Happy Holidays!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday today.

We wish you a very safe and wonderful holiday.

Proposed New Teen Safety Program Offered to Parents

The Society of Family Insurance Specialist is working on a project that may make a difference in reducing the dangerous driving that causes most teen driver accidents and fatalities.

Immaturity is attributed to many of the mistakes teens make. Talking on cell phones, distractions in the car, peer pressure to push the limits, and just plain being careless most often leads to accidents.

The project we are proposing and have support to fund sounds like it can help, but we need to know what parents like you think of the program and whether you would consider it worthwhile to participate.

Here's how it will work...

You would get a bumper sticker (11 X 3.5) that is similar to the bumper sticker you often see on commercial vehicles (How's my driving?) and place it on your teen driver's car. There will be a toll-free number and a unique code printed on the sticker.

If your teen drives dangerously, and if someone calls the toll-free number to report, you will be notified of the incident. The person reporting the incident will have to describe the vehicle, time and place, and the code on the bumper sticker. This information will be handled by a third party and will only be disclosed to you by e-mail. The insurance company will never have access to this information.

Most likely, the reports will be minimal but the real benefit is that if your teen driver knows that there is a chance of being reported, the likelihood of making a mistake should be drastically reduced.

So, would you mind taking just a minute to answer 7 questions and let our organization know what you think?

Click Here to Take Our Survey

This survey is completely anonymous. So, please feel free to share your honest thoughts on this program.

Thanks for your time!

Buckle up!.... But why?

Buckle Up! But Why?

A seatbelt ticket will cost you $101 in the state of Washington. For such a high cost of a ticket, it would be safe to assume the issue has some importance!

Well, absolutely! The purpose of a seatbelt is to hold the passenger in place, holding them close to the vehicle to make them almost "one" to prevent being thrown forward in the event of a collision. The other option is not wearing a seatbelt. If the person is not wearing their seatbelt, the law of inertia proves that they will be thrown forward-- possible into the windshield or dashboard, (ouch.)

The flexible materials that make up seatbelts are meant to provide give-- more than the dashboard or windshield. And even though the seatbelt allows some give to conform to your body comfortably, the machinery involved tightens the belt to hold the passenger in place when the car decelerates quickly.

Did you also know, that having your seatbelt improperly installed is an even bigger ticket?? Vehicles require both shoulder and lap belts!

Please instill the importance of safety belts with your teens and read "Phil's Story" (our very fist blog post!)

How much will my policy increase?

Something I'm sure many parents of budding drivers want to know is how much their policy is going to increase once they get their license.

I'll have to admit to you, it's not pretty. But with 50% of auto claims going out on young drivers alone, it's hard not to see why rates can be so high.

FYI, Females will cost less than males, because males tend to have more and bigger payouts when it comes to claims.

I've done a few "tests" if you will...statistics say that your policy can increase about 50%-100% by adding a young driver. On a policy costing about $2500 with 3 existing drivers, I added yet another driver. A 16 year old female, date of birth 1/1/92, licensed 12/1/08. The rate went up to only $3067. Not even close to the estimated 50%-100%!

Have I confused you enough? I hope not...I've now changed the information to a male. the rate is the same.

Now what if they got into an accident the day after they received their license (we've heard this story!) -- the rate shoots up to $3500. Male or female.

Now, you have to keep in mind though...insurance rates are based on a lot more than just the driver and their driving record. It's also based on where you live, how far you drive the vehicle, what vehicle you drive, how many vehicles you own, and an "insurance bureau score" which is partially based on credit.

Many times the rates can be different depending on how much was paid out on the accident. A little fender bender to an old Chevy will cost you less than a fatality in a Mercedes Benz.

Teens Make Music Videos to Promote Safe Holiday Driving

I got a kick out of these "music videos" teens made for safe driving through the holiday season. The top 5 winners (posted on the site) got an all expense paid trip to The Great Mall of America and a chance to win $10,000.

I especially enjoyed the one called "Watch The Road" by jeremyglick as his voice is sort of reminiscent of Neil Diamond.

You can check out the videos by going to holidayholla.keepthedrive.com/videos/


Happy Thanksgiving!

Are teens waiting to get their license?

Things are a little different these days and it seems to us that teens and parents of teens are weary to jump on the "let's get you licensed" bandwagon right away anymore. This could be due to the cost to insure a teen, maybe even because of safety issues or responsibility, or possibly the state of the current economy?

