Admit it: putting your 16 year-old kid behind the wheel of a car is one of the most nerve-wracking things you can do as a parent. After all, you remember the first time he rode a tricycle—how can you let him steer a two-ton machine?

Most kids do their best to stay safe when they’re driving, but some have a hard time keeping their fingers off their phones. If you’re concerned about your child texting while driving, there are a few steps that you can take.

Some parents like to make sure their kids aren’t texting by blocking texts. Many apps for smart phones can make sure that your child’s phone is locked while they’re driving, ensuring they keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. But a simpler solution may be to just set a good example when you drive. Do you keep all your attention on the road? Do you wait until you’re parked to answer that call or respond to that text? If so, your child is more likely to resist those impulses too.

For more information and resources on how to help your child learn to be a safe driver, look at Erie’s Teenage Safety driving program. You and your teen will find great resources on every aspect of safe driving. Or talk to us. We work with families like yours every day to keep drivers safe on the road.

“Pennsylvania has made great strides in reducing teendriving fatalities in the past decade but when it comes to the health and well-being of our children, we must go further,” Corbett said during an event at Harrisburg High School. “I am joined today by family members of children we have lost and we all agree that ‘Lacey’s Law’ is the next step in keeping our children safe when they begin driving on their own.”

The new law specifically takes the following actions:

•Strengthens passenger restrictions for junior drivers. For the first six months after receiving a junior license, a driver under the age of 18 will not be permitted to have more than one passenger under age 18 who is not an immediate family member unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. After six months, they may have up to three passengers under the age of 18, provided they have not received any violations or been partially or fully responsible for an accident. These restrictions apply until the junior driver turns 18.
•Increases from 50 to 65 hours the amount of supervised, behind-the-wheel training required for permit-holders under age 18. Ten of the added hours are for nighttime driving and five additional hours are spent driving in poor weather conditions.
•Changes the seatbelt requirements for drivers and passengers under the age of 18 to make the lack of seatbelt a primary offense, meaning the driver can be pulled over solely for that violation. The fine for conviction is $75.
•Requires the Department of Transportation biannually compile and make public a report concerning junior drivers involved in an accident with multiple passengers under 18 years of age in the vehicle, the number of passengers under 18 in the vehicle at the time of the accidents and whether the driver and passengers used seatbelts. This data must be also included in a report submitted to the House and Senate transportation committees.
The legislation is named for Lacey Gallagher, 18, from the Philadelphia area, who was killed in car crash on April 28, 2007. She was a passenger in an SUV with six other teenagers. All of the other teens were injured; none wore seat belts.

“Teen drivers out there may feel that they are being singled out by this bill and, the fact is, they are. Each of our children, like Lacey Gallagher, represents our future, our hopes and our dreams. We are not ready to give them up to a needless accident and we support this bill because we care so much for them,” said Corbett.

Accordingly to a study done by the Institute for Highway Safety in 2005, the incidence of car crashes for junior drivers rises incrementally with the number of passengers in the car.

The governor thanked Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks), Sen. John Rafferty (R-Chester), Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), and the leadership of the House and Senate transportation committees for their work on this legislation.

Learn more about driver licensing and young-driver safety at the Department of Transportation’s website.

Trick-or-Treaters

• Carry a flashlight.
• Stay on sidewalks, do not run and always obey traffic signals.
• Stay in familiar neighborhoods and only approach homes that are well lit.
• Wear reflective clothing.
• Do not wear masks while walking house-to-house.
• Make sure your costume does not drag and only carry flexible props (eg., swords, wands, etc.).
• Steer clear of unfamiliar animals/pets.

Parents

• An adult should accompany young children.
• Purchase only flame-retardant costumes.
• A safe alternative to pumpkin carving is pumpkin painting.

If your children trick-or-treat on their own be sure that:

• They wear a watch.
• They carry quarters or a cell phone to call home.
• They know where to reach you if you’re not home.
• They travel in a group.
• You explain the difference between a “trick” and vandalism.

Homeowners

• Use small flashlights in jack ‘o lanterns rather than candles.
• Offer a well lit, clear path to your door.
• Keep animals inside and away from trick-or-treaters.

Drivers

• Slow down. Children will be running everywhere.
• Partygoers should always elect a designated driver.

Treats

• Tell children to bring candy home to be inspected before consuming anything.
• Look at the wrapping carefully and pitch anything that looks suspect.
• If you discover a treat that has been tampered with, contact the proper authorities.

Feel free to stop by Yetter Insurance to get your Halloween Treat Bags with safety tips available for your trick or treaters! 

www.yetterins.com/halloween.pdf

Raising kids is not cheap. From getting new shoes for their growing feet every three months to funding college, making sure kids have everything they need to grow up and become members of society is expensive.

It’s hard enough to take care of these things when you have a parent or two bringing in steady paychecks, but what if the worst happens and you can’t be there for your kids anymore? Who would make sure their necessities were paid for if you were gone?

Life insurance can ease your worries about providing for your children. Whether you choose a term policy, whole life insurance, or universal life insurance, in the event of your death, your family gets a check they can use for everyday bills, paying off the car or house, or funding a college education. No matter what life may have in store for you, you can make sure that your family has the life you want them to have.

When it comes to your kids, don’t leave things to chance. Make sure that you can take care of them no matter what. Call us today so we can discuss how you can protect your family today, tomorrow and always.

Life insurance is the ultimate safety net. It ensures that even in the event of your death, your loved ones are taken care of. Maybe it’s ensuring that your kids can still go to the college of their choice, or making sure that your spouse still has the golden years you two dreamed of. Or it can be as simple as making sure funeral arrangements are paid for so friends and family aren’t burdened with final expenses.

