Put Your Child Through The Paces - While You Are In The Car

The Driver 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 a parent in the passenger seat before you let them out on his or her own. One thing 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 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 over correct and jerk the wheel too forcefully. This can lead to 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 onto the road. Another great learning experience is 5:00 traffic. They are going to have to drive 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 driving with a distracting friend in the seat beside them, they stand a much better chance of handling safely. Try to think of any other situations that might require your help and seek those out while you are still training them. We hope you strive to teach your child safe driving habits from vehicle maintenance to traffic lights, to highway safety and even map reading.

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 Tips to Pass on to your Teen Driver:

• For emergency purposes, teach your teen to keep at least 1/4 tank of gas in their 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.
• Hazard lights. Make sure your teen knows how to locate and turn on the hazard lights in each of your cars.
• Familiarize you 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.
• 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.
• It is strongly recommended 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 all them or AAA for assistance. Depending on the location and time of day, it may take 2-3 hours before assistance can arrive.
• Tire jacks can be very confusing and hard to deal with if you are new using them. Practice using tire jacks with your teen. Make sure you show he/she proper use and "placement of the jack." If used incorrectly, tire jacks could cause injury or even death. People die every year from car jacks being used improperly. And don't forget to show your teen how to chock the tires.
• 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.
• Maintain an emergency kit in the trunk, complete with: flares, a flashlight, and batteries. Practice using the flares also.

The Benefits of Teen Driving Courses and Driver Education

Teen drivers account for most of the accidents on roadways today, statistics claim. This raises insurance prices, liability, and even may result in teens losing their license from poor driving. The goal in driving courses and driver education is to give teens the knowledge necessary to firstly pass the driving test on exam day, but also keep them safe with important safety tips and procedures.

Monetary Benefits of Driver Education Courses

Many insurance companies allow for reduced prices in insurance costs to teens who have taken driver's education classes. This usually requires that the child pass with an impressive grade. Other insurance companies offer families video tapes and written tests of common safety tips in driving. If teens do well on these exams, they can get a huge break in insurance expenses.

The improved safety knowledge while driving also makes teens less prone to accidents and wrecks. This keeps insurance rates as low as possible, since wrecks often make insurance rates skyrocket. Sadly, even getting in a wreck in which the teen driver was not at fault can raise insurance prices, so teens should be aware of other drivers driving recklessly on the road.

Driver's education also stresses that obeying the speed limit and driving with caution is the best way to go. This helps save on tickets or other violations that can cost hundreds of dollars. It also produces less strain on vehicles, in which they would otherwise be pushed to the limit by excessive speeds or reckless maneuvers. With less strain comes longer life, which means less money spent on vehicles.

Exam Preparation of Driver Education Courses

Another good benefit of driver's education courses is that it helps prepare students for the exam both written and hand-ons.

The written exam differs from state to state, but it can often be very tough. It forces students to memorize driving laws, signs, and other types of related driver's education laws. The failure rate is usually somewhat high, even with studying. The problem is that teens don't get enough hands-on practice before taking the written exam. Actions are much more memorable than words in a book, so this is often overlooked as a huge benefit to driver's education courses.

The hands-on exam gets even more benefit in pass rates, since it actually demands that students put their knowledge to use. In this case, only experience behind the wheel can get the student in shape to pass the driving test. Parents are required to take students out for a specified amount of hours before taking the test, but not every parent is a good driving coach. This is where driver's education courses shine, since there will be no yelling, drama, or hardships that commonly plague parent-child excursions.

Final Thoughts on Driver's Education Courses

Enlisting a teen into a driver's education course is a smart decision. Not only is there monetary benefit, which is always nice, but the odds that the teen will pass the driver's test will be much higher. This is nice, since not every parent can afford to take off work multiple times in case their children don't pass the exam.

As with everything, passing the written and hands-on driving tests handed out by each state will require determination and perseverance. Don't be discouraged by the amount of information to remember and put to use. Enrolling in a driver's education course will assuredly provide all the necessary experience to get on the right track.

