Teen Auto Insurance | Have the Distracted Driving Talk Again

Posted on April 30, 2012 by di-admin

Providing Texas auto insurance for more than ten years, Dagley Insurance & Financial Services has walked alongside numerous parents as they add their teen to the family auto insurance policy. For teenagers, this is an exciting time! However, for many parents the thought of their teen behind the wheel brings on anxiety. One of the best things you can do as a parent is to make sure your teen understands the cost of distracted driving.

Distracted Driving

In 2010, more than 5000 fatalities in the United States were attributed to distracted driving. Distracted driving refers to anything that takes your attention away from the wheel but most especially talking or texting on a cell phone while driving. What teenager isn’t glued to their cell phone? Our teens love to talk and text and therefore, are at heightened risk for hurting themselves or others while behind the wheel.

According to statistics, teens send more than 3000 text messages per month! How much of this is behind the wheel? Eighty-six percent of teens admit that they often drive distracted.

Why Teens Text & Drive

Even more startling are reasons that teens have given in a recent study as to why they talk or text and drive:

It only takes a split second (41%)
It makes driving less boring (22%)
They’re used to being connected to people all the time (21%)

Maybe your child has gotten the message about texting or talking while driving, but what if they’re the passenger of someone who texting? What will they do or say in the midst of their peers? According to a recent study, only 66% of boys and 53% of girls would speak up if the driver of their vehicle was driving in a way that scared them.

Have the Conversation

If you haven’t talked to your teen about this yet, have the conversation. If you’ve had this conversation before, have it again. Many parents of teens who were the killed in these accidents thought that they understood the implications of texting while driving. In the end, it all chalked up to the thinking that they had it under control and that this sort of thing only happens to other people.

Check out www.distraction.gov for video testimonials and tips on how to talk to your teen about distracted driving.

As your Texas insurance agency, we want to provide more than just home and auto insurance. We want to make sure that those in our community are aware of behaviors that could affect the safety of both you and your family.

Study, Parties, Ramen Noodles…and Auto Insurance?

Posted on August 24, 2011 by di-admin

There is only a week left in August, can you believe it’s already time for school? It’s crazy how fast the time goes by…and now your child is a freshman in college! That means a few things. For starters, there is no doubt it is going to be weird not having them around all the time. However, it also means it is time to teach them to be safe on campus, lecture them about drinking and driving, and look into their auto insurance policy. Let’s face it- the last thing your teenager is thinking about is their auto insurance policy! But going away to college means savings…do we have your attention now?

If your student is going away to college, this mean could mean a few things:

#1: Your child will not be driving a car. If your child is not driving for the next few months, the student can be listed as away at college with no car, or excluded from the policy all together, when away, in some cases. We will work with you to lower your costs for an immobile vehicle.

#2: Your child is taking the car with them. It’s important to make sure you change the garaging address to reflect where your student is now located. Rates could be better at the school address!

#3: Your child is a great student. If your child has a GPA of 3.0 or higher, you may be eligible for a “good student discount”!

#4: Your child is renting a house near campus. Consider your student’s personal possessions; do they need renters insurance for belongings at a dorm, apartment or rented house?

#5: Giving a car to your student or graduate? Have them call us today as they may still be eligible to recieve benefits and save in some cases.

This may seem like a lot to take in, but a change in your household means a change in your policy…for the better! It is important that you know about these breaks you can take advantage of, which is why we are here to help with our financial services. Texas residents are encouraged to speak with one of our insurance professionals to find out what discounts may apply to their situation. We want to save you money at Dagley Insurance & Financial Services. Act fast- before the school year begins. We hope your child’s transition into college goes as smooth as possible!

Call us today to see how we can help save you money and protect you!

5 Practical Cars for Teen Drivers

Posted on August 10, 2011 by di-admin

So it has finally happened- your teen is out on the road. Though this may seem like a scary time for all you parents out there, it is time to embrace it and show your support. It is your responsibility to set a good example for your teenager as well as help them choose the best car possible. You want your child to be safe, right? An old beat up car may be cheap but the key in choosing a new car is safety. Lucky for you, we have done our research. Here are 5 practical and safe cars that you AND your teen will enjoy test driving.

#1: Honda Civic. Honda’s are not only known for their long-lasting life but also their gas mileage. They are reliable and sturdy for all you parents, as well as stylish and “cool” enough for your child. It is a win/win either way. The base price for a new Civic is between $14,000 and $15,000.

#2: Ford Focus. Like the Honda, it is also stylin’ and fun for your teen. The ride is smooth and it has a few different variations to meet the needs of all teens. Prices begin at around $13,000.

#3: Mazda3. This car is cute and has great qualities. For such a great price, you will have a cool and safe car. They start at around $14,000.

