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount or call my office at 869-3335.
That may be true and you’ve probably spent countless hours helping your teen become a safer driver. If you have, then you should be glad that the chances of your teen getting into an accident will be less likely than most teens on the road. But let me emphasize… Less Likely Than Other Teens… not experienced drivers.
It takes thousands of hours behind the wheel to get the experience to avoid accidents and become the safest of drivers. And this can take years. Here’s a statistic to prove this point.
The crash rate for 16 year olds is nearly 3 times higher than 19 years and nearly 6 times higher than drivers 20 to 24 years old.
Unfortunately, you are going to have to pay high rates for your teen to drive. But, you can take steps to avoid paying the highest rates and keep them down.
Step One- Use an insurance agent that specializes in insuring teen drivers. Family Insurance Specialists represent companies that offer good rates but most importantly offer quality insurance protection that can help you avoid paying out of your own pocket for an accident if your teen causes an accident.
Step Two- Make sure you are getting every discount you deserve. Available discounts may include safe driver, claims-free, good grades, multiple policies with the same company, and in some states you can qualify for a lower rate by keeping a good credit rating.
Step Three- Buy a safe, older, lower profile vehicle for your teen to drive. Make sure it has airbags and anti-lock brakes and is not considered a dangerous vehicle. Your Family Insurance Specialist can help you decide which vehicles are least expensive to insure.
Step Four- Increase your deductibles or drop the collision on older vehicles. If your teen is driving an older, less expensive car, you can “self insure” the car. That means of course, if something happens, you’ll have to pay for the damages to your car, but it can save you a lot of money- nearly 1/3 to 1/2!
Step Five- Get a Teen Driver Monitoring Device installed in your teen’s car. Some insurance companies offer special discounts for these systems. The greatest advantage of these systems is that this will most likely prevent your teen from speeding. Speeding tickets can greatly increase your insurance rates and jeopardize your insurance coverage. Insurance companies know that if a teen driver gets a speeding ticket, the likelihood of an accident in the near future is great. You could get cancelled and it may be more difficult to get another insurance company to pick you up.
To learn more about how you can get the right protection for your teen driver, find out other ways you can save on your car insurance, and keep your teen driver safe visit my website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount or call my office at 869-3335.
Monday, July 7, 2008
"Trunking"- The Latest Danger to Teens!
Just when you thought you've heard it all...
As I was doing my research for this month's issue of my Driver’s Seat e-newsletter, I came across an article about the latest killer of teens.
We all know that car accidents are the number one killer of teens in the US. Now there is a trend going across the country that is adding to the danger of a teen behind the wheel and it's referred to as "Trunking".
As a teen, I remember hearing about kids in school that would climb into a trunk to sneak into a drive-in movie. Of course, I would never partake in such an act. But today, now that the drive-in movie is obsolete, there's another reason why kids are doing this.
Almost every state in the country now has laws limiting the number of passengers during the first few years of a teen driver's experience. These laws were passed to reduce the distractions in the car that have been proven to cause so many accidents. In order to circumvent these laws, kids are now packing themselves in the trunk of the car to be able to go with their friends. The worst part is that they will stay in the trunk while being driven all over town and even beyond.
The dangers are obvious to us and include suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, heat exposure, freezing, being crushed or thrown out of the car as a result of an accident. You can just imagine how dangerous this could be for your child.
So what do you do? First explain the dangers and then define the consequences/punishment of this type of action. If your child is guilty, take away driving privileges and inform all the involved kids' parents of the act. You'll also want to pass this article on to other parents, just to let them know what kids are up to these days, so they can proactively counsel against it.
To sign up for a free subscription to my e-newletter, Driver’s Seat, visit my website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount and register for VIP Access. You’ll also be able to learn more about you can best protect your family.
As I was doing my research for this month's issue of my Driver’s Seat e-newsletter, I came across an article about the latest killer of teens.
We all know that car accidents are the number one killer of teens in the US. Now there is a trend going across the country that is adding to the danger of a teen behind the wheel and it's referred to as "Trunking".
As a teen, I remember hearing about kids in school that would climb into a trunk to sneak into a drive-in movie. Of course, I would never partake in such an act. But today, now that the drive-in movie is obsolete, there's another reason why kids are doing this.
Almost every state in the country now has laws limiting the number of passengers during the first few years of a teen driver's experience. These laws were passed to reduce the distractions in the car that have been proven to cause so many accidents. In order to circumvent these laws, kids are now packing themselves in the trunk of the car to be able to go with their friends. The worst part is that they will stay in the trunk while being driven all over town and even beyond.
