The 10 Most Lethal Driving Mistakes

Most Lethal Driving Mistakes

From not buckling up to not getting enough shut-eye, here's a rundown of the 10 most common mistakes motorists make.

By Claire Martin of MSN Autos

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 37,313 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2008. If that isn't a reason to become a better driver, then we don't know what is.

In an ideal world, drivers would execute every road maneuver with precision and ease. Sadly, we do not live in a never-never land, and not everyone walks away from metal-to-metal mayhem. Truth is that drivers are not created equal. Some are too brash, others too conservative. Some are even downright clueless. The common thread is that they can all turn a pleasant day on the motorway into a surreal nightmare in the blink of an eye.

And don't just blame it on "them." Everyone is guilty of making common driving mistakes that can endanger us all. Think about it: We'll bet you can recall with vivid exasperation a whole litany of stupid moves you've made throughout the years — some benign, some not so much. To help you stay safe behind the wheel, here's a list of 10 driving behaviors to avoid.

Swerving

The No. 1 fatal mistake made by drivers is perhaps the most simple: not staying in their own lane — i.e., running off the road or drifting into the adjacent lane. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2007, 15,574 people died in crashes where the driver simply couldn't stay in the lane.

Driving While Drowsy

"Driving a vehicle when you are fatigued is as dangerous as driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs," National Transportation Safety Board Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said after a fatal highway accident in 2003 in which a college student who had been awake for the previous 18 hours was driving a carload of fellow students at 5 a.m. According to the NHTSA, in 2007 fatigued driving caused the deaths of 1,404 people, and more traffic fatalities occurred during the hours when most people are accustomed to being asleep (3 a.m. to 6 a.m.) than at any other time of day.

Drinking and Driving

Every 40 minutes someone dies in a drunk-driving accident. (In all 50 states, a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more is considered illegal, but a little-known fact is that you can be charged with driving while impaired even if you're under the legal limit.) Young drivers are particularly prone to drinking and driving: The 21- to 34-year-old set is responsible for well over half of alcohol-infused fatal crashes. Not surprisingly, the decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated is made most often at night and on the weekends. According to the NHTSA, 60 percent of drivers who died after dark in 2007 were legally drunk. Alcohol is also a factor in half of pedestrian traffic deaths — both drivers and pedestrians are the culprits.

Overcorrecting

You get panicky when the wheels of your SUV hit the rumble patch on the shoulder of the highway, so you throw the steering wheel in the opposite direction to get the vehicle back on the road. This is a classic example of overcorrecting or oversteering, and it's a particularly perilous maneuver when you're behind the wheel of an SUV driving on the highway at high speeds. Consider it a rollover waiting to happen. More than 4 percent of automobile fatalities a year occur because of drivers overcorrecting.

Discuss: What is the most dangerous thing you've done behind the wheel?

Speeding

Racing, driving faster than the posted speed limit or simply going too fast for road conditions — i.e., speeding — comprises the second highest cause of death in fatal crashes, according to the NHTSA. Once you hit 55 mph, you're in the danger zone: 30 percent of fatalities occur at 55 or above. The worst-case scenarios invariably involve speeding without wearing a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet. Fatality rates for speeding motorcyclists are shockingly high: In 2007, speeding was a factor in 36 percent of motorcycle fatalities. Of those, 41 percent of drivers and more than half of passengers were not wearing helmets (only 20 states and the District of Columbia require helmets).

Failure to Yield Right of Way

For drivers age 70 and above, failing to yield while merging into traffic is the top cause of crashes. In a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers 80 and older simply fail to see the other vehicle they should be yielding to. Drivers 70 to 79 see the vehicle but misjudge whether they have time to proceed ahead of it. Failure to yield right of way was the fifth leading cause of fatal crashes in 2007.

Your Teen's First Car

I often get questions from my clients about the type of car they should buy for their teen. There is usually a great divide between the type of car the teen desires and what the parents are willing to buy from both a safety and cost perspective.

Choosing wisely will save you money on your insurance premiums and could even save your child's life. Officer Poer, who has many years experience investigating traffic accidents, provides some helpful guidance in his article below.

Perhaps you already have multiple cars, one of which your teen will be driving, and they don't meet the specifications below. If you can't afford another car, take steps to make the ones you have safer.

Particularly if these cars are sports cars, which by their design tempt everyone to speed, consider installing a monitoring system to help offset this temptation. You can learn more about the monitoring system we offer by contacting our agency or visiting our website.

I wish you and your family the best in health and happiness! P.S. Please feel free to call my office at 256-765-2200 if you have any questions or to find out how you can get the right protection at the lowest cost for your family.

The Best Car for Your Teen

by Master Police Officer James Poer

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), "young novice drivers are at significant risk on the road because they lack both the judgment that comes with maturity and the skill that comes with experience." From my many years of experience investigating traffic accidents I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment and believe it is important for parents to do whatever they can to reduce the risks of driving for their teens.

The best car for your teen is the one that provides the greatest amount of safety. Instead of purchasing or letting your teen drive a large SUV (which has a higher center of gravity and thus is more likely to turn over) or a sports car, (which encourages speeding), select a midsize car no older than a 90's model, to make sure you get the best safety features (air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and mechanical seat belts).

Try to determine the crash test rating of a car before purchasing it. A few examples of cars that performed well in recent crash test ratings according to the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are:

• Chevrolet Impala
• Ford Fusion
• Honda Accord
• Toyota Corolla
• Volkswagen Passat

Additionally, make sure the car is reliable and in good mechanical condition. Choose a car that is easy and comfortable for the teen to drive. Make sure your child can reach all the features with ease. Take the time to make sure your teen understands all the features of the car before leaving the driveway.

How many times have you been distracted by searching for windshield wiper and light switches when driving a car that was new to you? Your teen is not prepared to handle these distractions well. So it is up to you to prevent them.

Fatal crashes involving young drivers are usually one-vehicle crashes and are often due to driver-error and/or speeding. Take the time to choose a safe car and do everything possible to reduce the chance of your teen making these mistakes.

Are You Negatively Impacting Your Teen's Driving Behavior?

We read a lot about the reasons that teenage drivers are more likely to have accidents than older, more experienced drivers. Speed, over correction, and distractions in the car are cited as being some of the most frequent contributors to teenage driving accidents.

But, let’s take a moment to examine your teen’s state of mind when they get into the car, or while they are in it with you. To promote your teen’s safety behind the wheel, do your best to provide him with an emotionally supportive and safe environment at home. Angry or emotionally upset teenage drivers are more inclined to rebel through some form of wild behavior, such as speeding or reckless driving. Monitor your teen carefully before allowing him to drive if you know he’s upset.

