June 1999

JUNE 1999 ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

New 1999-2000 Officers and Directors are sworn in by National Director Don Dudey at the June 17, 1999 meeting. President Sandra Loebs, CPCU passes the gavel to incomung President Pete Palestina, CPCU. New President Pete Palestina, CPCU presents plaque to outgoing President Sandra Loebs, CPCU for a job well done in 1998-99. New Chapter Prestident Pete Palestina, CPCU addresses the members on his expectations for the coming year 1999-2000.

June 17, 1999 Meeting Recap – by Lilly Cowan, CPCU

"What’s Driving Clint Gillespie?"

clint699.jpg (24178 bytes) "Every day, every hour, every minute…somewhere…a teenager is involved in an automobile accident." Thus began a video that Clint Gillespie, CPCU, presented to the attendees of the Chapter’s June Breakfast meeting.

Gillespie, an insurance professional with Keystone-AAA Insurance Company, is on a crusade. He wants to reduce the terrible toll of what he termed the "teenage carnage on the highway." (Gillespie also serves as the Chapter Secretary and Chairs the Personal Lines Section.) The video, produced by Keystone, dramatically illustrates the sad consequences of teen-driver auto accidents; it also shows teens and parents participating in focus groups, discussing ways to address this issue.

To put this problem into perspective, Gillespie presented the following statistics on teenagers and auto accidents:

	Almost 6000 teens died in car accidents in 1997 (more than the student population in most US high schools.)
	Teens make up 10% of the driving population but 15% of fatal accidents
	The teenage death rate is 35 (per 100,000 licensed drivers), while the average for all licensed drivers is 12 (per 100, 000.) When 16 -19 year-olds are taken out of these numbers, the overall rate falls to 6 (per 100,000 licensed drivers.)

Research has revealed certain factors which contribute to the higher frequency and severity of teen accidents:

	Lack of maturity and driving experience of young drivers;
	Lack of experience makes it hard for teens to identify and respond to hazards;
	They don’t know how to handle unusual situations or small emergencies;
	Safety is a low priority in selecting a vehicle for the teen driver;
	Significant differences exist in driving behavior between teens who own or don’t own the cars they drive:

Owners tend to use older model cars (pre1990) and spend more time driving;

	Owners are more likely to engage in risky driving behavior (ex: tailgating, speeding, and not using seatbelts;)
	Owners have lower grade point averages.

We also know that most teen auto accidents:

Are single car, off the road, and are preventable;

	Involve older vehicles, less likely to have modern safety devices, such as airbags;
	Occur on weekends, when other teens are in the car.

After reviewing these rather grim statistics, Gillespie went on to describe a new program that Keystone-AAA is advocating. Recognizing that most high school driver education programs have been drastically reduced or eliminated, Keystone is working to offer a broad program of driver education, within a "safety club" format (modeled on 4H Club system). The program will focus on young people, ages 14 to 20, to develop driving skills before they get a driver’s license.

So far, Gillespie has been successful in persuading the State of Virginia to try out this concept (and underwrite it with a grant) on a "pilot project" basis. He emphasizes that any solution to this problem must: 1) help teens get more driving experience before" inexperience gets them"; 2) provide increased education; 3) include parental support; 4) use more positive reinforcement and incentives rather than negative, punitive approaches.

He suggested also, that the traditional insurance industry rating factors (principal vs. occasional operator, good student and driver training discounts, surcharges for inexperience, etc.) had not been very effective in mitigating this problem. Besides, they were mainly intended to generate premium, not to enhance teen driver safety.

Gillespie also advised the group that the Pennsylvania Legislature had enacted a law on June 16 that establishes "graduated driver’s licensing." The new law requires that young drivers show proof of 50 hours of "behind-the-wheel" driving experience with an adult driver in the car, before they can obtain their permanent license. In his opinion, this law may help, but it is only part of what is needed for a solution. Group discussion included comments about the potential effectiveness of the new law and the influence of parents on teen driving habits. In closing, Gillespie encouraged everyone to get involved with this issue that seriously impacts so many.