Teen Drivers and Marijuana: A Dangerous Trend

A growing number of teen drivers don’t see smoking marijuana as a problem. A recent study found that nearly one in five (19%) admit to driving after smoking the drug. Only 13% reported driving under the influence of alcohol.

With the legalization of marijuana in Washington state, many teens think it’s “no big deal” to smoke a joint or eat marijuana-laced candy or brownies, since it’s "only" considered a recreational drug.

A study of nearly 2,300 11^th and 12^th graders across the U.S., commissioned by an insurance company and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) found that 70% of teens now say marijuana use is “very” or “extremely” distracting to their driving abilities, down from 78% in 2009.

These and other surveys reflect a “dangerous trend toward the acceptance of marijuana and other substances compared to our study of teens conducted just two years ago,” says Stephen Wallace, senior advisor for policy, research and education at SADD.

The new study's findings are disturbing "both in terms of the increased use of marijuana and from the perspective that many think this is not a danger," Wallace says.

Among teens who have driven after using marijuana, more than one third (36%) say it presents no distraction when operating a vehicle, while only in five (19%) say alcohol is no distraction.

As 18-year-old who drove after getting high explains, "When you're high, you're supposed to be relaxed. But when you're driving, you technically can't be. I went numb! I wasn't sure if I was pressing the gas or the brakes or if I was moving at all. It was really intense, and the colors from the cars and the headlights were all blurring."

In fact, a recent review in medical journal BMJ found that high drivers are twice as likely to get in a serious accident than sober drivers, debunking anecdotal evidence and prior research to the contrary.

Even though marijuana is legal in Washington, penalties for DUI pertain to marijuana use, and THC, the drug in marijuana, can stay in a person’s system for up to two weeks. In addition, in Washington, where it was legalized, you must be 21 years old to legally partake.

Complicating matters further, the federal government still considers pot to be an illegal drug, and most businesses have a zero tolerance for drug use. An employee who is drug tested could be fired immediately, depending on the company’s drug policy.

If you are convicted of a DUI, you will lose your drivers license, get fined and be sentenced to jail time. If your employer tests you and you're high, you may lose your job. Is it worth the risk?

Sources: USA Today, Teen Vogue, KIRO TV

Lots of Bad Things Can Happen When You Let Another Teen Borrow Your Car

Teens are considered high-risk drivers for numerous reasons. They’re notoriously poor drivers due to the fact that they don’t have much experience on the road, are much more likely to be involved in an accident because of overconfidence about their driving skills or distractions, and tend to display elevated emotions when under pressure. And driving can be a pressure-packed activity!

So, it’s never a good idea to let a teen “borrow” your car, especially if you’re a teenager yourself. Most insurance policies typically cover the vehicle for any bodily injury or property damage ONLY if it’s being driven by the registered owner or if it’s being driven with the permission of the registered owner. Parents -- not teens -- are most often the registered owners, so when teens lend cars to teens there might be no insurance coverage in that situation.

To make matters worse, if a teen is a passenger in the car their parents own, they themselves may not have coverage if involved in an accident, since the teen driving the car is not on the policy!

Another reason to not lend the car to a teenager is that passengers get hurt, too, in many cases worse than drivers. So, letting another teen who may not have as much experience as you drive you around is taking a big chance. Why do they want to borrow your car? Maybe they don't have one or it’s been damaged in an accident they caused? If they decide to “show off” or drive recklessly, you are the one who could pay the price, either with your life or a damaged vehicle.

Here are some important tips to consider:

• Don’t ride with anyone again if you didn’t like their driving the first time• Wear a seat belt, even if no one else does.
  
• Don’t distract the driver, and don’t encourage speed, loud music or goofing around in the car.
  
• Avoid alcohol or drugs in the car, even as a passenger. It only increases distractions, noise and bad behavior.

These are all difficult things for teenagers to adhere to, especially in a group with its typical peer pressure to conform. It means being responsible and sensible. These are not qualities that most teens deem “cool”. But, it’s the right thing to do. The smart thing to do.

You may even find out that other passengers felt the same way, but were afraid to say so.

Progressive Insurance information contributed to this blog.

What to Do When You Get Into a Crash

You're driving your car and suddenly you get in an accident. Thankfully, no one seems to be seriously injured, but the cars involved have suffered damage. What are you supposed to do?

Clear the roadway

If the cars aren't damaged too badly and can be moved, then the first course of action is to move all vehicles involved in the accident out of the way of traffic and turn on hazard lights.

Call Police

As soon as possible call the police, even if it is a minor accident. If anyone is injured, request medical assistance at that time. If there is a fire, request fire department aid. If one or both of the vehicles are on fire, DO NOT approach the vehicles and attempt to retrieve anything you left in the car. If the fire gets to the gas tank, it could cause an explosion and even more injuries.

Exchange Information

Make sure you get all the other drivers' license and car insurance information. Don't forget to write down license plate numbers of all vehicles involved in the crash. If it is safe to do, take pictures of the accident scene and the damaged vehicles.

Report Your Claim

Make sure to report your claim as soon as you can using the method of your choice, as many insurance companies now offer multiple options, such as: phone, online, or even an app that allows you to file on the spot and add photos. In the case of minor damage, you may even be issued a check without an estimate!

Contact Information

You can access contact information for your insurance provider, as well as a host of other claims resources online. If you need help, or would like to review your coverage, call SAV-ON Insurance today at 888-867-2866 or request information online by visiting www.sav-on.com.

What is Rental Reimbursement Coverage (and Do You Really Need It?)

As you look through your auto policy documents, you might have seen a coverage called Rental Reimbursement. What is this? And do you really need it? 