Additionally, if you’re one of those committed parents who are providing driver training to your teenage child, you need to make sure you exhibit patience and control your reactions to their mistakes. Parents over reacting emotionally can be as dangerous as teenagers over correcting the car. Consider the following questions:

1. Does my teenage child know that it’s ok to make mistakes? Or does he think I’ll lose it if he does?
2. If he models my driving behavior, will he be safe? Or am I guilty of many of the actions I’m coaching him to avoid?
3. Is my teen too stressed to drive safely? Am I contributing to that stress?
4. Have I made my teenage driving expectations clear?
5. Does my teenager understand the consequences of breaking the teenage driving rules we’ve established?
6. Do I spend too much energy worrying about what could happen?

The more you worry about anything, the worse that situation becomes, because worry wears you down and makes you less effective. Even when it comes to parenting, our kids don’t need us to worry about them; they need us to believe in them. Believing in your child’s inherently positive potential supports his belief in himself, which is something he needs to accept responsibilities and overcome challenges.

For more information on how to keep your teen driver safe and for copies of teen/parent contracts visit our website www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican which is dedicated soley to helping parents help their teen drivers become safer drivers.

Ask Any Parent...

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 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:

1. Good Student- If you teen driver has a "B" average or better, you can save up to 10%.
2. Multi-policy- If you insure your home and cars with the same company, you can save up to 15% on both policies
3. GPS Teen Driver Monitoring System- There is one company that offers a 15% discount for installing this unit in the teen driver's car
4. Safe Driver- If your family has a clean driving and claims record, you can save up to 15%
5. 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 calling Toll-free at 866-765-2200.

Avoiding Road Rage

Avoid Heated Moments Behind the Wheel Don’t Be a Victim – Or the Cause – of Road Rage

Road construction delays, soaring gas prices and traffic that seems to never let up are only a few reasons that spark moments of frustration and even aggression in drivers.

Aggressive drivers—those who tailgate, cut others off, run red lights, honk their horns, yell or make obscene gestures—are a danger to themselves and others. If you are an aggressive driver—or should you come into contact with one—your safety and that of your passengers and others on the road is seriously compromised.

Stress from off-the-road situations such as problems at work, the loss of a job, a divorce, or the death of a loved one can trigger road rage, even in a person who normally practices safe driving habits.

“Aggressive driving can affect anyone. Even drivers who are usually calm can get angry or frustrated and act out those feelings in dangerous ways,” says Allstate agent Bill Gough. “In addition, poor traffic conditions such as crowded roads and traffic jams can be the ‘last straw’ for a driver who is already stressed or upset.”

To protect yourself and others from the hazards of aggressive driving, Allstate recommends the following:

• Don’t drive when angry—Take time to cool off. Go for a walk, breathe deeply, talk to someone, or, if you’re already driving, pull over and wait until your heart rate and breathing have slowed before getting back on the road.
• Think positively about driving—Take pride in driving safely and always consider how your driving might affect others.
• Chill out—Listen to soothing music, allow plenty of time to reach your destination, avoid traffic jams or choose less busy roads, and keep up with traffic and weather reports to learn of delays or hazards.
• Give ‘em a break—If a driver goes too slowly, hesitates at an intersection, or annoys you in some other way, don’t loose your temper. The driver may have good reason for his or her behavior. When another driver is being aggressive, keep your cool.
• Let it pass—Move to another lane when you can and let the other driver pass.
• Avoid eye contact—The driver of the other vehicle may take your look as a challenge and become even more aggressive.
• Go to a safe place if you are followed—Drive to the nearest police station, gas station, or other safe haven with plenty of people. If you have a cell phone, call the police with details or the incident – including the aggressive driver’s license plate number.

For more information on this or other safety topics, contact Allstate agent Bill Gough at 256-765-2200

IIHS Proposes Increasing Minimum Driving Age

By Steve Shoutlz, Family and Teen Driver Protection Specialist The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety recently announced their proposal to increase the minimum driving age in all states in the US to age 17. Their reasons are solid and should help reduce the number of accidents involving teenagers. The Graduated Drivers License program that almost every state has adopted has proven to work. Numbers of teen driver accidents and fatalities have decreased every year since its inception. The GDL program basically adds more supervised driving experience for teens and restricts them from driving during the times when risk is highest. However, more than 5,000 teens are killed in car accidents every year! Although teens and many parents may not like this change, parents should understand that there are two primary reasons why 16 year olds are most likely to get into accidents- inexperience and immaturity. Parents can help their child get the experience by spending time supervising their teen behind the wheel. Maturity, on the other hand, can only come with age. The GDL program gives the teen more time for experience but it doesn’t address the problem of immaturity. 16 year olds have the highest crash rate and fatalities of any age group and it’s largely due to peer pressure and not realizing the dangers they face. 16 year olds tend to think they are invincible behind the wheel and when other teens in their car urge them to drive fast, they cave into such pressures much easier. Whether this proposal is passed in Alabama or not, there are steps parents can take to reduce the likelihood of their child causing an accident. Get a home study driving course and spend as much time possible teaching your teen the skills needed to drive safely. Delay the time before your teen gets a full license. This will help your teen mature and give you more time to supervise your teen’s driving. This will also show how serious you are about their safety. Get a GPS Teen Monitoring System. This will instantly reduce the likelihood of your teen driving dangerously. If your teen knows that you’ll be alerted, they will be less tempted to speed or break any other rules that you’ve set forth. Talk to your teen about the dangers. Communication is probably the most effective way to make your teen a safer driver. Share the statistics and the most common mistakes teens make. Then get a contract in writing that states that your teen understands the dangers and will follow the rules you have set forth. You can download a free parent/teen driver contract by clicking here: http://www.TeenDriverInsurance/AllAmerican

Teen Driver Fact...

Nearly 9 out of 10 teens describe themselves as safe drivers. However, teen crash statistics clearly reveal risky driving behavior.

www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican gives parents the tools to open up a dialogue with their teen driver. As part of a comprehensive approach to safe driving, it's filled with valuable information for new and experienced drivers alike.

Ask any parent...

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 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:

1. Good Student- If you teen driver has a "B" average or better, you can save up to 10%.
2. Multi-policy- If you insure your home and cars with the same company, you can save up to 15% on both policies
3. GPS Teen Driver Monitoring System- There is one company that offers a 15% discount for installing this unit in the teen driver's car
4. Safe Driver- If your family has a clean driving and claims record, you can save up to 15%
5. 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 calling Toll-free at 866-765-2200.

Developing Skills

Driver education programs play a role in preparing teens to drive, but should not be viewed as the end of the learning-to-drive process. In order to develop safe driving skills, inexperienced drivers need opportunities to improve through gradual exposure to increasingly-challenging driving tasks. Teens become safer drivers with more driving experience.

In some states, the completion of driver education qualifies a teen for full driving privileges. The National Safety Council believes this is not a wise approach. Research shows that significant hours of behind-the-wheel experience are necessary to reduce crash-involvement risk. Parental involvement and state-imposed Graduated Driver Licensing play important roles in developing skills.

