Category: Teen Drivers

Prom and Graduation Safety

4/15/2016

Teen driving tips to keep prom and graduation safe

High school is full of defining moments for Colorado Springs teens and a couple of the highlights for most are prom and graduation. However, this time of year often sees other, more tragic defining moments - serious car accidents involving teens who are distracted or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs. At ALINK Insurance Services, we want to help make this season one to celebrate for you and your teen. So, with the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, here are some tips that can keep your teen safe. First, encourage your teen to follow these general safe-driving rules:

Absolutely no alcohol
Always use seat belts
No cell phone use (including texting) while driving

Special circumstances

Of course, special events such as prom and graduation often present special circumstances. There may be dinner with dates before the dance, and parties before or after either event. It’s a good idea to discuss your expectations well before each event, putting some guidelines into place before your teen heads out for the night. Here are some ideas:

Make sure you know the itinerary of the evening, as well as who else will be with your teen. You should have contact information for everyone.

Have a way to contact your teen at all times. You may want to require them to check in with you once or twice over the course of the evening.

Set a curfew, whether they are coming back to your home or staying with a friend. If they are staying elsewhere, make sure the curfew will be enforced by a responsible adult.

Discuss with your teen how to handle difficult situations, such as facing pressure to drink, or accepting a ride with someone who shouldn’t be driving. It’s a good idea to provide your child with money for a taxi just in case.

Offer a “no-questions-asked” ride home, should they need one during the evening.

If you’re worried about your teen driving, consider alternate transportation. A car service or limousine will provide a responsible, experienced adult driver. You also will be able to limit changes to the itinerary and contact the driver.

Prom and graduation are special times in a teen’s life; a little common sense will go a long way toward making sure your young adult is around to enjoy the other milestones that are sure to come. And fair warning...don’t blink, it goes by QUICK!

Have a teen driver? There are a variety of tools, benefits and discounts to help your teen become a safer driver — as well as manage the cost of adding them to your policy. Call ALINK Insurance Services at any of our offices for more information!

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148

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Teen Driving Safety

1/20/2016

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Talking to Your Teen About Safe Driving

January is Teen Driving Awareness Month. Having had many teen drivers myself (my last currently with a driving permit in hand), I can't stress enough the importance of consistently having these conversations.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council, when teens begin to drive, the sobering statistics start to pile up:

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens ages 14 through 18.
A teen’s crash risk is three times that of more experienced drivers.
Being in a car with three or more teen passengers quadruples a teen driver’s crash risk.
More than half of teens killed in crashes were not wearing a seat belt.

You can help your young driver make better decisions behind the wheel, however. Start by setting a good example yourself. And set time aside to have a serious discussion about the following issues, all of which have a large impact on the safety of teen drivers:

Speed: According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, speeding continues to grow as a factor in fatal crashes involving teen drivers. While a lot of emphasis is rightfully placed on the risks of driving under the influence or while distracted, the danger of speeding is just as important.
Alcohol: If drivers are under 21, driving with any amount of alcohol in their system is illegal. It’s as simple as that. And not only does the risk of a serious crash increase once alcohol is involved, jail time is a possibility as well.
Seat belts: Teens don’t use their seat belts as frequently as adults, so it’s important to set a good example and always have yours on. Seat belts are the simplest way to protect themselves in a crash, so let teens know that buckling up is mandatory.
Phones: You are 23 times more likely to crash while texting. STOP! Distracted driving is dangerous driving, especially for an inexperienced teen. That means no calls or texting when behind the wheel — no exceptions. Again, it pays to set a good example when you’re driving with your teen in the car.
Passengers: The risk of a fatal crash goes up as the number of passengers in a teen driver’s car increases, according to the NHTSA. Depending on your state’s licensing laws for young drivers, limiting your teen to one passenger is a good guideline. (And some states don’t allow teens to have any passengers for a time.)

Of course, any driver needs to have a good grasp on the laws and rules of the road, and, because teens don’t have much experience, it’s important to have regular conversations about safe driving. How teens drive doesn’t just depend on them. It depends on you, too!

ALINK Insurance Services wants you and your teen(s) to stay safe on the roads! Give us a call today to discuss the effects of having a teen on your auto insurance and to make sure you have the coverage you need. We're your link to security!

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148

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Car Accidents - Don't Risk It

5/21/2015

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3 Easy Ways to Reduce the Risk of a Car Crash

The end of the school year is near, summer is right around the corner, and the warmer weather often prompts the people of Colorado to hop in their cars for weekend (or longer) road trips.

Unfortunately, too many of those trips will end up being memorable for the wrong reasons, due to crashes and other risks that drivers face anytime they hit the road.

You can take control of your next trip, whether it’s across the state or across town, by following these simple rules:

1.       Pay attention. Do you know how many drivers around the country are using cell phones or other electronic devices right now? If it’s daytime, the answer is approximately 660,000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says. Anything that takes your eyes off the road or distracts you increases your risk of a crash. Here’s another reason to avoid distractions: If you’re completely alert, you have a better chance of steering clear of that guy who is shaving on his way to work.

