Teen Driver Safety Tips

Teen Driver Safety Tips

by | Safety | 0 comments

For a parent, they are few things more frightening than handing over the keys to their teenage children for the first time. Especially knowing that the risk of crashing is the highest between 16-19-year-olds than any other age group.

These teen driver safety tips can help ease your worry and make sure your teen is safe and ready to get behind the wheel.

 

  1. Enroll Them In Driver Education.

A dilemma for many parents is deciding whether to teach their child to drive or leave it up to an expert. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends enrolling new drivers in a driver education program. This can help develop life-long safe driving habits. Each state has a list of approved driver education programs, often found on your state’s department of motor vehicles website. A resource for all states can be found at www.dmv.org/drivers-ed.php. teen driver safety

To ensure young drivers have the training and experience they need, safety groups are pushing for a national, mandatory graduated driver licensing system (GDL), which has proven to save lives.

  1. Research Which Vehicles Are Safer for Them.

When shopping for a vehicle for younger drivers, The National Highway Safety Institute recommends:

      • Looking for bigger, heavier vehicles that offer more protection (no mini or small cars were on the list)
      • Avoiding vehicles with high horsepower
      • Considering vehicles with an electronic stability control system to maintain traction and control on curves and slippery roads

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does extensive crash tests on cars and trucks to rate them for safety. Since many parents opt for a used vehicle for new teen drivers, they created a list of those that meet important safety criteria. The prices range from $2,000 to nearly $20,000. They found 53 “Best Choices” under $20,000, and 62 “Good Choices” that start at under $10,000.

Some of the “Best Choice” vehicles $20,000 or less include:

      • 2007 and newer Volvo S80 – large cars ($4,000)
      • 2013 and newer (built after October 2012) Volkswagen Passat – midsized cars ($6,600)
      • 2014 and newer (built after October 2013) Mazda CX-5 – small SUVs ($10,700)

These are some of the recommendations for “Good Choices” priced at $10,000 or less:

      • 2010-2016 Buick LaCrosse – large cars ($6,200)
      • 2009-2014 Volkswagen Jetta sedan and wagon – midsized cars ($3,800)
      • 2007-2011 Honda Element – small SUVs ($4,400)

Most of these vehicles now include safety technology – such as collision avoidance systems and full airbag protection for drivers and passengers. See the complete list at https://www.iihs.org/ratings/safe-vehicles-for-teens.

  1. Observe Their Driving Habits.

Before you let your new driver start on the road to independence, check that he or she knows the vehicle and understands safe operating procedures, such as:

      • Adjusting the seat and mirrors before leaving the driveway
      • Putting on seat belts and ensuring that all passengers are buckled in
      • Using turn signals
      • Looking in all directions before pulling into traffic (even at green lights)
      • Accelerating and braking smoothly
      • Following at a safe distance
      • Avoiding distractions

To help avoid confrontations with irate drivers, parents can put a “New Driver” sticker on the vehicle the new driver will be using.

  1. Reinforce the Dangers of Distracted Driving.

Distracted and inattentive driving is one of the leading causes of crashes for all drivers. Especially for teens. The crash rate for newly licensed teens was almost double that of teen drivers with a few years of experience, according to the NHTSA.

Here are some strategies to help prevent inattentive driving:

      • Pledge, along with your teenage driver, to avoid texting or using social media behind the wheel.
      • Use apps that block incoming calls and texts, and send alerts when the app is turned off.
      • Teach children to speak out when they are with a driver who’s distracted.
      • Request that they not speed, goof off, or drive impaired (or get into a car with someone who is upset or impaired).
      • Help your teen map out routes and create music lists before heading out.

Impact Teen Drivers, a non-profit founded through a partnership between California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Casualty and California Teachers Association, offers free, creative ways for parents and teens to educate young drivers about the dangers of distracted and careless driving. Visit www.impactteendrivers.org to learn more. teen driver safety

  1. Fully Insure Your Teen Drivers.

While higher auto insurance premiums are a hard reality for parents, you don’t want to skimp on your coverage. Did you know that California Casualty has really good rates for teen drivers?

Lack of experience behind the wheel makes them more likely to be involved in a collision, even a minor one. Increasing your liability limits, and adding full coverage, ensures that your insurance is enough to cover your assets. (Now is also a great time to learn more about an Umbrella Policy if you don’t already have one.)

