Spencer Insurance Blog

We at Spencer Insurance Agency are very excited today as we found out that the readers once again for 2009 voted Spencer Insurance Agency the #1 Insurance Agency and the #1 Life Insurance Agent in the 2009 Montgomery Newspaper’s Readers Choice Awards.

We appreciate the trust that you put in our agency.  We are always looking for better ways to service your needs and provide you protection.  If you have any suggestions email Charlie at cspencer@spencerinsurance.com.

I would like to ask you a favor.  I am trying to find out what you did as parents to help your teen driver become a safer driver.  Tell us ways you helped them other than the traditional Drivers Training course and 6 or 8 hours of driving.  Go to our Facebook page  at http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=11646&uid=57428502925 and give us your comments.

Thank you,

Charlie

On Wednesday Governor Corzine of New Jersey signed what is now being called the toughest Graduated License Law (GDL) in the country.  There were two laws passed.  The first law toughens the GDL so that a teen with a GDL can have only one passenger (other than siblings) in the car with them. Since distraction from other passengers in the car is a major reason for accidents among teen drivers I think this is a great idea.

The law also states that the teen driver can not drive between the hours of 11:01 PM and 5:00 AM.  Again statistics will show that this is a great idea.  Sometimes I hear complaints from parents about these stricter rules.  However parents must educate themselves on the dangers the teens face while driving.  If the parents realize how these laws protect their children there would be fewer if any objections.

Another law passed Wednesday requires teen drivers with a probationary license to have magnets telling everyone that there is a teen driver driving this vehicle.  Although I think the law was well intentioned and I have spoken out many times about teen driver safety, I feel this law is dangerous.  I would not want my car labeled with a teen driver magnet.  I think you put your child at risk identifying the car as a “teen driver” car.  This alerts everyone that there is young teen driver in the car.  They could become the target of predators or just treated poorly by other drivers. 

However, I have heard of parents putting magnets on their cars while teaching their children to drive.  I think this is a great idea and hopefully drivers around that vehicle would be more courteous and cautious of that car. 

I think parents need to do everything they can to help protect their teen drivers and I think it is the job of our legislators to protect our teen drivers.  However I think the New Jersey legislators need to rethink the idea of labeling a car a “teen driver” car.  If you agree I would urge you to talk with your elected officials. For a recent article on this subject go to: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Scarlet-Letter-for-Teen-Drivers.html#wwoeMDPgR2VUB

•  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.

Here are a few more tips from Master Police Officer James Poer’s  Blog:

You can see Master Police Officer James Poer’s Blog, Parental Courage at http://www.parentalcourage.com/.

For more information on how to help your teen become a safe driver check out our website dedicated to Teen driver safety at: www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer

A friend of mine sent me this picture in an email today.  It shows the consequences of texting while driving.  An 18 year old girl plowed directly into the rear of another vehicle while going 70 MPH.  She apparently never saw them as she was texting at the time.  What I won’t show you now is the picture of the beautiful 3 year old that was almost killed.  The 3 year old went through 4 hours of surgery to repair multiple skull fractures.

A few of our state legislators lead by Josh Shapiro are trying for the third time to ban the use of cell phones without the use of a hands free device.  Hopefully this time it will pass.  Texting and talking on the cell phone are a major distraction while driving.  

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1 million U.S. drivers are talking on handheld cell phones at any given moment. (http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/articles/43812/article.html)

Parents must instruct their children on certain driving behaviors such as texting.  I am sure that 18 year old above feels terrible now.  Hopefully she will get the word out to her friends.  Our young drivers have enough distractions without using cell phones.  Urge your state lawmakers to pass this important legislation and by the way get a hands free device for your cell phone today!

I was having lunch today reading the Wall Street Journal and couldn’t believe what I was reading on the front page. “In the land of ‘Live Free or Die” some refuse to buckle under pressure.” 

Our family vacationed in New Hampshire for years and I would recommend you spend some free time there, BUT wear your seatbelt when you drive in New Hampshire.  It seems that New Hampshire is the only state in the country left without a seat belt law.  Now that times are getting tough and Federal money is available if they enact a seat belt law the legislature is considering the law.

However, many residents see this as restricting their rights and are adamantly against the law.  Come on now you have to be kidding! 