Teens May Avoid Tickets By Driving One of These Cars

If you have a lead foot but are unwilling to quit playing "Speed Racer" on the highway, driving one of these least ticketed cars could help:

1. Jaguar XJ
2. Chevy Suburban
3. Chevy Tahoe
4. Chevy Silverado
5. Buick Park Avenue
6. Mazda 6
7. Buick Rainier
8. Olds Silhouette
9. Buick Lucerne
10. GMC Sierra

This list was complied from a study conducted by ISO (Insurance Services Office) Quality Planning.

16 Step Home Study Teen Driving Course Offered at No Cost to Parents

16 Step Home Study Teen Driving Course Offered at No Cost to Parents

Washington, PA — Car accidents are the leading cause of severe injuries and death among teenagers all across the U.S. and inexperience is the leading factor in these accidents. “New drivers just don’t know how to react to dangerous situations that, many times, they get themselves into.” says Ret. Master Police Officer James Poer who has investigated car accidents for 30 years. “Education and most importantly, experience, is critical to helping kids learn how to avoid dangerous situations and how to react when they encounter dangerous situations.”

Driving school experts recommend 100 hours of behind the wheel experience before a teen drives unsupervised. Unfortunately, driving schools can’t provide this amount of experience. Depending on the state, schools are only required to give 4 to 6 hours of driving practice and with so many students in a class, schools simply cannot provide adequate experience. This places the responsibility on the parents.

One way to make the most of this time is to use a home study driving course. By following a structured lesson plan, parents can teach their teens the most important skills to driving safely and make the needed driving time most effective. The Society of Family Insurance Specialists (SFIS) has released a 16 step home study course, The Safe Teen Driver Guide, that provides parents a lesson plan and practice exercises to help them accomplish this important goal. Local insurance agent and family insurance specialist, Billy Proudfit of Proudfit Insurance in Washington helped co-author this guide along with Officer Poer and a certified driving school instructor.

Since learning that auto accidents are the number one cause of death among teens, Proudfit has been on a mission to help parents keep their teen drivers safe. His agency offers many tools including GPS teen driver monitoring systems, free reports with information that parents need to know about, Parent/ Teen Driver Contract, 101 Safety Tips for Teen Drivers and much more. “The Safe Teen Driver Guide is one tool that I have had a great response from.” says Proudfit. “Almost every parent that has received it is grateful for having such a great tool to help them teach their teen to drive.”

Check out the website at www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican, or contact us at 256.765.2200 or 888.765.2201 for more details.

Developing Skills

Driver education programs play a role in preparing teens to drive, but should not be viewed as the end of the learning-to-drive process. In order to develop safe driving skills, inexperienced drivers need opportunities to improve through gradual exposure to increasingly-challenging driving tasks. Teens become safer drivers with more driving experience.

In some states, the completion of driver education qualifies a teen for full driving privileges. The National Safety Council believes this is not a wise approach. Research shows that significant hours of behind-the-wheel experience are necessary to reduce crash-involvement risk. Parental involvement and state-imposed Graduated Driver Licensing play important roles in developing skills.

5 Ways to Help Protect Your Teen Driver and Yourself From the Dangers of the Road

This 5 point action plan can help to protect your teen driver and yourself from the dangers of the road.

1. Create an Interactive Parent-Teen Driving Contract: It's and easy way to talk to your teen about safe driving. This interactive experience offers statistics and advice from experts and other parents. The Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract can help you and your teen upon driving rules and the consequences of breaking them.
2. Prepare Your Teen driver: In a recent survey, 3 out of 4 teens said their parents are the biggest influence over how they drive. Not driving while on your cell phone, obeying traffic laws, and wearing a seatbelt are easy ways to lead by example.
3. Get Involved: Keep your teen safe on the road by learning about Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) laws in your state, help make those laws stonger, and educating yourself with the latest driving statistics.
4. Get Your Teen Involved: A knowledgeable teenager is a reponsible one. They can view videos about the impact of teen driving deaths here or learn all about the gravity of the teen driving epidemic at keepthedrive.com.
5. Protect Yourself: Before your teen gets behind the wheel, you should consider your insurance policy. Make sure you have the coverage that's right for you.

Top 5 Motor vehicle Insurance Fraud Schemes in 2008

A recent IA&B newsletter reports that 2008 statistics show a 30% fraud increase in Pennsylvania. The Top 5 motor vehicle insurance fraud schemes include:

1. Falsely claiming injury from staged motor vehicle insurance accidents.
2. Falsely claiming that your car was stolen.
3. Driving without insurance, having an accident, buying insurance and lying about when the accident happened.
4. Falsely claiming your car was hit while parked and unattended.
5. When an accident was caused by someone listed as an "excluded driver" on an auto policy, falsely claiming that someone else was driving.

Head-on Collision Leaves Families Grieving

Steve Augello is the kind of dad who insisted his daugh­ter call him whenever she left a place and again when she arrived. He’s the kind of dad who had the text messages “Where are you?” and “Call me when you get this message” saved as templates in his cell phone.So on Monday night, Allie, 17, called to say she was leav­ing play practice at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School to head home. Steve knew the trip should have taken 15 to 18 minutes.She never arrived...

This is another case of two of Tampa Teen Drivers that have been killed in a car accident. We don't know what really happned yet. Where one of the drivers driving to fast? Where they distracted, talking on there phone, texting one of their friends? Are you concerned about your own children?

We at Bill Gough's All American Agency have a lot of tools to help you protect your children please, please, please go read our free reports, and ask for our information that we provide you to help protect your kids.

Here is a link to the rest of the article written by Molly Moorhead.ftp://mostftp.gotdns.com/Head-ONCollision.pdf

Teens and Cell Phones

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.

Teen Drivers at Risk

I came across this article today and thought I would share it with you. This article is from a journalist that is adament about making people aware of the growing problem of teen driver deaths in this country.

Teen driver deaths and injuries litter our country's automotive landscape like a junkyard of wasted lives. No driver safety problem plagues us more than this one. Too many young drivers are dying. In spite of the safety advances of the last few decades -- seatbelts, airbags, improved crash standards -- teen driver death rates remain unacceptably high.

What can be done?

We find no automotive-related topic more pressing, no need more urgent. We intend to lay it bare, folks, to get at the root of this problem.

The teen driving crisis goes beyond our interest in accident rates and fatalities and runs to the very core of American identity. Since the post-World War II boom, we've flooded our freeways with metal, crowded them with chrome. Mobility -- that magic elixir of freedom, spiked with gasoline, peppered with burnt rubber -- defines Americans not only to ourselves but to the rest of the world.

It is in those communities, in those families, that the phone call comes one night, against all logic and all hope: a child has died behind the wheel of a car. In smaller communities, an officer might come to the house, hat in hand, knocking on the screen door on an otherwise peaceful evening.

This call frequently occurs in several homes at the same time, for young drivers increasingly die in groups.