Here are some ways to help manage the insurance costs for teen drivers:

      • Take advantage of good student discounts
      • Purchase cars that have modern safety features and a good safety rating
      • Consider a monitoring system that tracks your young driver’s habits
      • Enroll them in a defensive driving course
      • Cut driving miles by carpooling and using mass transit
      • Let your insurer know if the driver is away at college

Hopefully, your teen driver will gain experience, and you’ll feel more confident each time they get behind the wheel, knowing they are in the safest vehicle, armed with the best advice, and are paying attention to the road and other drivers.

 

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.

 

It’s An Honor To Partner With Heroes

by | Calcas Connection, In Your Community | 0 comments

Working alongside you is extremely rewarding for all of us here at California Casualty.  Given the chance, we are thrilled to tout the benefits of membership to your organizations, donate to your schools, surprise you with our giving program awards, and take part in ceremonies recognizing all that you do.

Partner Relations members Lisa Almeida, Jana Charles, Inez Morales, Norma Alfaro and Christy Forward at CTA Presidents Conference

The Partner Relations California team members had the opportunity to connect with CTA presidents and greet longtime friends as they attended and hosted events for the CTA Presidents Conference.  In support of our partnership with CTA, it was the team’s goal to make a difference for CTA leaders and promote the value CTA membership provides.

“It’s an honor for us to be able to celebrate and recognize the incredible dedication our chapter leaders give to their association members,” said California Casualty AVP Lisa Almeida.

Attendees received fun giveaways, with one lucky participant winning a VIP trip to a San Francisco Giants baseball game and another winning two 3-day passes to Disneyland.

California Casualty’s Partner Relations members Jeff Meyers and Roxanne Dean had an exciting opportunity to share the Outward Mindset program – one of our company’s newest initiatives to improve communication with fellow employees and our customers – with the Member Services Staff of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).

Introduced by a member of the California Casualty Advisory Board, Outward Mindset training is presented to all employees in our company, from Executives to Sales, Service, Underwriting and Claims. The premise is that by getting past “out of the box” thinking, we can better serve our customers while enhancing working relationships throughout all levels of our company.

ACSA Member Benefits consultants were interested in learning how California Casualty uses the program to improve our effectiveness with partners, such as ACSA.

“From the first time I went through this workshop, I fell in love with the fundamental principles involved,” said Jeff. These principles are powerful for our work, and helping the groups that we work with.”

California Casualty has been a longtime partner with ACSA, providing the auto and home insurance program as well as engagement tools to encourage membership. “Thank you for sharing the importance of an outward mindset to engage members,” an ACSA member wrote.

School Lounge Makeover winner Mary (second from left) with California Casualty’s Stephanie Whitmore and NSEA representatives

To round out our educator community efforts in this issue of Connection, let us introduce you to our latest School Lounge Makeover winner. Mary G., an English teacher and the librarian at Palmer Public School in Palmer, Nebraska, was thrilled that the staff will finally have a place to relax and rejuvenate throughout the school day. We will highlight the revitalized lounge (which is being designed now) in the next edition of Connection.

And, 18 years after the terrible 9/11 attacks, California Casualty joined educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs and the general public at 11 memorial stair climbs, remembering those who died while saving others. From Maryland to Missouri and Colorado to California, our employees climbed and supported other climbers with water, snacks, and encouragement. In partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, California Casualty is a proud sponsor of the climbs and donates to the NFFF survivor’s fund.

“This experience was emotional and moving,” said Field Marketing Manager Katelyn Kassel. “The time and effort put into coordinating the events and getting all of the firefighters to come out is a true testament to how much these men and women love what they do. I love our company and what we stand for, and how we are able to protect our first responders,” she added.

Left: Sandra Clemmons-Butler and Jackie Jones at the National Capital Region 9/11 Climb, Washington, D.C.; Right: Debbie Harris and Lorelei Seip at the Yellow Springs, OH 9/11 Stair Climb; Bottom: the California Casualty 9/11 Stair Climb team at Red Rocks, CO.

You can see an inspirational video of our participation at the Red Rocks, Colorado stair climb at our LinkedIn page.

