Crashes are the leading cause of death among American teens

THE EPIDEMIC (excerpted from Allstate Website)

No other kind of hazard comes close to claiming as many teenage lives, including teenage homicides (13%) and suicides(11%). (2002 figures). Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among American teenagers, killing between
5,000 and 6,000 teenagers every year.

A TEENAGER’S ODDS
Teenage drivers account for 12.6% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes. The fatal crash rates among 16 to 19-year-olds is four times that of older drivers. Risk is the highest at age 16, when the fatal crash rate is 40% higher than for 18 year olds and 30% higher than for 19 year-olds.

THE ENEMIES: CELL PHONES
• 56% of teens said they make and answer phone calls while driving. Talking on a cell phone can double the likelihood
of an accident and can slow a young driver’s reaction time to that of a 70-year-old.
• 13% of teens said they send and respond to text messages while driving.

for additional info: http://www.allstate.com/content/refresh-attachments/TeenDriving_facts.pdf

TEEN DRIVERS

Do you have a new teen driver? Are you looking for ways to reduce your insurance costs?? I'd like to make a suggestion, talk with your agent! Be sure you are getting all the discounts your teen is entitled to from your insurance company. For example, Allstate offers a good student discount of 10% (B average proven with report card or ACT test scores). You should also enroll your child in the Adept Driving School Teen Smart video/computer based training program and receive an additional 15% off for a total of 25% discount off their rates when they complete the program and receive their certificate which continues until they are 21. (Note: if we are your agent we can provide a code for $30 off the course)

This interactive parent/child course gives parents the opportunity to dialogue with their child about driving. It also guides the conversation and give discussion points and suggestions. Additionally, it provides the opportunity for the parent to critique the child's driving in specific situations(beware it also allows the child to do the same) Several parents of our teen drivers have already taken advantage of this offer. Contact us if you want more info.

Troy Times Article Published Today

Look for the story of our agency along with the Allstate Ad published on page 22A of today's(Sept. 4, 2008) Troy Times. It tells the story of our ownership of Leo's Melon Patch, a fruit market and deli, for many years before being replaced 10 years ago by the current Walgreen's . We hope you will take us up on the offfer to call or stop by and review your current coverage. Remember that drivers who switched to Allstate saved an average of $353 a year! Call us today to see if we can save you money!!