Talk to Other Parents

Talking to other parents of teens lets you discuss what's worked and what hasn't. It's a way of sharing experiences with someone facing the same issue as you. Here are some ideas for discussing teen safe driving with other parents:

• Find out what rules and consequences other parents have established and share your own. (you'll be able to see real-life examples as you fill out each section of the Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract.) Talk about driving rules with other parents the same way you'd talk about parties, alcohol use or curfews.
• Talk to other parents in your community about setting common driving rules. It's much easier to be an effective parent when you have support of other parents in your community.
• Ask other parents how they coach their teens, what do they say to their friends if they think those friends are not driving safely? Or if a friend is drinking and driving?
• Work together to help make sure all teens in your community are safe. Have an agreement with other parents to take away a teens car keys, call the parents, call a taxi or allow the teen to sleep over if they shouldn't be driving. And agree that none of you will let a teen leave your house and get behind the wheel if you suspect they've been drinking.
• Get teen driving on the agenda at the next parent-teacher meeting at school.

For more help on teen driving safety, please visit my website at:

www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican

When the Weather is Frightful: How to Drive Safely

Whether you have to drive in a thunderstorm, blizzard, or hurricane, most people find driving in bad weather stressful or even frightening. It's best to stay inside-but that isn't always possible. Here's how to stay safe when you have to drive.

- Maintain your vehicle

- Keep your battery in good condition

- Replace wiper blades every 6 months and check wiper fluid regularly

- Make sure brakes work properly

- Replace worn tires to prevent hydroplaning. Keep tires well inflated to improve vehicle control

General Driving Tips for bad weather

If you must drive in inclement weather, giver yourself plenty of time and follow these tips:

- Wear your seat belt - Use main roads

- Avoid using your cruise control

- Drive slowly and double your normal following distance

Thunderstorms

If you are driving a car with a hard top and are caught in a thunderstorm, you are safer staying in the car than leaving. Although you may be injured if lightening strikes your car, your vehicle's steel roof can help keep you safe as long as you don't touch metal. Contrary to popular belief, rubber tires will NOT protect you from lightening.

If you must drive:

- Turn on your low beams and slow down

- Avoid flooded roads and downed power lines

- Be extra cautious at intersections

- If you can't see, pull over to the side of the road

- If you pull over, use your flashers until the rain slows down

The same precautions apply to hailstorms. To protect your car from hail damage, pull into a parking garage or some other form of shelter until the hail ends.

Flooding

Flash floods can occur in minutes. If the waters begin to rise around your car, get out and move quickly to higher ground. Just 6 inches of water can enter your car and cause your engine to stall. A foot of water can make your car float- and 2 feet can sweep it away.

Fog

If you must drive in fog:

- Turn on your low beams. High beams reflect off the fog and make your visibility worse.

- Watch your speed. Driving in fog can make you think you're going slower than you really are.

- Stay in your lane and avoid passing.

- If you can, pull into a parking lot or some other area that is away from traffic

High Winds

Strong gusts of wind can blow your car off the road, especially on wide open stretches or bridges. Focus on staying in your lane. Also, be alert for fallen branches or debris.

Ice and Snow

- Don't drive until the streets have been plowed and salted

- Clear all snow and ice from your hood, trunk, and roof before driving to prevent it from flying off and striking your windshield or other vehicles. In some states, it's the law to do this.

- Clear off headlights, tail lights, and brake lights. Dirty headlights can cut your visibility in half. Uncleared tail lights and brake lights can cause accidents.

- Use extra caution on bridges and ramps.

- Drive Slowly.

- Keep your headlights on.

- Increase the space between your car and the car in front of you.

- Keep your car in low gear to prevent skidding.

- Don't use cruise control.

- Watch out for "black ice."

- Accelerate and brake slowly.

- If you start skidding, take your foot off the gas, switch into neutral and steer in the direction of the skid. Resist the temptation to brake, but if you have to and you have anti lock brakes, use steady pressure without pumping. If you don't have anti lock brakes, pump brakes gently.