Case in point: A couple of years ago, in a suburb of Los Angeles, an entourage of several cars loaded with young people bolted down the Antelope (14) Freeway. The 14 runs north-south, a main commuter artery connecting the upper desert communities of Palmdale and Lancaster to Los Angeles. Anyone who has driven this freeway knows to watch their downhill speed when traveling southward, not just for law enforcement concerns but to keep their velocity in check. These students apparently didn't.

They were on their way to an amusement park, dodging in and out of traffic, driving recklessly. Several of the passengers had neglected to attach their seatbelts. One of the cars lost control and rolled off the freeway. Five young people died.

Statistics are a good place to start, since they give us a picture of what's happening. We've included a few sobering facts below from NHTSA. We tried to pare down this list, but they all seemed so important that we've included them all.

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers.
• In 2001, 5,341 teens were killed in passenger vehicles involved in motor vehicle crashes. Two thirds of those killed were not buckled up.
• When driver fatality rates are calculated on the basis of estimated annual travel, teen drivers (16 to 19 years old) have a fatality rate that is about four times higher than the fatality rate among drivers 25 through 69 years old.
• In 2001, 3,608 drivers 15 to 20 years old were killed in motor vehicle crashes, and an additional 337,000 were injured.
• Young drivers (16-20) were involved in 7,598 fatal crashes in 2001.
• In the last decade, over 68,000 teens have died in car crashes.
• Sixty-five percent of teen passenger deaths occur when another teenager is driving.
• In 2001, 26% of fatally injured teen drivers (16-20 years old) had high blood alcohol concentrations (0.08 percent or more), even though all were under the minimum legal drinking age and are not legally permitted to purchase alcohol.
• Two out of three teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes are males.

Whatever we may feel about reckless driving and teen fatalities, it's clear that the system is broken. The relationship between new drivers and their transportation needs repair.

Those repair efforts begin with something we find woefully lacking in most states throughout the Union: adequate driver training.

Unless a young person gets early exposure to the physics of an automobile, and understands the forces that play upon it, we believe the death toll will remain too high.

If you would like to view this article visit http://www.edmunds.com/advice/womenfamilies/articles/44908/article.html

We at Bill Gough's All American Agency believe in preventing teens from being just another statistic. Give us a call at 888-765-2201 or come by our office to talk about our Teen Driver Safety Program. For more information visit www.teendriverinsurance.com/AllAmerican.

Product Recalls - How Can You Keep Up?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission will point to the growing number of product recalls and tell you that their system of oversight is working. But consumer compliance with recalls is often as low as 15%. Are people just not getting the message? Is it just too much of a hassle?

There are lots of reasons; many recall notices are low tech and require the consumer to discover the recall on their own, some recalls require the consumer to disassemble the product and ship it back and let’s face it, few people will go to that trouble for a large item. Of course many products are bought used at yard sales and on ebay and those consumers have no connection with the manufacturer so they will never be notified of a recall.

Recent changes signed into law by President Bush will help this problem a bit but really more steps are needed. Much of the manufacturing rules are voluntary and the ways that the manufacturer is required to notify the consumer is often not efficient. So what can you do to protect yourself and your family from using a dangerous or defective product?

Well one way is to check the recalls yourself. You can sign up for automatic alerts from the Consumer Product Safety Commission by going to www.cpsc.gov. Another site that has a broad range of recalled product is www.recalls.com. If you suspect a specific product of having a recall posted, you can visit the retailer or the manufacturer’s web site for this information.

At Bill Gough's All-American Agency in Florence, Al, we want all consumers to be informed and safe. There are hidden dangers in every insurance policy that you purchase as well. Insurance is not a do it yourself product, please get help from a licensed professional agent. If we can be of any help to you with any of your insurance policies from car insurance to home insurance or life insurance or business insurance, please call our office toll free at 866-765-2200.

Stressed?

You barely went to bed and already your alarm is going off.Actually, it went off 30 minutes ago, and now you are stuck rushing through the shower (or deciding you won’t take one), fishing for clothes and your bag, and finding your keys. Out the door you are – which shouldn’t have taken more than 5 minutes, yet it’s already 10 minutes later! Darn!! Out the driveway you go and find yourself “stuck” behind the car in front of you, who is “only” doing the speed limit. And time is ticking …

Stress can come from various sources – school, work, friends, family, girlfriends, boyfriends… you name it. The trick is to learn to deal with stress, especially on the road. Most everyone who’s on the road is on some, more or less, important mission. And most everyone would like to get their mission done a.s.a.p. Not everyone will pay attention to you and your mission!!! So:

1. Take a deep breath, have your favorite music playing, and take some comfort in knowing that you are above it all. Speeding and other kinds of frenzied behavior = not cool.
2. Be nice. Got cut off? Someone tailgating you? Refer to Point 1, above, – and do your best to let it go. Focus on your driving and don’t push. Honking, signaling, or reacting to aggressive behavior will not teach anyone a lesson. People will ignore you – or, worse, you will provoke road rage. Not worth it. You just want to get to your destination - safely.
3. Don’t speed. Speeding is the number one reason for accidents that involve (and kill) teen drivers. Even going 20% faster than the limit won’t save you more than a minute or two. Apologize if you are late – people will understand. And try to leave earlier next time…
4. Treat yourself well. Make time for things that you enjoy doing, even if you have only 5 minutes. It will help you deal with everyday life, and relieve stress.You deserve it!

Top 5 Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud Schemes in 2008

A recent newsletter reports that 2008 statistics show a 30% fraud increase in Pennsylvania. The Top 5 motor vehicle insurance fraud schemes include:

1. Falsely claiming injury from staged motor vehicle insurance accidents.

2. Falsely claiming that your car was stolen.

3. Driving without insurance, having an accident, buying insurance and lying about when the accident happened.

4. Falsely claiming your car was hit while parked and unattended.

5. When an accident was caused by someone listed as an "excluded driver" on an auto policy, falsely claiming that someone else was driving.

Why You Want To Keep Your Teen Driver On YOUR Policy

One of the options that parents consider in order to save money on their auto insurance, is placing the young driver on a separate policy. They think if they buy a separate policy for their teen driver, the rates for their other cars won’t go up.

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.

"All I have Is Photos - And Memories," Crash Victim's Mom Says

Monday morning was another tragic day for Tampa Bay Familes, When two seperate Accidents invovling Teen Drivers have left Three Dead. It pains me as I read the paper this morning about two seperate accidents, which could have been advoided.

In the first accident: A 15 year old was driving at 12:10 in the morning, and None of the teens had on seat belts, troopers said.