Basically, Rental Reimbursement coverage is there to help you obtain a rental car while your car is unavailable due to a covered insurance claim.

For example, if you had a fender bender and your car is in the shop for a few days getting a new bumper.  Or after a major storm, you’ve got hail damage that needs to be repaired.

While the Car is Being Repaired, What Will You Drive?

That’s where Rental Reimbursement coverage comes into play. With this coverage, the insurance company will pay a certain amount per day (based on your policy) towards a rental car. That way, you’re not inconvenienced while the repairs are being made.

We highly recommend that you have this coverage, because if your car takes a week or more to get repaired you could save a considerable amount of money over being forced to rent a car without that coverage. However, there are a few situations where it might not be necessary.

Times When You May Not Need It

If you own multiple vehicles and could easily drive another while your car is in the shop, you may not need rental coverage.  And if you rarely drive your vehicle, don’t have a job that requires you to drive daily, and could easily stay home for a week and walk where you need to go, you may not need rental coverage either.

If you’re not sure what’s best for you, then give SAV-ON Insurance a call at 888-867-2866 to discuss exactly how much the coverage will cost you each month and what different levels are available.  We look forward to helping you choose the right insurance coverage! 

When is the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rate a Bad Idea?

So you’ve been shopping for auto insurance and have received several quotes.  There is a variety of companies, coverages, and prices.  Which one should you choose? 

A lot of people just pick the cheapest one and go with it immediately, but this can be a BIG mistake.  Let’s take a look at a few things to consider when comparing quotes.

#1 – Compare deductibles.  Review each quote and if a vehicle has comprehensive and collision coverage, look at what deductible is listed.  The deductible is the amount you will pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in.  A higher deductible (like $1000 or $500) will result in a cheaper monthly premium.  Look and see if all of your quotes use the same deductible on each vehicle. 

#2 – Compare Liability coverage.  The liability coverage will be listed as Bodily Injury and Property Damage on your quote.  Look at the numbers and see if they are the same on each quote.  This is the total amount the policy will pay out if you cause an accident.  A higher number means more coverage and will cost slightly more.  Are all of your quotes using the same amount of liability coverage? 

#3 – Compare extras.  Next see what extras are in the policy.  Is there coverage for a rental car?  What about towing if you break down?  Does the policy forgive your first accident or offer other perks?  Make notes of all the extras for each quote.  Consider if these are things you need on your policy and make notes to ask additional questions if you aren’t sure what’s included.

Next step, get an apples to apples quote.  You can’t compare an apple to an orange right?  They’re totally different.  That’s why you only compare prices on insurance quotes that include the SAME coverage.  Call those companies back up and ask them to adjust the coverage as needed to get a better comparison.

Also, take into account the reputation of the company you are working with.  If you’ve never heard of the insurance company, ask for information from the agent about their rating in your state and how reliable they are in paying their claims.  A few extra dollars per month can be worth it for a reputable company that you can trust.  SAV-ON Insurance Agencies has been doing business for over 50 years in the state of Washington.

Have questions? Give SAV-ON a call today at 888-867-2866 for a free rate quote! When you refer someone to us, whether or not they buy a policy, we contribute to a local charity that raises funds to find a cure for cancer!

Also, make sure to visit our Facebook page and 'like' us. If you do, you'll be entered in our 'FB Like' contest, where you could win valuable prizes!

When Do I Need My Own Insurance?

We get a lot of questions from drivers in their teens and 20s about auto insurance when it involves being on their parents' policy or having their own.  When is it time for you to get your own policy?

There are Several Factors to Take Into Consideration: 

The first thing to look at is WHO lives in the household.  If you still live in your parents' home, then you can be listed as a driver on their policy, regardless of your age.  If you do NOT live in your parents' household, then you will need to obtain your own policy.

We also have to look at who is the titled owner of the vehicle.  If your parents own the car, they'll want it on their insurance OR they’ll need to be listed as an Interested Party on your auto insurance policy.  That means that if you were to quit paying on the policy and it canceled, they would be notified.  (As the owner of the vehicle, they could be held responsible if it was being driven without insurance.)

If you are the sole owner of the vehicle, it can only be added to your parents' policy if you still live in their household. If you live elsewhere, you must have your own policy.

(Some of these rules will vary depending on the age of the driver and if they are away at college or living out of state.)

This can all sound confusing, which is why we always recommend working with SAV-ON Insurance agency to go through the details.  We’ll make sure that your policy is set up correctly and that everyone is getting the best possible rate.

Call us today at 888-867-2866, text us at 206-592-6007 or visit www.sav-on.com!

How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Record?

We hear questions like this a lot.  Tickets and accidents can cause spikes to your car insurance rates and no one wants that.  In some cases, it can even lead to your policy being cancelled!

The good news is that they eventually drop off and your rate goes back down, as long as you keep your record "clean" after that. "Clean" means no tickets or at-fault accidents until it stops affecting your driving record. The bad news is that it typically takes 3 years for that to happen.

Take a Defensive Driving Course

If you get a ticket, you may be able to avoid having a surcharge on your policy by taking a defensive driving course and getting the ticket removed.  This will depend on your past record and what the court offers, but it is a good option! You'll only be able to do this once in that three-year span, however. If you get another ticket within that time, you will see your rates go up.

Utilize Insurance Discounts to Offset Costs

If your rates do go up, make sure you are taking advantage of all other discounts to offset the increase.  Bring all of your insurance to one company so you take advantage of multi-policy discounts.  Raise your deductible for a while so you pay more out-of-pocket in the event of an accident, but have a lower monthly rate.

Have questions?  SAV-ON Insurance is always available to help!  Just give us a call at 888-867-2866 and schedule a free review to see what is available and how we can keep your rates manageable even after an accident.