by California Casualty | Safety |
Submitting innovative safe driving messages has paid off for students with the 2016 Fall Create Real Impact contest, presented by Impact Teen Drivers and California Casualty. After sorting through thousands of entries, awards totaling $13,000 were given for art, music, video and writing.
$1,500 Grand prizes winners are:
Carley Calfee, Toano, VA, for the poster, “You Only Have One Life”
Esteban Hiracheta, Corpus Christi, TX, for the song, “It’s Not Worth It”
Miles Kent-Pettit, Eugene, OR, for the video, “Gluv B4 U Go”
Johnathan Joyce, Madison, MS, for the poem, “Just a Passenger”
Based on the number of entries, the winning schools are Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington, DE; Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, OH; and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, FL. Each of the schools received $1,500 prizes.
The 2016 fall winning entries can be viewed at https://www.createrealimpact.com.
Twice a year, students ages 14-22 are encouraged to submit essays or poems, artwork, videos, and music to address the critical teen distracted driving danger. Winners are determined by a panel of judges and by online voting for prizes ranging from $1,500 to $500. The contest encourages peer-to-peer messages and creative expression from students to help end the number one killer of young drivers.
“The Create Real Impact contest is a creative way to empower youth to develop life-saving messaging which is both relevant and effective at reaching peers in their social media comfort zone,” said Kelly Browning, Ph.D., Executive Director, Impact Teen Drivers.
Impact Teen Drivers has reached more than two million teens since 2007 and the Create Real Impact contest began in 2009. California Casualty is a founding partner of the nonprofit and continues to provide support for the contest. California Casualty representatives will help present checks to the winning schools and awardees.
“The importance of this contest can’t be overstated,” said California Casualty CEO Beau Brown. “While insurance can replace a mangled vehicle, we can’t replace a teenager’s life. In a split second, everything for that family changes forever; it’s a terrible tragedy that no one should endure.”
by California Casualty | Safety |
Fall is a great time of year to get on a bicycle for a weekend ride or even to commute to work. The weather moderates in most parts of the country and it feels good to pedal a few miles. You’ll feel like a kid again as you cruise through neighborhoods and paths.
However, as a bicyclist, I find riding for fun or commuting to work is getting a lot more nerve-wracking.
One reason is that so many of us treat the morning drive more like a car race than a pleasant drive to work. Many of those drivers are distracted and some are out-right hostile towards a person on a bicycle. I’ve had my fair share of close calls that have forced me into potholes and curbs, had things thrown at me and verbal abuse from angry drivers. I’ve also seen way too many distracted drivers either texting, toying with some form of electronic device or putting on makeup which caused them to swerve into other people’s lanes or into the bike lane – oblivious of the danger they present.
Bicyclists are very vulnerable as they circumnavigate roads and byways. In 2015, 818 were killed on US roads, an increase of 12 percent from the previous year. Government statistics show that on average, 50,000 bicyclists are injured each year.
As more people choose to ride a bike for economic or health reasons, it struck me that a little education and courtesy could go a long way to prevent auto-bike confrontations, close calls and injuries.
For Drivers
- Try your best to give cyclists room. Many states now require a three foot safety zone when drivers passing a bicyclist.
- It’s a good idea to slow down when you pass a cyclist (or pedestrian). Try to imagine that person is your grandmother in a wheelchair; you wouldn’t blow by throwing dust and debris at your grandmother, would you?
- Don’t honk your horn, please. Yes, we know we might be impeding you for a short distance, but honking the horn can be startling and cause a cyclist to veer into traffic or fall off their bikes. Keep in mind that most localities and states require bicyclists to ride in the street rather than the sidewalk.
- Put down the phone and other devices and concentrate on driving.
- Be aware of bicyclists. I know we can be hard to see, but how would you feel if you hit and injured one of us.
- Look before you open your vehicle’s door. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been grazed by a door or had to veer wildly around one as I cycled past a vehicle. Many bicyclists have been killed or injured by either colliding with an open door or by being pushed into traffic.
- Be extra careful when making turns or pulling out of parking lots. Cyclists may be moving faster than you think and can sometimes be hard to see.
For Bicyclists
- Always wear a helmet.
- Observe all traffic laws: never run a stop sign or red light, always ride on the right and never against traffic, and know bicycle turn signals.
- Always wear bright or reflective clothing and use lights when riding at dusk or dark.
- Don’t unnecessarily impede traffic or ride double or triple unless there is room.