The driving school we have a relationship with says that things have been a little slow for them too. Sure it was busy enough in the summer for us to go and do our safe teen driver presentation but now that winter has set in there's very few students enrolling.

I know 2 teen drivers personally who have finished their driver's education. One is just short of turning 17 and the other is 18. They both told me that they were among the oldest kids in their class and yet they have not even begun to take their driving test. They barely drive at all on their permit. I too was enrolled in driver's education early but waited about a year on my permit to receive my license.

So it bring me to question have things always been this way? Are parents just weary of their learning teen's safety or have economics come into play this time around?

Do you have teens who are learning how to drive? Are you holding off to get them licensed?

Tips for Good Teen Driving in Bad Weather

Here are some tips to pass along to your teen driver as it's becoming more clear that summer is officially over...

In rain...

• Make it a point to turn on your lights whenever you have your windshield wipers on.
  
• Double or even triple the amount of following space you leave between you and the car in front of you when weather is wet.
  
• Brake gently
  
• Accelerate slowly
  
• Crack a window to keep your windshield from fogging up
  
• Remember, bridges and overpasses freeze before roads do
  
• Don't apply cruise control

In ice and snow...

• If you're stuck in ice or snow and aren't able to gain traction, try placing the floor mats under the tired
  
• If you back up into ice or snow, make sure your tailpipe is clear or you could get carbon monoxide poisoning
  
• Make sure you have window washing fluid-- you may need it in the even of sleet or snow
  
• Keep your pace steady and slow, but not so slow you become stuck in deeper ice/snow
  

In fog...

• Stay to the right of the roadway
  
• Turn on lowbeams
  
• If you cannot see the roadway, pull clear off the road away from traffic. Turn on hazard lights and wait until visibility improves
  

In high winds...

• It's best not to drive a van or other high profile type vehicle or to tow a trailer
  
• If you're following behind a vehicle with a tow or trailer take extra precaution and keep your distance
  

It's also a good idea to keep an emergency pack in your car with ice scraper, a bag of sand/salt/cat litter, flares or triangles, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, jumper cables, nonperishable snacks, a candle and matches, a cup in case you have to melt snow for water, a shovel, gloves, a blanket, and even a pair of boots.

Thanks to www.teendriving.com

Driving School Presentation

The very first blog post was about Phil's accident back in 1985. He takes what he's learned from that experience and shares it now with students at A-Team Driving School in Lynnwood.

We went yesterday and on Monday to do the presentation and we started asking for feedback from the students-- something we've never done before. I'm pretty happy with the responses. They really enjoy Phil's story and the DVD we show (which is available to anyone interested! E-mail your request to info@sav-on.com).

We did have some issues with getting the PowerPoint set up on Monday but Tuesday went really well and the kids asked a lot of questions! Usually we'll get one question (if we're lucky) and personally, I enjoy Q and A time.

Our next presentation is in December! Updates to follow!!

What To Do When Involved In An Accident

In 2005 alone, there were more than 6.1 million police-reported traffic crashes in the United States. Combine those with the number of incidents that aren't reported to the police and it adds up to a lot of collisions.

Although you do your best to drive responsibly and defensively, it's still smart to know what to do just in case you end up in an accident. Crashes can be very scary, but here are some tips if one happens to you:

Take some deep breaths to get calm. After a crash, a person may feel a wide range of emotions — shock, guilt, fear, nervousness, or anger — all of which are normal. But take a few deep breaths or count to 10 to calm down. The calmer you are, the better prepared you will be to handle the situation. This is the time to take stock of the accident and try to make a judgment about whether it was a serious one.

Keep yourself and others safe. If you can't get out of your car — or it's not safe to try — keep your seat belt fastened, turn on your hazard lights, then call 911 if possible and wait for help to arrive. If you can drive your car and are in an unsafe spot or are blocking traffic, find a safe and legal place to park your car (like the shoulder of a highway or a parking lot). In some states it's illegal to move your car from the scene of an accident, though. Ask your driver's ed instructor what the law is in your state.

If the car accident seems to be minor, turn off your car and grab your emergency kit. If it's safe to get out and move around your car, set up orange cones, warning triangles, or emergency flares around the accident site.


Reporting the Accident

Check on everyone involved in the crash to see if they have any injuries. This includes making sure you don't have any serious injuries. Be extremely cautious — not all injuries can be seen. If you or anyone involved in the accident isn't feeling 100%, you should call 911 or any other number your state uses to request emergency assistance on roadways. Be ready to give the dispatcher the following information:

• Who? The dispatcher will ask for your name and phone numbers in case the authorities need to get more information from you later.
  