The second accident a 19 year old who was under the influence struck a pole at 4:30am. Three people were ejected from the car and one was trapped in the rear seat.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/aug/04/2-teen-drivers-die-plant-city-wreck/?news-metro

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/aug/04/dui-charged-crash-left-1-life-support

You Just Erased Your Memory Card - Relax, All Is Not Lost

Uh Oh, I just accidentally erased my photos on my memory card. I had this experience recently and I want you to know that you can probably still recover your photos. In my case my wife and I had driven over to my daughter’s friend’s house where 7 teenage couples were gathered in full evening dress for their prom. An entire row of parents stood in front of the kids for 15 minutes, cameras clicking and flashes going off. If you have had teenagers you probably know the ritual. So wiping out these photos is pretty bad. You’re not going to get those teenage boys to dress up in suits and stand in front of the camera again for you. But if you know what to do and in the right order, you can usually recover your lost photos.

A week or so later my wife came to me distraught that she had accidentally erased all the photos on her camera's memory card, including these precious prom photos. I searched the internet and found to my surprise that these photos were not lost forever.

To understand why, you just need to understand how the memory space on these cards works. Generally, when you delete a photo or file from a memory card, the space is made available for another photo or file to be stored there. But, until you take more photos to cover over this space, you can still recover those deleted files and photos. To do so, you will need to purchase a software program on the internet and download it to your computer. There are many services out there and below I have listed some web sites that I found that sell these programs. The one I used was Card Recovery which is the first on this list, but you may find one that does the job better and is cheaper. In our case we saved the prom photos and since that time my daughter has made the same mistake with her camera's memory card and she was astonished that Dad could miraculously save the day for her. It’s good to be the hero every now and again, especially with teenagers.

Here are a few sites that can help you recover erased files from a memory disk.

www.CardRecovery.com

www.pctools.com

http://www.powerdatarecovery.com

We at Bill Gough's All American Agency want you to be Completely Satisfied with our Agency to earn your support to Renew YOUR Insurance Policies.

We also want to earn your support in Recommending our Agency to your friends and family.

If we at anytime fail to meet the above needs please contact us at once so we may correct this situation.

You are the reason our Agency exists and we Thank You!

How to Prevent Teens From Speeding

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.

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!

For more information please visit us at http://www.teendriverinsurance.com/allamerican.

The 10 Most Lethal Driving Mistakes

Most Lethal Driving Mistakes

From not buckling up to not getting enough shut-eye, here's a rundown of the 10 most common mistakes motorists make.

By Claire Martin of MSN Autos

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 37,313 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2008. If that isn't a reason to become a better driver, then we don't know what is.

In an ideal world, drivers would execute every road maneuver with precision and ease. Sadly, we do not live in a never-never land, and not everyone walks away from metal-to-metal mayhem. Truth is that drivers are not created equal. Some are too brash, others too conservative. Some are even downright clueless. The common thread is that they can all turn a pleasant day on the motorway into a surreal nightmare in the blink of an eye.

And don't just blame it on "them." Everyone is guilty of making common driving mistakes that can endanger us all. Think about it: We'll bet you can recall with vivid exasperation a whole litany of stupid moves you've made throughout the years — some benign, some not so much.

To help you stay safe behind the wheel, here's a list of 10 driving behaviors to avoid.

Swerving

The No. 1 fatal mistake made by drivers is perhaps the most simple: not staying in their own lane — i.e., running off the road or drifting into the adjacent lane. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2007, 15,574 people died in crashes where the driver simply couldn't stay in the lane.

Driving While Drowsy

"Driving a vehicle when you are fatigued is as dangerous as driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs," National Transportation Safety Board Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said after a fatal highway accident in 2003 in which a college student who had been awake for the previous 18 hours was driving a carload of fellow students at 5 a.m. According to the NHTSA, in 2007 fatigued driving caused the deaths of 1,404 people, and more traffic fatalities occurred during the hours when most people are accustomed to being asleep (3 a.m. to 6 a.m.) than at any other time of day.

Drinking and Driving

Every 40 minutes someone dies in a drunk-driving accident. (In all 50 states, a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more is considered illegal, but a little-known fact is that you can be charged with driving while impaired even if you're under the legal limit.) Young drivers are particularly prone to drinking and driving: The 21- to 34-year-old set is responsible for well over half of alcohol-infused fatal crashes. Not surprisingly, the decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated is made most often at night and on the weekends. According to the NHTSA, 60 percent of drivers who died after dark in 2007 were legally drunk. Alcohol is also a factor in half of pedestrian traffic deaths — both drivers and pedestrians are the culprits.

Overcorrecting

You get panicky when the wheels of your SUV hit the rumble patch on the shoulder of the highway, so you throw the steering wheel in the opposite direction to get the vehicle back on the road. This is a classic example of overcorrecting or oversteering, and it's a particularly perilous maneuver when you're behind the wheel of an SUV driving on the highway at high speeds. Consider it a rollover waiting to happen. More than 4 percent of automobile fatalities a year occur because of drivers overcorrecting.

Discuss: What is the most dangerous thing you've done behind the wheel?

Speeding

Racing, driving faster than the posted speed limit or simply going too fast for road conditions — i.e., speeding — comprises the second highest cause of death in fatal crashes, according to the NHTSA. Once you hit 55 mph, you're in the danger zone: 30 percent of fatalities occur at 55 or above. The worst-case scenarios invariably involve speeding without wearing a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet. Fatality rates for speeding motorcyclists are shockingly high: In 2007, speeding was a factor in 36 percent of motorcycle fatalities. Of those, 41 percent of drivers and more than half of passengers were not wearing helmets (only 20 states and the District of Columbia require helmets).

Failure to Yield Right of Way

For drivers age 70 and above, failing to yield while merging into traffic is the top cause of crashes. In a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers 80 and older simply fail to see the other vehicle they should be yielding to. Drivers 70 to 79 see the vehicle but misjudge whether they have time to proceed ahead of it. Failure to yield right of way was the fifth leading cause of fatal crashes in 2007.

Teaching Your New Driver Vehicle Orientation and Maintenance

Before starting to drive perform a quick safety check of the vehicle. Now is a good time to have a brief discussion about vehicle maintenance. Explain basic maintenance items such as when oil changes are due and proper tire inflation. Verify that all lights and turn signals are functioning properly and free of obstruction.

Safety Tip: For emergency purposes, teach your teen to keep at least ¼ tank of gas in the car at all times. You do not want them running out of gas in an unsafe area. Additionally, you will avoid the frustration of having to unexpectedly stop for gas when your teen has been driving your car.

Safety Tip: Hazard lights. Make sure your teen knows how to locate and turn on the hazard lights in each of your cars!Familiarize your teen with the location and operation of the vehicle controls. It is important that your teen is comfortable in the driver’s seat. Today’s newer cars are capable of adjusting the seat, mirrors, steering wheel, brake pedal and accelerator. Review proper operation of the heater, air conditioning, cruise control and wiper blades.

Safety Tip: Hazard lights. Make sure your teen knows how to locate and turn on the hazard lights in each of your cars!