 

TAKEAWAY: Follow the many ways California Casualty celebrates all that you do at our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CaliforniaCasualty.

Introducing Our Social Media Scientist

by | Behind the Scenes, Calcas Connection | 0 comments

Who would have thought that an insurance company would focus on a strong social media presence? We did. After all, it’s a great way to connect with you.

Meet Chloe, our social media scientist.

On a daily basis, Chloe is the online heart of our organization; creating and sharing content, resources, and occasional “aww moments” that inform and entertain you.

“I love social media, and like the rest of the world, I am glued to my phone,” she said. “What attracted me to the job with California Casualty is the writing/blogging involved.”

Working out of our Leawood, Kansas office, Chloe is a Kansas girl who loves the Kansas City Chiefs. She and her fiance, Trevor, also love to travel, go to concerts, and hang out with their dog, Maverick, a 1-year-old border collie mix.

Originally from Cherokee, a small town in southeast Kansas that she describes as “a place with no stoplights, and a 30-minute drive to find a Walmart,” Chloe graduated from Pittsburg State University with a B.A. in Communication/Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. “Through college, I wrote for a blog and I loved it. I remember when my second post got published and there were 20,000 shares – I FREAKED OUT!”

Her goal at California Casualty is to learn more about you and create posts that ignite your interest.

“Let’s face it, insurance can be confusing,” says Chloe. “I try to find facts and details that people may not know about their coverage – like how renters insurance can cost less than college textbooks or how you get free ID theft protection with your policy – anything to make the posts a little more interesting and entice readers to go to our blog to learn more.”

“However, I strongly believe that our insureds don’t want to just see just insurance facts on their feeds. While keeping insurance posts in the mix is important, I like to go with a ‘we get it’ strategy – highlighting that California Casualty understands that teachers work 10-plus hours a day and some days just want a funny classroom meme to make them smile; or that the media sometimes show first responders in a dark light, so here’s an officer breakdancing with a child or a firefighter bringing groceries to the elderly. When you understand the audience and what they want to see, you start seeing engagement go up.”

And, engagement on our various social media platforms is definitely up. Since Chloe took the reins, the numbers have shot up. “Our social engagement has more than doubled since Chloe came on board,” said California Casualty Social and Digital Marketing Manager, Demian Tallman.

Chloe finds it inspiring interacting with audiences across the platforms. “We are very active on all of our social media sites. We love to hear about the difference our policyholders are making in their departments, classrooms, and communities, and we would be happy to feature more of them.”

She also appreciates hearing from and interacting with many of you who have taken the opportunity, via the various social media platforms we offer, to say hi or share with others. One important follower gives Chloe a lot of feedback. It’s her mom, a dispatcher for a county sheriff’s department, who has taught Chloe firsthand about the stress and challenges of being called to work in the middle of the night because of violent storms or missing holidays because of work. “It taught me to have so much respect for dispatchers and their spouses.” Oh, and one of Chloe’s aunts is a high school science and astronomy teacher, who also gives her advice.

You will find many avenues to follow, learn about, and engage with California Casualty.

Chloe’s favorite is Facebook, where there are more than 120,000 followers, but she hopes that you will follow California Casualty on your favorite platform. “That way, they can keep up with news and helpful information pertaining to their professions, which are posted daily. Another cool thing we do on social media (and probably the favorite thing for our readers) is giveaways and contests.”

Here’s a list of where to find us:

Facebook: @CaliforniaCasualty

Twitter: @CalCasInsurance

Instagram: @CalCasInsurance

LinkedIn: @California Casualty (there’s a space between the words)

Pinterest: California Casualty

YouTube: CalCasInsurance

Spotify: Cal Cas

 

Chloe highlighted a couple of her – and your –  favorite posts. One was about a nine-year-old boy who started a GoFundMe and raised $80,000 to purchase bulletproof vests for K9 dogs (“How could anyone not love that?”) that garnered hundreds of likes and shares and reached over 10,000 people. Another is a new page of educator printables, downloadable posters, and interactive activities that are free to use (https://mycalcas.com/printables-for-teachers/).

Chloe added this invitation: “Follow us and enjoy the fun.”

TAKEAWAY: Connect and share with Chloe and California Casualty at our blog, www.mycalcas.com, and scroll down on that page to find the various other social media available.

 

Pin It on Pinterest