• What? Tell the dispatcher as much as you can about the emergency — for instance, whether there is a fire, traffic hazard, medical emergency, etc.
  
• Where? Let the dispatcher know exactly where the emergency is taking place. Give the city, road name, road number, mile markings, direction of travel, traffic signs, and anything else you can think of to help them know how to find you. Make sure you stay on the line until the dispatcher says it's OK to hang up.

Sometimes, you can get the police to report to the scene of the accident even if there are no injuries, especially if you tell them you need someone to mediate — in other words, to help you figure out what happened and who's at fault. But in certain areas, as long as both vehicles can be safely driven away, police officers won't come to the scene unless someone is hurt. If the police do not come to the scene, make sure you file a vehicle accident report at a police station or DMV.


Take Down Driver Information
If you are feeling up to it, ask to see the driver's license of the other drivers involved in the crash so that you can take down their license numbers. Also get their name, address, phone number, insurance company, insurance policy number, and license plate number. If the driver doesn't own the car involved, be sure to get owner's info as well.


Take Notes on the Accident
If the car accident is minor and you feel that you can describe it, try to do so. Detailed notes and photos of the scene may help the court and insurance agencies decide who is responsible for the accident. Get a good description of the cars involved — year, make, model, and color. If your phone has a camera, use that or another camera to take photos of the accident scene — including the cars and any damage, the roads, any traffic signs, and the direction each car was coming from.

If you feel well enough, try to draw a diagram of the exact crash site and mark where each car was, what direction the car was coming from, and what lane it was in. Also, write down the date, time, and weather conditions. If there were any witnesses, try to get their names and contact info so that they can help clear up matters if one of the other drivers isn't completely honest about what really happened.

Remember, you can only do these things if you think the accident was a minor one (for instance, if the airbag did not inflate). Even if you think the accident was your fault, it may not be. That's why insurance companies say that you should not admit fault or accept blame at the scene.

Alex was excited to finally get his license. He was looking forward to going to the movies and to visit friends without needing someone to take him.

A couple weeks later, Alex was headed to his friend Matt's house. Two blocks from Matt's, Alex waited at a stop sign when he felt a sudden jolt. Someone had rear-ended his car. Alex started panicking — and his first thought was "What do I do now?"


Car Crashes
In 2005 alone, there were more than 6.1 million police-reported traffic crashes in the United States. Combine those with the number of incidents that aren't reported to the police and it adds up to a lot of collisions.

Although you do your best to drive responsibly and defensively, it's still smart to know what to do just in case you end up in an accident. Crashes can be very scary, but here are some tips if one happens to you:

Take some deep breaths to get calm. After a crash, a person may feel a wide range of emotions — shock, guilt, fear, nervousness, or anger — all of which are normal. But take a few deep breaths or count to 10 to calm down. The calmer you are, the better prepared you will be to handle the situation. This is the time to take stock of the accident and try to make a judgment about whether it was a serious one.

Keep yourself and others safe. If you can't get out of your car — or it's not safe to try — keep your seat belt fastened, turn on your hazard lights, then call 911 if possible and wait for help to arrive. If you can drive your car and are in an unsafe spot or are blocking traffic, find a safe and legal place to park your car (like the shoulder of a highway or a parking lot). In some states it's illegal to move your car from the scene of an accident, though. Ask your driver's ed instructor what the law is in your state.

If the car accident seems to be minor, turn off your car and grab your emergency kit. If it's safe to get out and move around your car, set up orange cones, warning triangles, or emergency flares around the accident site.


Reporting the Accident

Check on everyone involved in the crash to see if they have any injuries. This includes making sure you don't have any serious injuries. Be extremely cautious — not all injuries can be seen. If you or anyone involved in the accident isn't feeling 100%, you should call 911 or any other number your state uses to request emergency assistance on roadways. Be ready to give the dispatcher the following information:

• Who? The dispatcher will ask for your name and phone numbers in case the authorities need to get more information from you later.
  
• What? Tell the dispatcher as much as you can about the emergency — for instance, whether there is a fire, traffic hazard, medical emergency, etc.
  
• Where? Let the dispatcher know exactly where the emergency is taking place. Give the city, road name, road number, mile markings, direction of travel, traffic signs, and anything else you can think of to help them know how to find you.