Teen Driver Menace: Text-Messaging

Did you know that nearly 50% of teens admit to texting while driving- an alarming statistic that now rivals driving and drinking in terms of danger and prevalence.

When it comes to teen driving, put the danger of text-messaging right up there with drunken driving as Public Enemies No. 1 and 1A on the nation's roads.

According to SADD ( Students Against Destructive Decisions), instant messaging and text-messaging while driving leads the list as the biggest distraction while driving. The study, released in 2007, which included 900 teens from 26 high schools nationwide, revealed that text-messaging while driving is becoming as dangerous as drinking and driving, in terms of inhibiting a teens driving abilities. Yet, even while 37% of teens rated text-messaging while driving as "extremely" or "very" distracting, they continue to send and receive messaging in their moving vehicles anyway.

Alarmingly, 46% of teens admitted that those who drive distracted are texting, according to a AAA study which appeared in several magazines in 2007. The crash statistics surrounding distractions in vehicles, such as cellphone use, are growing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that distracted drivers account for almost 80% of all crashes and 65% of near-crashes in the United States.While most states have adopted or are adjusting legislation around teen driving, the restrictions of teen driving laws vary from state to state.

Based on the extensive research over the past several years, SADD have set forth a number of guidelines for families-including preventing cell phone use in the car.

Interestingly, 52% of teens who say their parents are unlikely to follow through on punishment if they are caught text-messaging while driving, compared to 36% of teens who believe their parents would penalize them, according to the SADD.

Not surprisingly, the study also reports the biggest influence on how teens drive is their parents. Almost two-thirds of high school teens say their parents talk on a cell phone while driving; almost half say their parents speed and almost a third say their parents don't wear a safety belt.

After School Hours Are Dangerous For Teen Drivers

Most parents only really get concerned about their teen driver when they head out on the road at night. And rightfully so, it is a dangerous time. But a recent study shows that the time right after school is also a 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 year old's 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 1,100 weekday fatal accidents and 1,237 weekend evening fatal accidents. So what can parents 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 they are driving. 3. Require your teen to use a seat belt any and every time they are traveling in any vehicle whether 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 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 teens 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 website at www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican

Lack of Sleep Disrupts Teen Driving

A new study shows that poor sleep quality and being sleepy while driving significantly increases adolescents' risk of motor vehicle accidents. Researchers found adolescent drivers were twice as likely to have had a crash if they experienced sleepiness while driving or reported having bad sleep. Eighty of the 339 students that were involved in this study had already crashed at least once and fifteen percent of them considered sleepiness to have been the main cause of the crash. Fifty-six percent of the students who had at least one previous crash reported driving while sleepy, compared with thirty-five percent of subjects who had not been in a crash. The students were between the ages of 18 and 21 and fifty-right percent of them were male. Questions concerned lifestyle habits, nocturnal sleep habits, symptoms suggesting sleep disorders, and a subjective report of daytime sleepiness. Driving habits and sleepiness at the wheel were evaluated by questions assessing the frequency and timing of car use and accidents, the perceived causes of vehicle crashes and the respondents' coping methods for dealing with sleepiness while driving. Results show students suffered from chronic sleep deprivation. Although they reported that their sleep need was a mean of 9.2 hours per night, the students reported sleeping for an average of only 7.3 hours on weeknights. Only six percent of students slept nine hours or more on weeknights, and fifty-eight percent tried to catch up by sleeping nine hours or more on the weekends. Sleep problems were commonly reported by the students. Forty-five percent woke up at least once during the night with trouble falling asleep again, forty percent complained of difficulties in the morning awakening and nineteen percent reported bad sleep. The combination of chronic sleep loss and poor sleep quality had a negative effect on their alertness, as sixty-four percent of participants complained of excessive daytime sleepiness. This study emphasizes the need for education programs that target adolescents with information about improving sleep habits, the importance of sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation.

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 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 in teen driving safety, please visit my website at: www.TeenDriverInsurance.com/AllAmerican.com

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.