A few years back when one of my children was 17 he had a major accident.  He was speeding, lost control of his car and crash through a telephone pole.  To this day I thank God he listen to us and followed our example of wearing seat belts.  The seat belt and air bag saved his life.  I can not imagine any parent not insisting that there children wear seat belts.  It would be child neglect. 

I often say that the role of government is to protect us from ourselves.  Sometimes, and this is one of those cases, we need to be protected by the people we vote into office.

I would urge New Hampshire legislators to pass this law.  If they don’t care about their own life let them at least show some concern for their voter’s children. 

For more information on how to protect your teen drivers check out our website at www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer.

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?

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.

I usually write about Teen Driver Safety in my Blog.  Since this week is Catholic Schools Week I wanted to thank the many people who helped my wife and I help our children become the people they are today. 

This week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week.  As I reflected about Catholic Schools week I realized I owed thanks to a lot of people who were part not only of my own Catholic education but also that of my four children.  I especially wanted to thank the countless lay teachers, sisters and priests who were part of our education.  Currently we are members of St. Luke’s parish.  Last year biographies of the teachers were printed in our church bulletin. I was very impressed by the stories I read about the teachers. Not only was I impressed with their credentials (certifications, master’s degrees and an award winning principal) but I enjoyed even more their stories about how much they enjoy teaching at a Catholic School and how their Catholic identities influences their teaching.   My children are now all in their twenties and two of my children are teachers.  One teaches in a public high school and one in a Catholic grade school.  I am very proud of both of them as they use their talents to teach our young people. 

As we celebrate Catholic School’s week I want to especially recognize the dedication and sacrifice of our Catholic School teachers.  Thank You!!!  I wanted to let you know you are truly appreciated.

I recently read that my state rep, Josh Shapiro along with another law maker is leading a push to ban text messaging and hand-held cell phones.  I applaud these two lawmakers in their efforts and hope we see the bans.  Many people feel that we should not legislate behavior however sometimes the state needs to protect us from ourselves.

We have all seen unsafe driving behaviors and have participated in a few ourselves.  Eating, drinking coffee, putting on makeup (okay not me), reading a newspaper, putting in a CD, text messaging and making a call on the cell phone.

It seems we don’t need two hands on the wheel anymore.  I once saw someone steering the car with their knee while they drank coffee and were talking on their cell phone.  Wow, what an example we are to our new Teen drivers.

Josh, thank you for making an effort to try to protect us!  More importantly we need to especially protect our Teen Drivers.  According to THE EVENING SUN, The National Highway Transportation Administration has listed cell phones as the top distraction for drivers and text messaging devices as an emerging distraction (I question the word emerging). 

On Thursday January 8^th there was an article in the US News & World Report talking about a device being developed that Jam’s a Teen’s Cell phone while the key is in the ignition.

According to the article, the Key2SafeDriving system includes a device that encloses the car key.  The device connects wirelessly with the user’s cell phone via either Bluetooth or RFID (radio-frequency identification) technologies.  To turn on the engine, the user must slide the key out of the device or push a button to release it.  The device then sends a signal to the driver’s cell phone placing it in “driving mode” and displaying a “stop” sign on the phone’s display screen. When in driving mode, the cell phone can’t be used to talk or send text messages except to dial 911 or numbers pre-approved by parents, such as their cell phones. 

Incoming calls and texts to the driver’s cell phone are automatically answered with the message, “I am driving now. I will call you later when I arrive at the destination safely.

When the car engine is turned off, the driver slides the key back into the device, which sends a “car stopped” signal to the cell phone, which returns to its normal communication mode.

Now that is technology we can use!   Keep and eye on my future blogs as I am checking out this device.  I will let you know what I learn.  You can learn more about it at http://www.key2safedriving.net/. 

In the meantime, I suggest you set up ground rules with your young teen driver to limit their cell phone use and texting while driving.  Put it into a Teen Driver Contract that you and your teen sign.  Set a good example by not using your cell phone while you drive.  It could save your child’s life.

To check out more articles on safe teen driving check out http://www.evernote.com/pub/charliespencer/SpencerInsuranceTeenDrivers.   

For many more ideas on how to keep your Teen Safe check out my website at

www.teendriverinsurance.com/spencer. 

Have a great day and protect your Teen!