October 18 – 24 is National Teen Driver Safety Week

Denise GillinNews, Personal Lines, Risk Management

Sponsored by the US Department of Transportation October 18 – 24, 2020 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. This week – and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. These rules address the greatest dangers for teen drivers: alcohol, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding, and number of passengers. Facts about Teen Driver Fatalities: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States, ahead of all other types of injury, disease, or violence. In 2017, there were 2,247 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, …

Three Ways Self-driving Cars Will Affect The Insurance Industry

Lisa SpencerNews, Personal Lines

It feels like a page out of a science-fiction book: self-driving cars shuttling people around with little or no input from passengers. And yet, here we are. Self-driving technology is already a reality, and it’s improving every day thanks to machine learning and owner input. We’re not quite at the point of ditching drivers altogether, but that time may come sooner rather than later. Experts predict that self-driving vehicles could be the norm by the 2040s. Some people, like Tesla’s Elon Musk, think human-operated cars could be banned completely. Read more here >>>

Winter Driving Tips

Lisa SpencerHome and Auto Insurance, Insurance, News, Personal Lines

Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. AAA reminds motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather. Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks. Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage. Make certain your tires are properly inflated. Never mix radial tires with other tire types. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up. If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather. Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, …

Preventing Ice Dams

Lisa SpencerHome and Auto Insurance, Personal Lines

By Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk of “This Old House” magazine Take care of trouble spots and you will enjoy a winter free of icicles – and the damage they can do to your roof. Dam Busters Stopping ice dams is simple, in principle: Just keep the entire roof the same temperature as the eaves. You do that by increasing ventilation, adding insulation, and sealing off every possible air leak that might warm the underside of the roof, as shown in the illustration below. By taking care of these trouble spots, listed here in order of priority, you should enjoy a winter free of dams and use less energy to boot. Read the tips here >>>

Who Will Protect My College-Bound “Baby”?

Lisa SpencerNews, Personal Lines

By Cori Booth, Master Underwriter, Westfield Insurance, Pennsylvania Newsletter, August 2017 Many of our customers will face the worrisome prospect of sending their children off to college in the next couple months. It is a scary time for these parents because they know they cannot protect their ‘babies’ from the influences of newfound freedom and college life. We can alleviate at least one worry for these clients by automatically protecting their children and their children’s things while away at school. Home ‘Insured’ means: A student age 23 or younger who is enrolled in school full time and who was a resident relative of the household before moving to attend school. Personal liability and med pay is afforded. Premises liability is …

As Hobby Drone Use Increases, So Do Concerns

Lisa SpencerPersonal Lines

The increase in the use and popularity of drones by hobbyists raises issues regarding associated risks. The article below covers two issues to consider: privacy and security. However, if you have joined the drone craze, are you adequately covered in the event of a mishap? What other issues do you need to consider? Are you aware of the FAA registration rule? For guidance and to learn more, contact our Personal Lines Solution.   Some Los Angeles Kings fans were celebrating the team’s Stanley Cup win outside the Staples Center last week when they noticed a Phantom-model quadcopter drone buzzing above, surveying the scene. Angry at the intrusion, they knocked it down using a T-shirt and smashed it into bits with a …