Make sure you stay on the line until the dispatcher says it's OK to hang up.

Sometimes, you can get the police to report to the scene of the accident even if there are no injuries, especially if you tell them you need someone to mediate — in other words, to help you figure out what happened and who's at fault. But in certain areas, as long as both vehicles can be safely driven away, police officers won't come to the scene unless someone is hurt. If the police do not come to the scene, make sure you file a vehicle accident report at a police station or DMV.


Take Down Driver Information
If you are feeling up to it, ask to see the driver's license of the other drivers involved in the crash so that you can take down their license numbers. Also get their name, address, phone number, insurance company, insurance policy number, and license plate number. If the driver doesn't own the car involved, be sure to get owner's info as well.


Take Notes on the Accident
If the car accident is minor and you feel that you can describe it, try to do so. Detailed notes and photos of the scene may help the court and insurance agencies decide who is responsible for the accident. Get a good description of the cars involved — year, make, model, and color. If your phone has a camera, use that or another camera to take photos of the accident scene — including the cars and any damage, the roads, any traffic signs, and the direction each car was coming from.

If you feel well enough, try to draw a diagram of the exact crash site and mark where each car was, what direction the car was coming from, and what lane it was in. Also, write down the date, time, and weather conditions. If there were any witnesses, try to get their names and contact info so that they can help clear up matters if one of the other drivers isn't completely honest about what really happened.

Remember, you can only do these things if you think the accident was a minor one (for instance, if the airbag did not inflate). Even if you think the accident was your fault, it may not be. That's why insurance companies say that you should not admit fault or accept blame at the scene.


The Aftermath
While the crash itself might be upsetting, dealing with the aftermath can be too. In the hours or days following an accident, some people may still be shaken up. They may be beating themselves up over what happened — especially if they feel the accident was avoidable. Sometimes, people close to those who were involved in the accident (like families and best friends) can experience some emotional problems too. These feelings are all normal. Once some time passes, the car is repaired, and the insurance companies are dealt with, most accidents become mere afterthoughts.

In some cases, though, these feelings can get stronger or last for longer periods of time, keeping a person from living a normal life. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur when a person has experienced a devastating event that injured or threatened to injure someone. Signs of PTSD may show up immediately following the accident, or weeks or even months after.

Not everyone who experiences stress after a trauma has PTSD. But here are some symptoms to look out for:

• avoiding emotions or any reminders of the incident
  
• constant feelings of anxiousness, crankiness, or anger
  
• avoiding medical tests or procedures
  
• constantly reliving the incident in one's mind
  
• nightmares or trouble sleeping
  If you notice any of these symptoms after you've been in a car accident, try talking through the experience with friends or relatives you trust. Discuss what happened, and what you thought, felt, and did during the accident and in the days after. Try to get back into your everyday activities, even if they make you uneasy. If these things don't help, ask your parent or guardian to help you check in with your doctor.

Thank you to KidsHealth.org

New Technology to Disable Teen Cell Use While Driving

Aegis Mobility Inc. has developed a new software called DriveAssist which would be used to essentially disable teen cell phone use while driving.

The device would block inbound calls and text messages while in motion and would deliver them once motion has ceased with the exception of 911 emergency calls.

Aegis was created with assistance from Dave Teater whose 12 year old son was killed when a 20 year old nanny driving a Hummer rear ended them while talking on her cell phone. Now, his loss may save many others from losing their lives or suffering injury.

DriveAssists is supported by Windows Mobile and Symbian-based phones. There are plans to expand to other wireless networks early next year.

You can find out more by vising Aegis Mobility online at: www.aegismobility.com

Good Student Discount

If your young driver qualifies for the Good Student Discount, your premiums can be significantly lowered. Typically, the qualified student is required to have a 3.5 GPA or B average and the transcripts are then sent to the respective company.

Other ways you may be able to lower your premium? An alarm system, accident prevention course (or defensive driving course), pay-in-full, if you're young driver is a distant student, or get a quote 6-30 days before you purchase your policy (hint: 30 days will give you the best discount opportunity versus 6 days will give you the lowest discount opportunity).

Some companies even give a discount for a tracking device, such as a LoJack or a Teensurance GPS tracking device (which is and FREE device and FREE professional installation!) Call us for more details on Teensurance or you're welcome to check out www.teensurance.com

Please check with your Sav-on Special Agent to be sure you're receiving all the discounts that you qualify for!