Explain the dashboard gauges and their purpose. Taking the time to explain the gauges will help maintain the vehicle in proper working condition. Furthermore, it may save you a large repair bill. After all, the time for your teen to understand the temperature gauge is not after the car has overheated! A good habit to form is maintaining a mileage log. The log should detail the date, miles on the vehicle, the number of gallons of gas added and the miles per gallon obtained on the prior tank of gas. When the gas mileage decreases it is an early warning signal that the engine needs maintenance.

I strongly recommend that you have your teen change a tire before he/she obtains their license. With the prevalence of cell phones, many parents assume their teen can call them or AAA for assistance. Depending on the location and time of day, it may take 2-3 hours before assistance can arrive.

Safety Tip: Tire jacks can KILL! Practice with them the proper use and ‘placement of the jack”. People die from this every year. Don’t forget to show them how to chock the tires.

Safety Tip: It is very dangerous to change a tire on the highway. Call the state police to assure drivers move over and the safety of your teen.

Safety Tip: Maintain an Emergency kit in the trunk complete with: flares, a flashlight and batteries. Practice lighting flares.

Insurance Tip: Roadside Service is part of the Teensurance Program from Safeco. Help will be dispatched to help change tires or even deliver gas!

Hope this helps your family and brings everyone home safely!

Please call our office anytime with any questions 256-765-2200.

Tears For My Friends

Tears for My Friends

By Debbye Butler

I have a friend named Jeannette. She had a daughter and a son, until October 1986. Her daughter tested the odds of the effects of alcohol on her motor skills and judgment versus her knowledge about the roads with which she was so familiar.

The alcohol won.

Cindy never saw her 21st birthday. Jeannette, however, has to live through every one of her daughter’s candles-and-cake days — wondering what her daughter would look like now and what she would be doing with her promising life.

I have another buddy. His name is Bill. He is a devoted family man, and until a dreaded October night in 1992, he had two sons and a daughter. Now he has one son, one daughter, and 17 years of memories of a child who will never grow older. Bill, too, had to live the worst parental nightmare possible — a tired teenager with a set of car keys, a can of beer, and an invincible attitude on a late weekend night.

Both of my friends are incredibly loving people and responsible parents. They were looking forward to graduations, a son- or daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. But they have been cheated out of some of the best and most meaningful adventures in life, and nothing or no one can change that cruel, crushing reality.

Maybe you know someone who has lost a son or daughter because of this deadly combination. Maybe it’s a neighbor. Maybe it’s a friend. Maybe it’s someone in your own family. Maybe the children’s deaths were caused by another person who was driving while intoxicated.

It’s hard for me to believe I would ever have personally known one family — much less two — that would have to live through this gnawing, once-it-happens-it-never-goes-away pain. And it’s even more difficult to know what to say to them. Hugs help. But they’ll never replace the hugs from the children who are gone because of alcohol.

When Bill was saying goodbye to his son during the funeral, he did the most loving, courageous thing that any parent could do in a situation like this. With a lump in his throat that must have felt like the size of a softball, he looked out at the stunned young faces of his son’s high school friends. He said he never wanted to have to come to a funeral for this reason again. He said, “Don’t drink and drive.”

Bill told me later he hoped he didn’t sound like he was preaching. Well … I hope he did. I hope everyone listened. And I hope everyone remembers.

© Debbye Butler. Used with author’s permission. May not be reproduced in any fashion without author’s express permission. Debbye Butler is a freelance writer based in Indianapolis, Ind.

Hey, Does The Air Bag In This Thing Work?

If you’ve ever shopped for a used car you are probably a pretty savvy buyer after the experience was over. But did you check the air bag? It turns out that airbags are a quick and easy part for thieves to remove from the car. And since few buyers think to check for this part, most get away scott free.

So how do you know if the car you want to purchase still has an airbag? How do you determine if the airbag will still function correctly?

First of all, you should inspect the steering wheel for signs of tampering. Thieves often leave dings and dents in the interior plastic when they remove the airbags. Another thing you can do is watch the air bag indicator light when you turn on the car. It should glow briefly, then turn off. If the light never comes on, or if it comes on and stays on, then the air bag probably isn’t functioning correctly.

You can also visit the site, http://www.safercar.gov/, and type in the vehicle’s VIN or vehicle identification number to see if one of more of the airbags in the vehicle has been permanently deactivated. Click on “Air Bags”, then under “Air Bag Basics” on the left, click on “Air Bag – VIN number” to search the database. The data at this site may not be complete since the site relies on third parties to report whether an air bag has been removed or disabled. As a last resort, you can have a mechanic you trust inspect the car for air bags.

For the most part, air bags are an “out of site, out of mind” kind of issue. But since replacement could run from $600 to $800 it may be worth your while to consider this issue next time you shop for a used car.

We want you to be Completely Satisfied with our Agency to earn your support to Renew YOUR Insurance Policies. We also want to earn your support in Recommending our Agency to your friends and family. If we at anytime fail to meet the above needs please contact us at once so we may correct this situation. You are the reason our Agency exists and we Thank You! Check us out at www.teendriversinsurance.com/allamerican or call us at 256-765-2200.

Practice Is NOT Everything

Practice, practice, practice and lots of supervised driving time is what gets him or her there.

But apart from the practical skills, there is a set of mental skills that you may consider teaching your teen driver:

1. Being an overly fearful or hesitant driver can sometimes be as dangerous as a go-getter, over-confident driver.
2. Driving in an upset, angry, or excited state of mind can be a as much a distraction as driving while talking on a cell phone.

As a parent, you want to build the right amount of driving confidence within your teen, and instill the ability to make the right decisions at the right time.

Talking with your teen, and offering positive reinforcement, can be a powerful tool in making your teen a safer driver. Don't hesitate to praise him or her for an exceptionally well-handled maneuver, or a flawless driving session. And in addition to providing clear rules - and consequences - you may try offering rewards for long stretches of ticket- and accident-free driving.

Tips for Prom Night

Prom season is upon us with all the excitement and challenges associated with this major event in your teen's life. Your family may be hosting a pre or post prom party for your teen's friends.

Normally I focus on keeping your teen safe in the car, but it's equally important that she and her friends are safe in your home. Follow these rules to make sure the party goes as you planned:

• When possible, do not have the party in a separate part of the house.

• Parents need to stay visible during the party.

• Bring in snacks or non-alcoholic beverages, wander through to say hello.

• It is against the law to provide minors with alcohol.

• Anyone who leaves the party will not be allowed to return.

• Explain to your teen before the party that you are legally responsible for anything that happens to a minor who has been served alcohol in your home and that uninvited guests or those bringing in alcohol or other drugs will be asked to leave.

Teen Driver GPS Monitoring Systems

In my opinion, this is the greatest technological breakthrough for parents and their teen driver's safety. Before I go over the benefits to parents, let me explain how these systems work.

A little "black box" is installed usually under the dash where it can't be seen. This "black box" is basically a small computer that records it's exact location and is hooked up to certain features in the car- door locks and sometimes the ignition. It has a built-in antennae that send and receives signals to a satellite.