2.       Stay sober. One bad decision can change lives forever, and driving under the influence is an extraordinarily bad decision. Nearly 15,000 died in 2012 in crashes involving impaired drivers, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). So get a designated driver — or better yet, be a designated driver. Best of all, have the party at your house and let everyone sleep over.

3.       Slow down. They say “speed kills,” and, as depressing as it sounds, it’s true. Crashes caused by excessive speed cause more than 10,000 deaths a year on average, the NSC says. Surprisingly, you are most at risk on roads where the speed limit is 55 mph or below. Remember, the posted speed limit isn’t always the best speed to travel. Depending on conditions, going slower might be the safest option.

Improving safety on the roads isn’t rocket science. Just a little common sense can make a big difference for you, your passengers and your fellow drivers. So be alert and be safe out there on the roads here in Colorado Springs, or wherever else your travels may take you this summer.

ALINK Insurance Services cares about your safety! Give us a call at any of our offices listed below with any of your insurance questions or needs.

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148

Bring on the SUN!

Photo by memecenter.com/olmec

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Teen Driving Tips for Graduation

5/16/2014

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High school is full of defining moments for Colorado Springs teens and one of the highlights for most is graduation, followed by festivities and parties to celebrate the new graduates.

However, this time of year often sees other, more tragic defining moments - serious car accidents involving teens who are distracted or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

At ALINK Insurance Services, we want to help make this season one to celebrate for you and your teen. So, with the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, here are some tips that can keep your teen safe.

First, encourage your teen to follow these general safe-driving rules:

Absolutely NO alcohol

ALWAYS use seat belts

NO cell phone use (including texting) while driving

Special circumstances

Of course, special events such as graduation often present special circumstances. It’s a good idea to discuss your expectations well before the event, putting some guidelines into place before your teen heads out to celebrate. Here are some ideas:

Make sure you know the itinerary, as well as who else will be with your teen. You should have contact information for everyone.

Have a way to contact your teen at all times. You may want to require them to check in with you once or twice over the course of the day or evening.

Set a curfew, whether they are coming back to your home or staying with a friend. If they are staying elsewhere, make sure the curfew will be enforced by a responsible adult.

Discuss with your teen how to handle difficult situations, such as facing pressure to drink, or accepting a ride with someone who shouldn’t be driving. It’s a good idea to provide your child with money for a taxi just in case.

Offer a “no-questions-asked” ride home, should they need one.

If you’re worried about your teen driving, consider alternate transportation, such as a car service, or asking a responsible adult driver to act as chauffeur, especially if teens are hitting multiple parties in one evening.

Graduation is a special time in a teen’s life. Just a little common sense will go a long way toward making sure your young adult is around to enjoy the other milestones that are sure to come.

At ALINK Insurance Services, we're here to help. If you would like an insurance review as your new graduate prepares to head off to college, please contact us!

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148

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Modeling good behavior - how parents can influence their teen driver

1/21/2014

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In a recent Parent/Teen Safe Driving Survey released by Travelers it was revealed that when parents are good role models as drivers, their teens are half as likely to have been in an accident.

Yes, parents, YOU play a critical role. 24% of teens who report their parents are NOT good role models have been in more than one accident as a driver, compared to 10% of teens who report their parents DO model good driving behavior. 15% of teens with poor role models have been issued more than one ticket, compared to 6% of teens with good ones.

Teens have reported that even though their parents are safe drivers, they occasionally demonstrate risky and illegal habits in the following areas:

Texting ("for work") - You are 23 times more likely to crash while texting. STOP!
Speeding - Teens can't see and react as fast as an experienced driver, but they will drive as fast as you do.
Changing Lanes - if you don't use your blinker, check over your shoulder, and check your mirrors, your teen won't either.
Racing Yellow Lights , Rolling Stops, and Tailgating - all risky behaviors you are modeling for your teen.
Seatbelts - The number of those who don't use seatbelts has dropped significantly, but make it a priority to wear it. Every time. (Source)

"It's critical that parents and teens are on the same page about driving dangers and are clearly communicating the consequences for not following the rules of the road," said Henry Edinger, Chief Customer Officer for Travelers. Even though the Travelers survey found that a high percentage of teens and parents have talked about safe driving habits (96%), it also identifies some disconnect in what parents top concerns are compared to teens.

66% of teens are concerned about driving under the influence of alcohol, compared to 14% of parents.
56% of teens are concerned about distracted driving as a result of phones and texting, versus 35% of parents.
52% of teens are concerned about staying aware of other drivers on the road, compared to 31% of parents.

The survey also revealed that younger teens are more receptive to a conversation about safe driving than older teens.

If you have or will have a new teen driver soon, take the time for this important conversation, and be sure to model good driving behavior at all times. Even younger children will learn from your example. ("What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.")

Contact us at ALINK Insurance Services for a quote for your new driver, or with any questions you may have.

We would love to help!

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148

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Prom and Graduation Safety

Teen Driving Safety

Car Accidents - Don't Risk It

Teen Driving Tips for Graduation

Modeling good behavior - how parents can influence their teen driver

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