A special note from your Sav-on Insurance Teen Driver Specialist: Please be weary of your teen on Halloween night. The crash rate for teenagers doubles between the hours of 9:00pm and 6:00am.

National Teen Driver Safety Week is about Awareness

It's National Teen Driver Safety Week, and I feel that it couldn't come at a more appropriate time of the year. The weather is changing and many teens are just getting their license after their summer enrolled driver's education courses have ended...it's a scary and exciting time of year for young drivers and parents alike.

This week is to concentrate on teen driver safety. While we at SAV-ON always try, year round, to drive home the point that sometimes the worst can happen, many parents feel that they trust their teen driver. After all, it is their child. But many of you also know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens. In 2005, 12 teens aged 16-19 died every day due to motor vehicle crashes.

The 16 to 19 year-old age group is 4 times more likely to crash than older drivers and statistics do show that they have the highest crash rate. Those especially at risk are

• male drivers; one and half times greater than females in 2005
  
• teens driving with teen passengers; the risk increases with each added teen passenger, especially males
  
• newly licensed teens; crash rates are are extremely high within the first year, especially within the first 6 months of new licensure.
  
  Teen drivers are more likely to underestimate the danger of a situation or recognize hazardous situations (ex. snow, rainfall, etc...). They are more likely to speed and tailgate; male passengers increase the chances of the driver partaking in these dangerous activities. Teens are also the least likely group to wear a seat belt.
  
  Although drinking and driving rates have dropped among young drivers, it still remains a problem that cannot be overlooked. Young drivers with any level of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) run a higher risk of crashing than older drivers. In 2005, 23% of drivers aged 15-20 who died in a motor vehicle crash had a BAC of .08 or higher.
  
  Male drivers between the ages of 15-20 are particularly at risk. In 2005 38% were speeding at the time of crash and 24% had been drinking.
  
  This week is not only to instill safety, but also to spread awareness of the dangers of inexperience, distraction, passengers, cell phone use, even drug and alcohol use. Use this time to talk to your teen...and take advantage of the many resources we have to offer at www.teendriverinsurance.com/sav-on.
  
  
  Thank you to CDC.gov and IIHS.org, and Happy National Teen Driver Safety Week!

National Teen Driver Safety Week Oct 19-25

Congressmen Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) passed a resolution establishing every third week in October to be National Teen Driver Safety Week this last year.

Many states have their own planned activities, many year-long, which focus on teen belt use, graduated licensing, and underage drinking. Washington is not on the list, although Sav-on Insurance personally does our part by speaking to young drivers at the A-Team Driving School. To see the complete list click here.

The theme for this years Safety Week is passengers with findings showing that the chances of a fatal crash increase exponentially with each teen passenger. Few teens view their friends as inexperienced drivers and teen passengers tend to act wild or encourage the driver to speed or make other unsafe driving decisions.

Please visit our safe teen driver page at www.teendriverinsurance.com/sav-on for more tips on making your teen a safe driver.

Daughter's fatal crash leads to education effort

In Spanaway Washington, a young man has been charged with supplying alcohol to teen girl who consequently died in a car crash.

He's been sentenced to a year of probation and community service.

See the full article here: Daughter's fatal crash leads to education effort

What will your teen's first car be?

So your teen got their license. Now what? You've been waiting patiently for months, dropping them off at driver's education, letting them take the wheel on the way to school....now the pain is off you. You're free! And so are they. But now what car are they going to be driving?

You have options....if you already have an extra car maybe you'll allow them to drive that. But if you don't, it goes back to the old vs. new.

Here are some pros and cons:
With a new car, you've got reliability, looks, comfort. But you've also got large payments, higher taxes and registration fees, and insurance costs.

With an older vehicle, the reliability may not be there, it may not have looks, and it may not have those comfortable, heated leather seats...but you may save on insurance costs, registration fees and you'll surely save on car payments.