This data can be viewed from a website that is hosted by the GPS provider. Parents can monitor the vehicle's location and speed by visiting the website. Most systems can also allow the user to set alerts for speeding, braking curfew, or driving beyond a pre-designated area. These alerts can be sent by text message, e-mail or a phone call. It can also be used to un-lock the car doors in case the teen leaves the keys in the car- most parents would love this feature!

Since speeding is the leading cause of teen driver deaths, this tool is a must for parents!

Go to my website for more details- www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican

5 Most Common Mistakes Teen Drivers Make

This is an article my friend, Officer Jim Poer wrote on teen driver safety. I thought you should read it…

The hardest part of my job is having to knock on a parent's door to deliver the worst news they could ever get. After 30 years of investigating accidents, this is the part of my job I wish I never had to do. That is why I am committed to helping you make your teen a safer driver.

This month, I want to share with you the 5 most common mistakes that lead to teen driver accidents and fatalities.

Mistake #1- Speeding. There is a multiplier effect when it comes to speed. The faster you go, the amount of time required to stop is multiplied and at higher speeds, the time required to stop is greatly increased.Kids don't understand this, the physics side of driving that is. They assume they can stop when they want and unfortunately they don't get this knowledge from their driver's education class.Speed also leads to other common mistakes such as the second most common mistake.

Mistake #2- Over-Correcting. When a teen driver gets into a situation where they need to correct the direction of the vehicle, they often times, over-correct causing loss of control. When you add speed to this effect, the reaction is almost always an over correction that can't be brought back under control.

Mistake #3- Distractions. This is the subject of my latest blog and you can read more on this at http://www.parentalcourage.com. The problem these days is that kids have way too many things in their cars to distract them. Cell phones, mp-3 players, and text messaging, to name a few. But the biggest distraction is usually other kids in the car.

Mistake #4- Following too close. Just as I described in Mistake #1, when a vehicle is following too close at a high rate of speed, the ability to avoid a collision is reduced to almost nothing if that vehicle's driver decides to suddenly stop.

Mistake #5- Failure to Yield. Many accidents occur when a teen driver fails to yield to another driver when the other driver legally has the right of way. Failing to check for other vehicles in the blind spot, or not accurately estimating the closing rate of another vehicle are also very common problems.

Sincerely,Master Police Officer III James Poer

Officer Poer is a 30 year veteran accident investigator with the High Point Police Department. He is also a parent of 4 drivers. His experience, conviction, and advice is demonstrated on his website- www.parentalcourage.com. Please visit his site often and remain vigilant on your teen driver’s safety!

You can also learn more at my website

www.teendriverinsurance.com/All-American

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 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/All-American.

How to Prevent Teens From Speeding

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 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!

Choosing A Driving Instructor

By Master Police Officer James Poer Recently while speaking with a group of parents of teen drivers, one concern was expressed that many parents in the audience shared. How does a parent find the best driving instructor for their child? Apparently many of these parents who had been through this process previously with older siblings had been disappointed with previous instructors. The biggest problem was that the teens were only getting a fraction of the behind the wheel time initially promised. I would start by asking other parents for references on driving instructors they have been pleased with using. Regardless of whether you receive a recommendation, you should interview the instructor prior to signing up for a class. Ask questions such as: What are your credentials? How long have you been instructing teens? How much time will be spent driving? What exercises will be covered while driving? By simply demonstrating concern about the quality of the driving instruction, you are making the instructor aware of your expectations. Assuming he provides satisfactory answers to the above questions, you can now hold him accountable for providing the experience you are seeking. But remember, no driving school will provide as many hours as your teen needs to develop the appropriate skills. Experts recommend at least 100 hours behind the wheel before a teen drives alone. It's up to you to make up the difference and the Safe Teen Driver Guide offered by this agency is a tool that will help you maximize the skills learned during that time.

Your Teen Driver's Safety Is Your Responsibility

As a Family Insurance Specialist, I help families with teen drivers on a daily basis. Unfortunately, I don't only help them find the right protection for their needs, but I also hear about claims they make - or worse. I've had lots of opportunity to learn the results of inexperienced or careless mistakes teens make behind the wheel.

There are many dangers that teens face on the road: The effects of alcohol, distractions, and careless driving, as well as loss of control over the vehicle, can have severe consequences.In order to make your teen a safer driver, you have to provide them with as much opportunity to gain experience as possible, before you allow them to drive unsupervised. It is recommended that every teen get at least 100 hours behind the wheel while being supervised. Driving schools, at best, give your teen 6 hours of supervised driving time.

That means, it is up to you to make sure your teen gets the necessary experience.The lack of experience is why teens are 5 times more likely to get into accidents than experienced drivers! And, it is your responsibility as a parent to make sure your teen gets this experience of driving in different situations.

We have an excellent tool in helping you accomplish this task. It's called the "Safe Teen Driver Guide". This 16 step home study driving course gives you a lesson plan and driving exercises that cover the most important skills that every teen must master.

This guide will help you make your teen's supervised driving time most effective. Contact my office today to get a copy at 256-765-2200. It can really give your teen the experience and skill to come home safely every time they grab the car keys.

Hosting Teenage Parties

Prom season is upon us with all the excitement and challenges associated with this major event in your teen's life. Your family may be hosting a pre or post prom party for your teen's friends.

Normally I focus on keeping your teen safe in the car, but it's equally important that they and there friends are safe in your home. Follow these rules to make sure the party goes as you planned:

• When possible, do not have the party in a separate part of the house.
• Parents need to stay visible during the party.
• Bring in snacks or non-alcoholic beverages, wander through to say hello.
• It is against the law to provide minors with alcohol.
• Anyone who leaves the party will not be allowed to return.
• Explain to your teen before the party that you are legally responsible for anything that happens to a minor who has been served alcohol in your home and that uninvited guests or those bringing in alcohol or other drugs will be asked to leave.

After School Hours Are Dangerous For Teen Drivers

Most parents only really get concerned about their teen driver children when they head out on the road at night. And rightfully so. That is a very dangerous time. But a recent study shows that the time right after school is also are very high risk time for teen drivers.

This study by AAA indicates that weekday afternoon driving time is just 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.So what can you as a parent do about this?

Well, here are several suggestions:

1. Establish some specific driving rules with your teen. Be consistent in enforcing both the rules and the consequences when the rules are broken.

2. Impose an absolute ban on cell phone use while your teen is driving. Don’t call them yourself when you know that they are driving.

3. Require that your teen use a seatbelt any and every time they are traveling in any vehicle whether as a driver or a passenger. You must do the same to reinforce the importance of this.

4. Don’t allow your teen driver to carry passengers during the first 3 months or more of driving. Let them get used to being out there on their own before they add the distractions of passengers.