#4: Mitsubishi Lancer. Sporty looking AND safe! Just what your teenage son would want. They start at about $14,300 but expect more if you decide to upgrade. Caution: the Lancer Evolution is turbo-charged so beware if your child asks for that one!

#5: Toyota Corolla. A simple and safe car for your teen. It may not be as flashy as others but it is known for its good performance. Price starts at around 13,700.

Whatever car you and your teen choose, it is important to make sure you find the perfect Texas auto insurance to go hand in hand. This is where we come in to play at Dagley Insurance & Financial Services. Texas residents are encouraged to look into our policies which will cover medical, comprehensive, liability and collision costs. What is the use of purchasing a nice car if you don’t protect it? Now relax and go test drive some cars!

ATTENTION TEEN DRIVERS: 7 Tips for Safe Driving!

Posted on August 3, 2011 by di-admin

It’s no secret that teenagers get a bad wrap when it comes to driving. With all the newest technologies and distractions, it’s easier than ever for a young driver to make a simple mistake that ends in a life changing event or worse, life ending. As a parent, it is your job to set a good example and work with your child on learning the rules of the road. As a teenager, it is your job to take in the advice from experiences drivers and show that you can handle driving. It is not a time to multitask, but a time to get from one place to another without any accidents in between. Here are a few things to remember when you go to take a spin.

#1: Avoid driving distractions. Turn off your phone, put it on silent, or put it in your glove compartment. Do anything that will keep you from reaching for it. Unless it is an emergency, your phone should not be a priority! In the event of an emergency, pull over at a safe spot and make the call. The same goes for texting.

#2: Seatbelts NEVER go out of style. Wear it and wear it proud! They are there for a reason. Make sure you and your passengers take full advantage of them, at all times. In the event of an accident, a seatbelt will prevent you from flying headfirst through windshield.

#3: Avoid the need for speed. Speeding increases your chances of a collision, as well as the impact of a collision AND gets you a ticket. These are all just losing situations. Relax…you will get where you need to be.

#4: Check all mirrors, double check your blind spots. Mirrors can often be neglected but they are an important part of your commute! Make sure to check them all, and blind spots especially when merging into a lane.

#5: No driving under the influence. It goes without saying that drinking and driving is not tolerated. Besides putting yourself at high risk of an accident, it will also ruin your driving record and reputation. Call a reliable friend or family member if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

#6: Fill it up. Don’t make the mistake of waiting to fill up last minute. It’s best to stay above E for your car and for you. Who knows where you could fall short of gas.

#7: Keep up with maintenance. Keeping up with your oil changes and maintenance work will ensure you a smooth ride.

Remember these safety tips when you get behind the wheel. At Dagley Insurance & Financial Services, we want our youth to break the mold and prove the stereotypes wrong. Teenagers CAN be good drivers if they put their minds to it. In case of a fender bender, be sure to look into a TX auto quote to find the perfect policy for you.

In the meantime, check out a great video from AT&T:

AT&T Don’t Text While Driving Documentary

Texas Texting While Driving Ban: What It Means For You

Posted on May 31, 2011 by di-admin

As Americans, there are two things we all universally love: driving and staying in touch. Since cell phones have increased in popularity over the last decade, the use of mobile phones while driving has also increased. Unfortunately, car accidents caused by cell phone usage are also rising at an alarming rate, with 28% of all accidents being caused while using a mobile phone.

The Texas Senate recently approved a measure that would ban texting, sending emails and instant messages while driving. According to state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, “texting while driving is 23 times more dangerous than non-distracted driving and 17 times more dangerous than talking on the phone while driving“.

So what does this mean for Texas drivers?

Texas drivers are not only responsible for their own safety, but also for the well-being of other drivers and pedestrians. As a result of the new law, Texas drivers will now be held accountable if they are involved in an accident while texting.

How can you properly protect yourself? To begin, drivers should make it a top priority to ensure that they have the most effective vehicle coverage, before heading out onto the road. As a licensed driver, it’s important for you to understand the different coverages available through your Texas auto insurance policy:

Liability: insurance for property damage and injuries to others caused by you while operating your vehicle
Medical: overage for the driver and occupants of the insured vehicle.
Collision: insures the owner from loss during a collision with another vehicle.
Comprehensive: protection from damage caused by things other than vehicle collision.

Having the correct – and necessary - insurance is the first step drivers can take to help safeguard themselves, their vehicles and others with whom they share the road.

With new driving laws frequently being passed, it’s important that you have the right coverage to protect yourself from any consequences. Dagley Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. understands the risks involved with driving and want to ensure that no Texas driver is left behind!

Dagley Insurance Blog

A little about Texas Insurance – a lot about our community

Category Archives: Teen Drivers