Page 11 - AAA Schuylkill County – AAA Now! – November/December 2018

INSURANCE SERVICES
Choosing the Right Car Can Protect Teen Drivers
AAA offers suggestions for parents
Getting a driver’s license is an important milestone for both teens and parents, but the two may have different opinions when it comes to selecting the ideal car. Although “fun” and “stylish” may be key features for teens, AAA understands that most parents are most concerned with safety.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause
of death among teens, resulting in thousands of fatalities and many more severe injuries each year. Concerned parents can help protect their teens, who are statistically the riskiest drivers on the road, by selecting a safe car.
A teen driver’s safety is a team effort. While teens need to understand their responsibilities behind the wheel, parents should understand their roles in ensuring that teens are driving safe vehicles.
Teen Car Selection Tips:
Steer away from vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers lack road experience. Sports cars – and other high-performance vehicles with a lot of horsepower – may encourage speeding and unsafe driving.
Pick a vehicle that has the right safety features.
Teens should drive vehicles that offer sufficient protection in the case of a crash. New cars are likely to be equipped with the latest in safety gear, but if
you’re considering an older car, check for features such as anti-lock brakes, air bags and electronic stability control.
Don’t let your teen drive an unstable vehicle.
Sport utility vehicles, especially smaller ones, tend to be less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. Rapid steering maneuvers – such as when a driver over-corrects to avoid an obstacle – can cause rollover accidents in less stable vehicles. A car with a lower center of gravity has a better chance of safely managing
an emergency situation.
Check safety ratings of vehicles. Before you buy, check online safety ratings of cars you are considering for your teen.
Tania Green of Schuylkill Haven, left, is one of the first teenage drivers to take advantage of our Free Teen Membership Program. Also pictured is Member Services Manager Wandy Garcia.
Insurance for teen drivers can be more expensive since young drivers have yet
to establish a track record of safe driving. Depending on the insurance carrier, discounts such as defensive drivers course and good student discounts may help to offset the increase in premium cost for young drivers.
To learn more about your coverage, cost and discount options, call your AAA Schuylkill County Insurance office at (570) 622-4991 to speak to a AAA insurance representative or visit AAA.com/Insurance.
Altadis USA celebrated its Safety/Employee Appreciation Day during the summer. Representing AAA Schuylkill County was Sue Baransky.
Changes to Membership Rates
The Board of Directors and management work hard to provide optimal service at the lowest possible cost. And while operational costs of the Club have been rising – especially Emergency Road Service costs – productivity and efficiency have been as well.
Hence, the Board of Directors voted that, effective January 2, 2019, all Schuylkill County memberships expiring on or after that date will be priced as follows:
To learn more about teen driving safety please visit teendriving.aaa.com.
Basic Primary .........$39 (up $1) Basic Associate.......$32 (up $2) Premier Primary.....$35* (down $5)
*Premier coverage requires Basic & Plus coverages
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
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