5. Don’t permit your teen to ride with other teen drivers. I know this will be a hard sell in these times of high gas prices but until you know just how safe the other teen driver is, you really should not permit your child to ride with him or her.

6. Make your rules known to other adults in your teen’s life. This can help provide an extra set of eyes when you are not around.

7. Install a GPS monitoring system in your child’s car. When they know that you are watching all of the time, their driving habits will be safer.

To get more safety tips and to find out how you can get a GPS tracking system installed in your child’s car for free, visit my web site at www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican or call my office at 256-765-2200.

Tips for Good Teen Driving in Bad Weather

Here are some tips to pass along to your teen driver as it's becoming more clear that summer is officially over... In rain...

• Make it a point to turn on your lights whenever you have your windshield wipers on.
• Double or even triple the amount of following space you leave between you and the car in front of you when weather is wet.
• Brake gently
• Accelerate slowly
• Crack a window to keep your windshield from fogging up
• Remember, bridges and overpasses freeze before roads do
• Don't apply cruise control

In ice and snow...

• If you're stuck in ice or snow and aren't able to gain traction, try placing the floor mats under the tired
• If you back up into ice or snow, make sure your tailpipe is clear or you could get carbon monoxide poisoning
• Make sure you have window washing fluid-- you may need it in the even of sleet or snow
• Keep your pace steady and slow, but not so slow you become stuck in deeper ice/snow

In fog...

• Stay to the right of the roadway
• Turn on lowbeams
• If you cannot see the roadway, pull clear off the road away from traffic. Turn on hazard lights and wait until visibility improves

In high winds...

• It's best not to drive a van or other high profile type vehicle or to tow a trailer
• If you're following behind a vehicle with a tow or trailer take extra precaution and keep your distance

It's also a good idea to keep an emergency pack in your car with ice scraper, a bag of sand/salt/cat litter, flares or triangles, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, jumper cables, nonperishable snacks, a candle and matches, a cup in case you have to melt snow for water, a shovel, gloves, a blanket, and even a pair of boots.

Thanks to www.teendriving.com

Making Your teen a "Smart Driver"

Good parents want their children to be able to tackle all of life’s challenges. Learning to drive is among the most important of those challenges. Parents need to play an active role in the process. Talk to your teen early and often. Discuss the risks and responsibilities of driving when kids are young - and keep talking to them before, during and after the licensing process to ensure they learn successful, safe driving skills. Give these discussions the same priority as you would discussions about smoking, sex or drugs. Don't rush things. Just because your teen has a permit or license it doesn’t mean they’re ready for every driving condition. Practice with them in empty parking lots or on side streets. Practice at night, in traffic and in adverse weather conditions. Keep in mind that if they do have an accident, it might not be their fault. The fact is, our brains are still developing through the teenage years and don't reach full maturity until our 20s. Make sure you’re familiar with your state’s laws (they’ve probably changed since you learned to drive). Many states have enacted laws to help new drivers get on-the-road driving experience under lower-risk conditions, protecting them while they are learning. Know what your state’s requirements are and establish your own rules for when, where, how and with whom your teen may drive. Practice what you preach. If you speed, roll through stop signs, make rude gestures at other drivers or chat on your cell phone behind the wheel, your teen is likely to do the same. For more help on teen driving safety, please visit my web site at www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican.

Why Are Insurance Rates for Teens So High?

As an insurance agent, this is probably one of the most frustrating questions 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 old 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. 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 teens 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.

Head-On Collision Leaves Families Grieving

Steve Augello is the kind of dad who insisted his daugh­ter call him whenever she left a place and again when she arrived. He’s the kind of dad who had the text messages “Where are you?” and “Call me when you get this message” saved as templates in his cell phone.So on Monday night, Allie, 17, called to say she was leav­ing play practice at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School to head home. Steve knew the trip should have taken 15 to 18 minutes.She never arrived...

This is another case of two of Tampa Teen Drivers that have been killed in a car accident. We don't know what really happned yet. Where one of the drivers driving to fast? Where they distracted, talking on there phone, texting one of their friends? Are you concerned about your own children? We at Most Insurance have a lot of tools to help you protect your children please, please, please go read our free reports, and ask for our information that we provide you to help protect your kids. Also take a look at the Teen Driver GPS monitoring system. Here is a link to the rest of the article written by Molly Moorhead. ftp://mostftp.gotdns.com/Head-ONCollision.pdf

Put Your Teen Through The Paces Before Going Out On Their Own!

The drivers education in-car training provided by our public school systems is really only a starting point for teaching your teen to drive safely. I recommend no less than 100 hours driving time for your child with the parent in the passenger seat before you let them out on their own. One of the things that you should do when teaching your child how to drive is teach them how to deal with stressful and dangerous situations while you are there to talk them through it. For example, I advise that you take them to an abandoned, low traffic road and with them observing in the passenger seat, you drive car the off the road and talk them through the process of getting the car back on the road in a safe manner. Too often, young drivers faced with this situation will overcorrect and jerk the wheel to forcefully. This can lead to them losing control of the vehicle. Let them gain experience with this type of emergency maneuver while you are teaching and talking them through it. When you feel that they are ready, have them drive off the road and bring the car safely back on to the road. Another great learning experience is 5:00 traffic. They are going to have to drive in it eventually; don’t you want to make sure that you have taught them how before they tackle it on their own? Make it a point, when you think they are ready, to have them drive in stressful traffic situations, including traffic to and from ball games and concerts. If they have done this with you in the passenger seat, then when they are doing with a distracting friend in the seat beside them, they stand a much better chance of handling this safely. Try to think of any other situations that might require your help and seek those out while you are still training them. We have a complete soup to nuts Teen Driver Training guide available to all of our insurance clients. This 47 page book will walk you through the process of teaching your child safe driving habits from vehicle maintenance to traffic lights, to highway safety and even includes a chapter on map reading. If you want to know more about this guide you can contact us by visiting our web site at www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/insurancedude.

Rain or Shine - You'll Be Just Fine

(if you follow these tips...) · Be sure that the windshield wipers on your car are in top shape. The rubber on windshield wipers wears and tears quickly. We recommend that you change the wipers at least once a year, or as soon as they leave streaks. · Keep the wiper fluid filled and make sure the sprayer works – mist and light rain combined with road dust leave grimy windows that are hard to see through – especially with glare. · Turn your headlights on every time you turn your wipers on – even if the sun is beaming through the clouds. You may not feel that you have better visibility – but your headlights help other people see you. · Slow down, and use your brakes gently. · If roads are wet, double or even triple the distance you normally leave between yourself and the next car. Braking distances can be up to TEN TIMES longer on wet roads, compared to dry roads. · Don’t use cruise control in wet or slippery conditions – it may react to slipping wheels by applying more throttle. · Know your brakes: If your car has ABS, press down firmly when you have to brake hard. If you DON’T have ABS, tap and release your brakes to keep your tires from locking up and the car from spinning out.

Teens and Cell Phones

"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!