It’s time to stop pretending that life insurance doesn’t exist. Let’s sit down and talk about your needs, your options, and how you want to protect your family in case of the worst. You’ll be amazed at the peace of mind it affords you. No matter what happens now, your family will be provided for. There’s no better feeling in the world.

Check out the CDC’s Heat safety tips at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp

Rember, elevated temperatures have an impact on your entire body. Check out this article on Cnn.com for more informaiton about how your body reacts to being overheated: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/12/heat-hurts-your-insides-too/?hpt=he_t2

Be safe, stay cool!

From the staff of Yetter Insurance Agency, Inc.

A surprising number of people are treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to fireworks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists an estimated 7,000 reported injuries in 2008.

Be aware of the laws in the state in which you reside in regards to fireworks - and follow them! Read and follow all firework warnings and instructions. When lighting fireworks, be aware of any brush or dry grass that may ignite from sparks.

Don’t forget – Our office will be closed on Monday, July 4th in order to celebrate with our families. If there is an emergency, the claims departments for our companies are listed in our voicemail and are available for you to call.

This act brings PA into alignment with 40 other states who have passed similar legislation. More tort reform is needed but this is a great start in helping keep the costs down for PA businesses. It will help retain PA employers from leaving the state due to adverse legal climate.

Boaters enjoy the feel of sun and spray. So it’s tempting to boat without wearing a life jacket – especially on nice days. But modern life jackets are available in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Many are thin and flexible. Some are built right into fishing vests or hunter coats. Others are inflatable — as compact as a scarf or fanny pack until they hit water, when they automatically fill with air.

There’s no excuse not to wear a life jacket on the water!

Things to Know:
•Certain life jackets are designed to keep your head above water and help you remain in a position which permits proper breathing.

•To meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements, a boat must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V life jacket for each person aboard. Boats 16 feet and over must have at least one Type IV throwable device as well.
•All states have regulations regarding life jacket wear by children.
•Adult-sized life jackets will not work for children. Special life jackets are available. To work correctly, a life jacket must be worn, fit snugly, and not allow the child’s chin or ears to slip through.
• Life jackets should be tested for wear and buoyancy at least once each year. Waterlogged, faded, or leaky jackets should be discarded.
•Life jackets must be properly stowed.
•A life jacket — especially a snug-fitting flotation coat or deck-suit style — can help you survive in cold water.

How Do Life Jackets Save Lives?
• When capsized in rough water.
• When sinking in unexpectedly heavy sea conditions.
• When thrown from the boat as a result of a collision.
• When injured by rocks or submerged objects.
• When unconscious from carbon monoxide fumes.
• When tossed into freezing water.
• When thrown off balance while fishing.
• When unable to swim because of heavy or waterlogged clothing.

All recreational boats must carry one wearable lifejacket (Type I, II, III or Type V lifejacket) for each person aboard. A Type V lifejacket provides performance of either a Type I, II, or III lifejacket (as marked on its label) and must be used according to the label requirements. Any boat 16ft and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry one throwable lifejacket (Type IV lifejacket).

Lifejackets must be

•Coast Guard approved,
•in good and serviceable condition, and
•the appropriate size for the intended user.

Accessibility

•Wearable lifejackets must be readily accessible.
•You must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.).
•They should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them.
•The best lifejacket is the one you will wear.
•Though not required, a lifejacket should be worn at all times when the vessel is underway. A wearable lifejacket can save your life, but only if you wear it.
•Throwable devices must be immediately available for use.

Inflatable Lifejackets

•Inflatable lifejackets may be more comfortable to wear.
•The best lifejacket is the one you will wear.
•Inflatable lifejackets require the user to pay careful attention to the condition of the device.
•Inflatable lifejackets must have a full cylinder and all status indicators on the inflator must be green, or the device is NOT serviceable, and does NOT satisfy the requirement to carry lifejackets.
•Coast Guard Approved Inflatable lifejacket’s are authorized for use on recreational boats by person at least 16 years of age.

Child Lifejacket Requirements

Some states require that children wear lifejackets

•applies to children of specific ages
•applies to certain sizes of boats
•applies to specific boating operations

Check with your state boating safety officials.

Child lifejacket approvals are based on the child’s weight. Check the “User Weight” on the label, or the approval statement that will read something like “Approved for use on recreational boats and uninspected commercial vessels not carrying passengers for hire, by persons weighing __ lbs”. They can be marked “less than 30″, “30 to 50″, “less than 50″, or “50 to 90″.

Lifejacket requirements for certain boating activities under state laws

The Coast Guard recommends and many states require wearing lifejackets:

•For water skiing and other towed activities (use a lifejacket marked for water skiing).
•While operating personal watercraft (PWC) (use a lifejacket marked for water skiing or PWC use).
•During white water boating activities.
•While sailboarding (under Federal law, sailboards are not “boats”).

Check with your state boating safety officials.

Federal law does not require lifejackets on racing shells, rowing sculls, racing canoes, and racing kayaks; state laws vary. Check with your state boating safety officials.

If you are boating in an area under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers, or a federal, state, or local park authority, other rules may apply.

Lifejacket Flotation

There are three basic kinds of lifejacket flotation in the five types of lifejackets with the following characteristics:

Inherently Buoyant (primarily Foam)

•Adult, Youth, Child, and Infant sizes
•For swimmers & non-swimmers
•Wearable & throwable styles
•Some designed for water sports

Inflatable

•The most compact
•Sizes only for adults
•Only recommended for swimmers
•Wearable styles only
•Some with the best in-water performance

Hybrid (Foam & Inflation)

•Reliable
•Adult, Youth, and Child sizes
•For swimmers & non-swimmers
•Wearable styles only
•Some designed for water sports