However, if you do decide to go with a new vehicle, MSN Money has compiled a list of safe and "less-than-safe" vehicles that I would suggest:

Upscale and large sedans

Safe: Lexus ES300, Audi A4, BMW 330i

Safe?: Buick LeSabre Limited, Chrysler 300M

Family sedans

Safe: Volkswagen Passat GLX (V6), Toyota Camry XLE, Pontiac Grand Prix GT, Oldsmobile Alero, and Pontiac Grand Am

Safe?: Volkswagen Passat 4 cylinder, Nissan Altima 3.5 SE, Subaru Legacy

Small cars

Safe: Volkswagen Golf TDI, Honda Civic EX, Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI

Safe?: Hyundai Elantra GLS, Chevrolet Cavalier LS

Pickup Trucks

Safe: Toyota Tundra SR5 4.7, Dodge Ram SLT 4.7, Ford F.150 XLT 5.4, Toyota Tacoma TRD (V6), Nissan Frontier (V6)

Safe?: Dodge Dakota SLT, Chevrolet S-10 L5 (V6), GMC Sonoma 5LS (V6)

Extra note: Pickups usually don't do well in vehicle assessments usually due to poor brakes and sloppy handling

SUVs

Safe: Saturn VUE (V6), Honda CR-V EX, Hyundai Santa Fe GLS (V6), Lexus RX300, Acura MDX, Toyota Highlander

Safe?: Chevy Trail Blazer, GMC Envoy, Jeep Grand Cherokee)

Minivans

Safe: Honda Odyssey EX, Toyota Sienna LE, Mazda MPV LX

Safe?: Chevrolet Venture LS, Oldsmobile Silhouette GLS, Pontiac Montana

For more information, check out the full report at http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/P63955.asp

CA Commissioner Proposes Pay-As-You-Drive

The Insurance Commissioner of California, Steve Poizner, has proposed an option for California consumers: pay-as-you-drive. If implemented, this would give motorists the chance to pay how far they've driven-- and theoretically, the more miles driven the more risk.

The mileage is based mostly on estimation, however the mileage would now be verified by odometer readings, automotive repair records, or a technological device.

The regulations would prohibit insurance companies from requiring policyholders to participate in this program, however companies may give discounts for participating.

The proposition is also supposed to have a green effect. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, they estimate that if 30% of California residents participate, California will be spared 55 million tons of CO2 between 2009-2020-- the equivalent of taking 10 million cars of the road. And furthermore, this would save $40 billion dollars in car-related expenses for vehicle owners.

In addition to the vehicle savings, the pay-as-you-drive program may be perfect for a large demographic of part-time drivers: teens. Since some companies do not offer part-time operator discounts, this would ensure that the young drivers are literally paying only what they are driving which would theoretically save them (and parents) huge premium every year.

Thank you to Insurance Journal.

Distractions bigger threat than alcohol for teen drivers

Distractions: a huge factor in teen car accidents. Death: still the leading cause of death of ages 15-19.

Most teen accidents are one car accidents at night and are mostly due to inattention. You may even be surprised to know that alcohol is usually not involved. Passengers also play a large role in driver distraction. In fact, a male passenger almost doubles the death rate in both male and female drivers. A female passenger with a female driver? Somewhat higher, but no change in risk taking. Passengers are clearly a distraction.
Graduated licensing programs have been implemented in almost every U.S. state and have proven to be quite effective. The intermediate driver's license, which restricts night driving and the transport of passengers, has indicated a 60% drop in fatalities and disabling injuries in 16 and 17 year olds.

While the new licensing program may seem pesky-- it's important to follow. And it's also recommended that newly licensed drivers steer clear of other distractions such as cell phone use and loud music.

The Split Second That Changed My Life

SAV-ON Insurance co-owner Phil Devitte suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a 1985 car accident that left him with a disability for the rest of his life; all because he wasn't wearing a seat belt. He is now a crusader for safe driving habits, from the use of seat belts and reckless driving to the use of cell phones and text messaging while driving. This is his story.

January 2, 1985 started out like most weekdays in Phil Devitte's life, with a commute down I-5 to his job in Des Moines. That morning it was very cold, but clear, and as Phil was nearing the South 188th Street exit he started moving over toward the exit lane. Suddenly he hit a patch of "black ice", and in a split second his car was spinning out of control. Phil, who was not wearing his seat belt, held tightly onto the steering wheel, hoping to regain control of the car. Instead, the car hit something that caused it to flip violently end-over-end through the air. Phil was ejected through his closed sunroof, and remembers tumbling through the air.

He recalls regaining consciousness while lying on the ground, and someone asking if he was OK. "Yeah, I'm OK," was his reply. But, when he tried to get up, he couldn't move his legs. In fact, he had no feeling whatsoever from the waist down! While someone called an ambulance, he laid there in disbelief. This couldn't be happening to HIM. This was something that happened to OTHER people. When he arrived at Valley General Hospital, they whisked him into the emergency room, took x-rays and ran a battery of tests. The results were shocking: Phil had broken his back and damaged his spinal cord, and the doctors told him he would never walk again.