- Try to avoid narrow streets, roads and high-speed expressways. Side streets and bike paths are much safer and much more pleasant to ride.
- Don’t engage or provoke an aggressive driver, instead, try to get a picture of video of the encounter and report it to authorities.
While the pleasant weather continues, I hope you get the chance to hop on your bike and take a ride, or even use it to commute to work. It will certainly help you understand how vulnerable being a bicyclist is, and maybe you’ll look at that two wheeled commuter in a different light.
by California Casualty | Safety |
The Fourth of July rings in a day of patriotism and pride. There will be barbeques and picnics, parades and festivals followed by fabulous fireworks displays in towns and cities across the nation.
If you are lucky enough to live in or be in Seattle or Minneapolis, you will be treated to the two best Fourth of July celebrations in the nation. WalletHub factored in 16 metrics – including the duration of the fireworks display, average gas prices and weather forecasts – to pick their 10 best Independence Day celebrations. The rest of the top ten were: New Orleans; Washington, D.C.; Portland, Oregon; St. Louis; San Diego; Milwaukee; San Francisco and Orlando.
Whether it’s on the list of or not, hopefully your community will be holding a celebration too.
If you are planning to set off fireworks in a nearby park or near your home, you are urged to be very careful or skip that part of the celebration. It would be a shame if one of your children was injured or a neighbor’s home was burned by a bottle rocket or sparkler.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the majority of fireworks injuries in 2014 occurred in the 30 days surrounding the July 4th holiday, resulting in 10,500 people treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Pyrotechnics also caused an estimated 18,000 fires with 11 deaths. Children five to nine years of age had the highest estimated rate of emergency department injuries from fireworks.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that even sparklers burn at nearly 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt wood, plastics and some metals, and inflict terrible burns on mostly young people. Most of the injuries were to the hands and fingers, head, face and the eyes; caused mainly from firecrackers, bottle rockets and sparklers. The Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, coordinated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is calling for an end of the use of personal fireworks. Their goal is to educate parents and caretakers before more people get hurt or burned. They also urge people to attend professional community displays instead of using them at home.
Realizing fireworks are still used by families; the Consumer Product Safety Commission has developed these essential safety tips:
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that they were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers
- Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse and back up a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks
- Don’t try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person
- Always keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap
- Only light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them
Remember, while they may be pretty to watch, the damage from personal use of fireworks is more than just statistics or numbers; they are real victims – sons, daughters, parents and grandparents. Think before someone in your family goes to the emergency room.
by California Casualty | Safety |
High school prom and graduation season is a time for joy and preparing for the future. They are both important rites of passage for our children, but they can also be a dangerous time with many temptations.
While teens are worrying about getting the perfect dress or tux, flowers and hair style, parents are worrying about the safety of their children. These can remain joyous events if parents and children discuss responsible behavior and the repercussions of bad choices.
Communication is the key. Talk with your student about what it was like when you attended prom and graduation, and express your desire for them to have a fun and memorable time too. During your discussion lay out some ground rules about what you expect from your child including:
- That they stay in contact with you and provide updates
- They let you know who is driving
- They inform you where they are going after the event
- The agreed time they will be home
And most importantly, talk about the dangers of:
- Distractions and distracted behavior (texting, eating or taking eyes off the road while driving to interact with passengers)
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Not observing speed limits and other road rules
- Getting into a vehicle with an impaired or aggressive driver
- Not wearing seatbelts
Don’t be afraid to offer your child the option of calling you, with no repercussions, for help or advice if they feel unsafe. Letting your child know they can get a safe ride home, no matter what the circumstances, can save their life.
Safe driving isn’t an accident; it’s the result of strong parental involvement and setting expectations. That’s why California Casualty is a founding member and continued supporter of Impact Teen Drivers, a nonprofit that educates parents and teens about the dangers of distracted and reckless driving. Their presentations and peer-to-peer messaging saves lives.
by California Casualty | Safety |
Most of us spend at least 5 days a week driving to work on a regular basis. So if you commute an hour a day, that is 5 hours a week, 20 hours a month, and 240 hours a year driving. And that’s just driving to work, not including errands run to/from work or on days off.
With that much time in the car, it’s crucial to have good posture while driving. If any of these signs look familiar, it is time to make adjustments.
