App Watch: Helping Young Drivers Learn Safety Skills Wall Street Journal (blog)
The new app, released by State Farm, provides assignments for drivers to complete. In one assignment, for example, users are asked to locate important controls, like the switch for hazard lights, before setting off on their drive. Other assignments focus on things such as using seat belts and slowing down rather than speeding up at yellow lights.
Each assignment has a set of questions to complete before the drive, a timer to time the drive and a set of questions for after the drive. The app isn’t meant to be used while driving, and an early screen asks users to confirm that they are not operating a vehicle at the time.
The Steer Clear app, which became available last month, is part of a State Farm program that gives drivers up to the age of 25 as much as a 15% discount if they meet the insurance company’s requirements and if the discount is available in their state. Once young drivers complete the program on the iPhone app, they can bring the phone to an agent to qualify for the discount. If they don’t have a State Farm agent, the app will help them find one.
It is well known that young drivers are perceived to be high risk when it comes to accidents.With an increasing number of accidents involving young drivers aiding in pushing up premiums for the rest of the insurance world, the stigma associated with young people on the road seems sure to continue.Naivety and lack of judgement can often lead to incidents, and research suggests that being involved in a car crash came top in a list of causes of death for those aged 15-20.Because of the stigma surrounding certain age groups, finding affordable car insurance can be a nightmare experience for those who’ve only just passed their tests.With many car insurance companies wary of insuring young drivers because of the risks involved, finding a quote for the first time to cover a newly-qualified driver can be a very costly process. Many will simply refuse to insure those at-risk groups and focus on specific types of customers.However, there are a couple of steps that can be taken to try and reduce first-time premiums for new drivers:By taking a Pass Plus course after passing their driving tests, young drivers have the opportunity to gain experience in areas such as night-time driving, motorways and driving in bad weather conditions. Many insurers will take Pass Plus qualifications as part of the application, and it could help with the quest for cheap car insurance.Make sure their first car is not too expensive and/or powerful – while it may not be the hot-rod they were expecting, it can help to save money in the long term. And the more careful the driver, the more no-claims bonus can be accumulated, leading to a drop in premium prices in future.It’s advisable to compare car insurance premiums carefully when searching for affordable quotes, and also for renewals – for many insurers may not offer incentives for loyalty.
Zatta said he has seen a lot of young drivers pursue a high-profile racing career. “Obviously, they don't all succeed,” he said. “I was a little skeptical of Brian at first, like I am most drivers. “This kid knows when to go, when to push it in a race.
PR Web (press release)Adrian Flux Offers Tips for Students on Keeping Premiums LowAs young drivers, students are likely to find that once they've passed their test the biggest running cost is insurance. Indeed, a first car is often much cheaper to buy than to insure for a year. But Flux warns against being tempted by a cheap,
The Car GuideGreen Gangster: The Cadillac Escalade HybridGiven absolutely no reason for the anything-but-routine traffic stops, both myself, and the other driver were let off after forking over our drivers licences and insurance information. Humorously, after the police officers had ascertained that neither