One simple lane change and he faced the prospect of life in a wheelchair! Phil struggled to grasp the gravity of the situation as he lay in Valley General with a devastating injury. After a few days, he was wheeled into surgery and had rods and wires inserted in his damaged spine. A week later, as he was convalescing, Phil suffered a massive Pulmonary Embolism; a blood clot in his lung that caused him to lose consciousness. His heart stopped. Luckily, he was in the hospital, and the staff feverishly worked on him, trying to save his life. Fortunately, they succeeded. Phil remembers coming to with people in a frenzy all around him, and someone saying "Should we shock him again?" Seeing Phil coming out of it, the doctor stopped the procedure. Phil was alive again!

Phil spent more than three weeks in that hospital, and was determined to walk again, even though he was still paralyzed. To his dismay, his attending physician told him to stop hoping, that he was never going to walk again. He told Phil that he would be there to pick him up when he failed, and would help him back in his wheelchair. Late one night, alone in the hospital room with his thoughts, he wondered how he was going to achieve his goal of walking again when the doctors were telling him it couldn't happen. He wanted to die. Suddenly he heard a voice say to him, "Do you believe?" Phil answered "Yes, I do!" Phil felt a strength and determination he had never experienced before. Phil became more determined than ever.

The first step was firing his doctor, the one who had dashed his hopes. The second was transferring to the University of Washington Hospitals, one of the foremost spinal injury facilities in the country. Once at the UW, Phil was given a battery of tests to determine the extent of his injuries and the therapy he would require. One morning, the doctor came in and, as he always did, asked Phil to move his big toe. After a few seconds he said, "Now, move it again." Phil said incredulously, "What did you say?" He had moved his big toe! There was hope.

From that day, it would take 2 ½ years for Phil to learn to walk again without the aid of crutches. It was a slow, agonizing journey that was literally one step at a time. At one point, with the aid of arm crutches, Phil had struggled down the hall of the hospital, almost dragging his uncooperative feet with him. He turned around and looked back at where he'd been. "The pools of sweat were pools of success to me," recalls Phil. "I was focused on overcoming this with an intensity that became an obsession." Every day he would spend 8-10 hours working on his rehabilitation. There was no let-up.

After more than a year of this, he was able to walk without support, get his driver's license back and went back to work. He continued to feverishly work on his therapy, exercise constantly and attempt to get stronger. Then, in 1990, five years after his accident, he decided to ease up. He was walking again, although not without some stiffness (he told his kids he walked like the tin man from The Wizard of Oz), but realized that he had accomplished his goal of walking again, and now he wanted to work with organizations to counsel young people on the dangers of driving.

He was now a firm believer in seat belts, since the chances are he would be OK today if he had worn one that fateful morning. But, in addition to that, he wanted to educate them that it only takes one mistake while driving to forever change (or end) your life. He began working with an organization called "Think First", an outreach program that deals with the dangers of driving while on drugs or alcohol, driving without using seat belts, speeding and reckless driving, and other dangerous activities.In 1998, Phil moved to the Palm Springs area to open a "Think First" chapter there, and volunteered at a trauma center where he counseled victims of brain and spinal cord injuries. He was able to bring his message of hope to thousands of young drivers during that time.

In 2000, he came back to the Seattle area and returned to SAV-ON Insurance, determined to make a difference here, knowing that 39% of all accidents happen to drivers who have been driving 10 months or less! He has spoken to students at driving schools, and now SAV-ON Insurance is affiliated with the "A-Team Driving School". He regularly speaks at driver's education seminars, extolling the virtues of seat belts and safety first. His dream is to keep all the students he talks to from having an accident that will forever change their lives, as his accident did to him.

Phil and SAV-ON Insurance want to help not only teen drivers, but also their parents, understand and avoid the perils that can happen when a young person gets behind the wheel of a vehicle. One of the latest offers is a free GPS unit for your teen's car. If you are a teen driver, or the parent of one, please contact SAV-ON at 206-878-1404 and speak to Nichole, or go to www.sav-on.com for more information on this offer.

Phil has beaten the odds and is walking again. Now he wants to keep other young drivers from ever facing the living nightmare that he had to face years ago.

SAV-ON Teen Driver Blog

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