Bad Posture includes:
- Poked Neck
- Shoulders Hunched Forward
- Upper Back Rounded forward
- Pelvis slouched
If you said yes to having any of the above, odds are it came from sitting in front of the computer. These symptoms can lead to bigger issues like constant headaches, back pain, and more. Safety is a top priority, so if any of these next exercises cause more pain, please refrain from doing them.
Seat Adjustment: Keep your seat height high (as it can comfortably go). Make sure you can see complete vision of the road, and your feet can comfortably reach the pedals. If the seat is too low, it will cause slouching and result in rounded posture which is what we want to avoid.
Lumbar Support: See that the back of your seat fits comfortably with the natural arch of your lower back. If your car does not have this feature, use a rolled towel or small pillow instead. If the lumbar support is not correct, this can leave you with the tendency to round your back.
Elbow Position: Keep your elbows low and close to your body, in a comfortable position. Don’t flare them out. This keeps your shoulders safe and in a neutral place. Don’t place your elbows on the side of the window, this makes the elbows flare-ending in bad posture.
Change your Driving Position: Develop a range of different positions for driving. Sitting in the same position can cause discomfort.
As said before, safety is a main concern. Many long–term injuries can be prevented by protecting yourself and maintaining good health.
by California Casualty | Safety |
Do you know anyone, other than an accountant, who really enjoys filing their tax returns? As if it isn’t stressful enough assembling all the documents, trying to decipher the forms and double checking the math, there is a new concern – tax fraud and identity theft. The IRS has noted a 400 percent surge in phishing and malware incidents this year, and the Treasury Inspector General estimates fraudulent returns will add up to $21 billion dollars in 2016.
Once again the IRS is warning that thousands of us are at risk. Most won’t find out until they file their taxes and get notified that someone has already used their Social Security number to claim a false refund. This will result in all kinds of headaches and delay their legitimate return.
Here are the top three of the IRS’s “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams:
- Aggressive phone callers saying they are from the IRS threatening immediate arrest, deportation or license revocation unless you settle an outstanding balance via wire transfer or preloaded debit card
- Fake emails purporting to be from the IRS (or TurboTax) asking for “missing” personal information to secure your refund, or directing you to links that contain malware
- Fraudulent tax return preparers who use your personal information to perpetrate refund fraud, identity theft and other scams
To battle the problem, the IRS has published these tax-time security tips:
- Keep computers protected with strong passwords and strong virus/malware protection
- Avoid phishing scams: don’t respond to emails, tweets or phone calls asking for personal information or payment – the agency never initiates contact via phone, email, text or electronic media
- Don’t open attachments in emails unless you’re sure who sent it and why
- File returns early and do so electronically
- Choose your tax preparer carefully and ask if they have an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number
- Never carry your Social Security card in your purse or wallet
If you receive a suspicious email message, the IRS asks that you forward it to them at [email protected]. They ask that you report IRS-impersonation calls at www.tigta.gov
While the IRS has instituted new programs and resources to try and prevent tax ID theft, they warn that crooks continue to find new, more sophisticated ways to capitalize on our money. That’s why they have a comprehensive list of information about tax-time identity theft and helpful links at https://www.irs.gov/uac/Identity-Protection.
These are signs that you could be a victim of tax-related identity theft:
- More than one tax return was filed using your SSN
- You are notified you owe additional tax, have a refund offset or had collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file a tax return
- IRS records indicate you received wages or other income from an employer you never worked for
And, if it happens to you it can be costly in both time and money. A Bureau of Justice Statistics survey found the average loss per ID theft victim was $1,343, and most spent at least a full day to clear up the issue, however some didn’t see a resolution for months.
Nobody has time for that. That’s why California Casualty provides free ID theft protection with every auto and home insurance policy. Through our partners at IDT911, not only is your identity and personal information protected, but you’ll work with a resolution specialist in case of:
- Tax Fraud
- Social Media Compromise
- Email Compromise
- Child Identity Theft
- Break-in Recovery
- Travel Identity Theft
- Much More
Contact a California Casualty advisor today for a free auto and home insurance policy review and learn about our free ID theft protection at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com/identity-theft.
Sources for this article:
https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Consumers-Warned-of-New-Surge-in-IRS-Email-Schemes-during-2016-Tax-Season-Tax-Industry-Also-Targeted
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4524.pdf
https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Wraps-Up-the-Dirty-Dozen-List-of-Tax-Scams-for-2016
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0008-tax-related-identity-theft
https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vit14.pdf