The dangers are obvious to us and include suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, heat exposure, freezing, being crushed or thrown out of the car as a result of an accident. You can just imagine how dangerous this could be for your child.
So what do you do? First explain the dangers and then define the consequences/punishment of this type of action. If your child is guilty, take away driving privileges and inform all the involved kids' parents of the act. You'll also want to pass this article on to other parents, just to let them know what kids are up to these days, so they can proactively counsel against it.
To sign up for a free subscription to my e-newletter, Driver’s Seat, visit my website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount and register for VIP Access. You’ll also be able to learn more about you can best protect your family.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
StreetSafe Registration Now Open!
Hi,
Registration is now open for the StreetSafe Teen Driver Course at GTCC Jamestown Campus on July 26th.
Go to www.streetsafeus.com and click the "enroll in a class" tab to sign up. There are two sessions: 9AM and 2PM.
Register NOW before it fills up! Only 120 teens will be enrolled.
Don't miss this opportunity to make your teen a safer driver!
See you on the 26th!
Tom
Registration is now open for the StreetSafe Teen Driver Course at GTCC Jamestown Campus on July 26th.
Go to www.streetsafeus.com and click the "enroll in a class" tab to sign up. There are two sessions: 9AM and 2PM.
Register NOW before it fills up! Only 120 teens will be enrolled.
Don't miss this opportunity to make your teen a safer driver!
See you on the 26th!
Tom
Monday, June 9, 2008
StreetSafe Comes to the Triad!
It is finalized! But, you must act fast to enroll!
The Teen Driving program, StreetSafe is coming to the Triad on Saturday, July 26th. This 4 hour event to be held at the GTCC- Jamestown Campus will give teens a "behind the wheel" experience of the most common dangerous situations that cause accidents.
A few months ago, my friend, Officer James Poer of the High Point PD and I had the opportunity to visit the Wilmington-based program in action which is presented by emergency response professionals. We were both so amazed at the effect it had on the teenagers and parents alike, that we were compelled to bring this event to the triad- to help our families make their teens safer drivers. So, here we are. It's lined up.
Here's a description of the program:
Specifically, StreetSafe gives teens the chance to experience losing control of a car, teaches them a realistic stopping distance and the hazards of distractions. It also teaches the dangers of alcohol use while driving. Teens should enroll in StreetSafe after obtaining a learner’s permit or driver’s license and are taught by law enforcement and fire personnel who are certified to operate vehicles under treacherous or emergency conditions. These instructors are all too familiar with the tragic results of unsafe teen driving. StreetSafe is not only directed at teens, but just as importantly, their parents, by teaching ways they can help their teens become safer, more responsible drivers.
If you want to pre-register, send an e-mail to streetsafe@zipdrip.com. We expect this course to fill up quickly, especially considering the cost is only $25 per teen driver. You will receive an e-mail with instructions as soon as registration begins.
So, if you want to better prepare your teen for the dangers they face, sign up now!
Tom
The Teen Driving program, StreetSafe is coming to the Triad on Saturday, July 26th. This 4 hour event to be held at the GTCC- Jamestown Campus will give teens a "behind the wheel" experience of the most common dangerous situations that cause accidents.
A few months ago, my friend, Officer James Poer of the High Point PD and I had the opportunity to visit the Wilmington-based program in action which is presented by emergency response professionals. We were both so amazed at the effect it had on the teenagers and parents alike, that we were compelled to bring this event to the triad- to help our families make their teens safer drivers. So, here we are. It's lined up.
Here's a description of the program:
Specifically, StreetSafe gives teens the chance to experience losing control of a car, teaches them a realistic stopping distance and the hazards of distractions. It also teaches the dangers of alcohol use while driving. Teens should enroll in StreetSafe after obtaining a learner’s permit or driver’s license and are taught by law enforcement and fire personnel who are certified to operate vehicles under treacherous or emergency conditions. These instructors are all too familiar with the tragic results of unsafe teen driving. StreetSafe is not only directed at teens, but just as importantly, their parents, by teaching ways they can help their teens become safer, more responsible drivers.
If you want to pre-register, send an e-mail to streetsafe@zipdrip.com. We expect this course to fill up quickly, especially considering the cost is only $25 per teen driver. You will receive an e-mail with instructions as soon as registration begins.
So, if you want to better prepare your teen for the dangers they face, sign up now!
