After-School Safety Tips for Parents and Kids

After-School Safety Tips for Parents and Kids

 I saw a few younger kids "walking" home from school the other day, barely pausing before running across the street in front of on coming traffic which they seemed oblivious to. 

As the school year comes to a close, it may be a good time to review these tips again and make sure the kids aren't forgetting to keep this stuff in mind! They will be out and about and possibly staying home alone soon over the summer so it will be important to keep talking about these things with the kids! 

Those tips, of course, are:

• Walk with a buddy
• Stay in well-lit areas
• Never accept a ride with strangers
• Once home, lock the door and don’t let anyone in

However, Dr. Michele Borba, author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions, urges you not to overestimate your kids’ safety smarts. Kids under 10, for example, may not grasp the concept of crossing a street safely, she says.

She suggests teaching them: “Stop. Left. Right. Left.” Meaning that children should, “stop at the curb, look left, right, then left again before crossing, and keep looking as they cross.”

Another thing kids need to know, says Borba, is how to ask for help. Have kids practice saying, “I need help,” out loud and instruct them to “find a uniformed employee, a police officer or a woman, preferably with a child,” when they need assistance, she says.

Once home, kids will likely use the Internet, so be sure to discuss digital safety too.

Staying Safe Online

Internet safety advocate Sue Scheff, author of Wit's End and Google Bomb, says that, “we need to put parental controls/security measures on computers and cell phones. Unfortunately, these aren’t guarantees, so having a cyber-smart child is your best defense.” 

Teach kids about the dangers of sharing personal information, such as their home address and phone number, online. And about using social media responsibly.

While online, it’s best for kids – and adults – to converse and connect only with people they truly know and trust, to keep their social accounts private and to still be cautious even then. After all, photos and information that go online today will still be there years later, when kids apply for college scholarships and jobs.

Above all, stay involved in your kids’ digital lives. Let them know you’re there for them, always – to talk, not to judge or punish, says Scheff. “Many kids fear having their Internet removed if they tell their parents they are being bullied online,” she says.

So keep the lines of communication open to help keep everyone safe, both in and outside of your home.

What to know before you shop for a car

April 2015

What to know before you shop for a car

What “options” are you legally required to buy?

Confused about what is and isn’t required when buying or leasing a vehicle? Ohio law requires drivers to meet financial responsibility requirements, which can be done by purchasing liability insurance. In addition, when leasing or financing a vehicle, those contracts require you to have physical damage insurance coverage.  

Beyond that, here are answers to common questions asked about dealer options.* 

Is my “new” car automatically covered by my current auto insurance policy?

Usually yes, but the length of time coverage is provided on a newly acquired auto (typically 4 to 14 days**) varies based on the types of coverage and whether the vehicle is a replacement or additional vehicle. To be safe, call us about your policy.

A newly acquired auto will receive the broadest coverage provided for vehicles already on the policy. However, if your current policy does not have Collision or Other Than Collision coverage, the automatic extension of these coverages to the new auto is usually limited to 4 days.** Though not legally required, you may want to take your insurance policy or ID card with you.

What about loan/lease GAP insurance?

In an accident, your auto policy pays you the current market value of the car, but you could still owe much more to the finance company. That gap, or amount you still owe, is covered by loan lease Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP) insurance. Though not legally required, some new car leases have GAP coverage built into the contract. Ask the dealer if you have the option of deleting the coverage from the lease and purchasing it as an endorsement to your existing auto insurance. Doing so could save you a few dollars to a couple hundred dollars. We can get you estimates now.

Is an extended warranty mandatory?

No, and you don’t have to buy an extended warranty before you leave the dealer. A warranty may not be necessary for you, so call us. But if you are intent on getting a warranty, know that purchasing from the dealer is not your only option.  

What about credit life and disability?

Credit life and disability policies sold by auto dealers are not required. They protect the lender if you cannot make monthly payments due to death or disability. You are insuring the unpaid balance of the loan. If that’s all you need, the dealer’s policy will suffice. However, it may be wiser to use that money to increase coverage on your own life or disability policy instead of tying it to the lease or purchase of a vehicle.

Our advice

Before you car shop, call us. We’ll help you get prepared and informed so you don’t end up paying extra for something you neither want nor need.

*    Many of these same principles apply for purchasing a boat, RV, travel trailer or motorcycle.

** Information from Insurance Services Office, Personal Auto Policy, 2005 edition.

Know your rights

Joe’s family was excited to leave the auto dealer with a new car. But there was a problem.

The salesman said the dealer wouldn’t allow any vehicle to leave the lot without proof that it was insured. What was Joe to do?

The salesman said Joe could buy coverage from a licensed insurance agent at the dealer and take the car home that night. Joe signed up right there, despite higher rates. He thought he had no choice.

Did he? After taking the car home, Joe called his independent insurance agent and found out he was covered by his current policy. It covered the newly purchased car for 14 days, so he did not need to purchase the dealer’s insurance policy. Joe also has a right to cancel that new policy at any time. 

The moral of the story is to talk to your agent and know your rights. If you’re thinking of car shopping, call us to get the facts and estimates on coverage. Whether you are financing or paying cash, we can help.

This information brought to you by MVP Insurance Agency, a proud member of Professional Independent Agents Association of Ohio, Inc.