Tom
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Study Explains the Staggering Cost of Insuring Teen Drivers
Ask any parent who has just added a kid to the family's insurance policy and they'll tell you how expensive it is to have a teen behind the wheel. But the overall cost of teen driving is as tragic as it is staggering.
According to a recent report from AAA, car accidents involving drivers 15 to 17 cost society more than $34 billion in medical expenses, property damage and related costs in 2006. AAA also reports, 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 more sobering statistics:
According to a recent report from AAA, car accidents involving drivers 15 to 17 cost society more than $34 billion in medical expenses, property damage and related costs in 2006. AAA also reports, 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 more sobering statistics:
- According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens, accounting for 36 percent of all deaths in this age group.
- The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group, and per-miles-driven teens ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash, says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
- Risk is highest at age 16, and the crash rate per miles driven is twice as high for 16 year olds as it is for 18 and 19 year olds, according to the IIHS.
- IIHS statistics show that 16- and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger.
Parents can reduce the high cost of insuring their teen drivers. There are special discounts that can really make a big difference in how much you will have to pay for your teen to drive. Some of these discounts include:
- Good Student- If you teen driver has a "B" average or better, you can save up to 10%.
- Multi-policy- If you insure your home and cars with the same company, you can save up to 15% on both policies
- GPS Teen Driver Monitoring System- There is one company that offers a 15% discount for installing this unit in the teen driver's car
- Safe Driver- If your family has a clean driving and claims record, you can save up to 15%
- Good credit- Some companies reward responsible customers based on their credit. This can be very significant and can save you as much as 35%.
The bottom line is that the most responsible families will pay the lowest premium. Stress to your teen that avoiding tickets and accidents is most critical to not only keeping your insurance rates down, but of course, assure the safety of your teen driver and others.
You can learn more about ways to save on your insurance and how you can keep your teen safe by visiting my website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount.
Wishing you and your family the best in health, happiness and prosperity.
Tom
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
News Alert! Free Installation of GPS Teen Driver Monitoring System
Hi,
I just received some exciting news from one of our insurance companies, Safeco. This company has been on the leading edge of teen driver safety and working to reduce the number of accidents involving teen drivers.
Last summer, they launched a new system called Teensurance to help their customers keep their kids safe. This is a GPS based system that is installed in the teen's car and alerts parents of dangerous behaviors such as speeding, driving beyond an allowed territory and breaking curfew.
Well, Safeco just announced that they are now offering this system to any parent that wants to get this system installed in their kid's vehicle. They will pay for the installation and the unit if the parent agrees to a 2 year contract. Similar systems can cost as much as $800.
There is a $14.99 per month monitoring fee which gives the parent website access to create and adjust the parameters for the alerts, view the location of the vehicle and it will even allow you to un-lock the car doors in case your teen gets locked out.
Along with the GPS system comes roadside assistance and other teen driver safety tools.
If you would like more information, visit my website www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount or call my office at 869-3335.
Tom
PS Safeco is offering a 15% discount for anyone that is a Safeco customer or that becomes a customer. This 15% discount, in most cases, will pay for the monitoring fee just from the savings on their insurance. Call my office to become a Safeco customer and take advantage of this big discount. Considering the high rates for teen drivers, this could really be significant.
I just received some exciting news from one of our insurance companies, Safeco. This company has been on the leading edge of teen driver safety and working to reduce the number of accidents involving teen drivers.
Last summer, they launched a new system called Teensurance to help their customers keep their kids safe. This is a GPS based system that is installed in the teen's car and alerts parents of dangerous behaviors such as speeding, driving beyond an allowed territory and breaking curfew.
Well, Safeco just announced that they are now offering this system to any parent that wants to get this system installed in their kid's vehicle. They will pay for the installation and the unit if the parent agrees to a 2 year contract. Similar systems can cost as much as $800.
There is a $14.99 per month monitoring fee which gives the parent website access to create and adjust the parameters for the alerts, view the location of the vehicle and it will even allow you to un-lock the car doors in case your teen gets locked out.
Along with the GPS system comes roadside assistance and other teen driver safety tools.
If you would like more information, visit my website www.teendriverinsurance.com/paramount or call my office at 869-3335.
Tom
PS Safeco is offering a 15% discount for anyone that is a Safeco customer or that becomes a customer. This 15% discount, in most cases, will pay for the monitoring fee just from the savings on their insurance. Call my office to become a Safeco customer and take advantage of this big discount. Considering the high rates for teen drivers, this could really be significant.
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