Kathryn Smith

Another summer has ended and kids are back in school. Homework, bedtime routines, and chaotic schedules are again, part of our lives.

Back to school also means additional congestion on our roadways and in school parking lots. Now more than ever, it’s important for everyone to take a deep breath, slow down, and pay attention to their surroundings. Yes, put the phone down, it can wait!

According to theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,344 people were killed in school transportation-related accidents between 2004 – 2013. This is an average of 134 people killed each year. Here’s a statistical breakdown of the fatalities.

• Occupants on school transportation vehicles – 8%;
• Pedestrians/bicyclists – 21%;
• Occupants in other cars – 71%.

In an effort to keep your neighborhood and school zone safe, here are some safety tips for you and your family.

School drop off and pickup safety

1. Follow school procedures/traffic patterns. So often, you see parents creating their own traffic pattern through school parking lots. It’s imperative to follow the procedures and traffic patterns the school has implemented. Remember, they were put in place to keep our students safe. Your poor planning or late start in the morning should not jeopardize the safety of others.
2. Avoid curbside drop off/pick up. If you’re dropping off or picking up your kids curbside, don’t do this if they have to cross the street alone. This puts them in a dangerous situation, especially if darting out between cars. Use this option only if your school has a crossing guard or flashing crossing lights.
3. Consider carpooling. Carpooling has many advantages. A big advantage is reduced parking lot congestion.
4. Get up earlier. I know this is tough, especially if you are not a morning person. By getting an earlier start to your day, you can avoid some of the congestion, frustration, and potentially dangerous situations.

Pedestrian safety

1. Don’t block the crosswalk. Please keep the crosswalk open for children. If you block the crosswalk, this will cause them to walk around your vehicle, potentially putting them in harm’s way.
2. Yield to pedestrians. Pay attention to school flashers, as well as the traffic light walk signal. Flashing lights or a lit up walk signal indicate that the pedestrian has the right of way. Many states are implementing stricter laws to improve safety. Click here to see how your state law requires you to drive around pedestrians.
3. Be patient. Honking or yelling at pedestrians is not going to improve the situation. Also, be patient with the car in front of you. You may not be able to see why the driver has stopped.

Bicyclist safety

1. Allow three feet. Safe passing laws require a motor vehicle to allow no less than three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.
2. Right turn courtesy. If you are making a right turn, don’t speed past the biker and cut them off to make your turn. Stay behind them and allow them to ride through the intersection.
3. Check your mirrors. Before you or your kids get out of the car, check your mirrors to make sure bikers are not passing by. A bicyclist may not anticipate or allow enough room for you to open your door.

High school parking lot safety

1. Pull through the parking stall. When school ends, you will be able to see what is happening in front of you.
2. Don’t rely solely on a back-up camera. The primary purpose of back-up cameras is to prevent “back over” accidents of young children who are not otherwise visible to the driver. It does not help you see pedestrians or other cars travelling through the parking lot. Continually move your head to scan all directions.
3. Don’t jump into conversations. Make a rule that once everyone is in the vehicle, you’ll focus on exiting the parking lot safely. This means you won’t jump into conversations, you’ll turn off the radio, you’ll shut down all cell phones, and everyone will look in ALL directions for pedestrians, bicycles, and other vehicles.
4. Avoid distracted walking. Put the device in your pocket. Use your eyes and ears to walk safely through the parking lot.
5. Take responsibility. If you accidentally damage a parked car, wait for the other person so you can exchange insurance information, leave a note with your contact information or call the police. Never drive away because you think the other car is old or there is not much damage.

Please talk to your kids about staying safe this school year!

Source:
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812170

West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Sep 12, 2017 11:08:36 AM

In today’s world, everybody is looking for a good deal. Whether it’s on groceries, a new car, or insurance, we always feel better about our purchase if there’s cost savings involved.

However, remember the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” There are many reasons why pricing differs between insurance carriers and their policies. Ignoring recommended coverages made by your agent or reducing coverage can have devastating consequences for you and your family.

While it’s important to live within your budget, you may want to look at other ways to save money.

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Sep 5, 2017 1:00:00 PM

Is it just me, or is it hard to believe Labor Day is almost here? For many, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Many families celebrate with parties, picnics, or trips to their favorite campground or getaway destination one last time. While I cook on my grill all year round, it’s holiday cooking that I enjoy most.

Whatever your grill preference may be (gas, charcoal, or smoker) cleaning your grill grates is important. By cleaning your grates before or after each use, you’ll reduce rust buildup and guarantee better tasting food.

Before putting food on my gas grill, I usually preheat it for about 10 minutes and then scrape off the residual food with a wire brush. What I didn’t know, until recently, is that using a wire brush can be dangerous.

Depending on how old your stainless steel/brass wire brush is, or how vigorously you use it, the metal bristles can fall off and stick to your grill grate. If these tiny bristles are cooked into your food and ingested, severe injuries can occur to your digestive system. They can cause punctures to your esophagus, intestines, or stomach. These punctures can lead to severe pain or even death. Unfortunately, one mom learned about these dangers the hard way. Jenna Kuchik’s son Ollie was rushed to the hospital after a metal bristle was lodged in his throat. Thankfully, today he is doing fine.

If you use a wire brush to clean your grill, here are some safety tips.

1. Inspect your brush before each use. Look for loose bristles. If you notice that they are sticking to your grill, throw it away.

2. Use the blade only. If your wire brush includes a metal blade attached to it, use that for cleaning depending on your type of grate. Some grates such as porcelain should not be scraped with a metal or wire brush.

3. Look for a safe alternative. Many alternative things can be used to clean your grates. Such alternatives include:

• Aluminum foil;
• Newspaper;
• Nylon brush;
• An onion; and
• Cleaning spray.

4. Examine your grill after cleaning. If you continue to use a wire brush, carefully examine your grill grates before putting on your food.

It’s recommended that at least once per year, you give your grates a thorough cleaning by soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.

For additional grilling safety tips, check out the link below.

Grilling tips to keep you and your family safe

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable Labor Day!

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/07/14/swallow-bbq-brush-bristles_a_23030287/
https://www.charbroil.com/community/clean-grill-grates/

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Aug 29, 2017 11:20:47 AM

A growing number of individuals today, especially Millennials, choose not to own an automobile. Auto loans and the costs of maintaining a vehicle aren’t appealing to them. With a number of alternative modes of transportation, like trains, buses, and bicycles, owning a vehicle isn’t always necessary. Commuters can easily get to their destinations using popular ride-sharing programs, such as Uber and Lyft.

If you don’t own an automobile, here are some things to consider.

What if you rent a vehicle while you’re on vacation or need to borrow a friend’s truck to haul that new couch you bought at Ikea? Rental car companies will sell you their own insurance, but it’s expensive and comes with hidden fees. What if your friend let his auto insurance lapse or he has low liability limits? Why risk it?

Sarah Faris, senior personal lines underwriter will discuss how a West Bend policy covers these situations.

West Bend’s Home and Highway^® policy has a solution: Add Named Non-Owner coverage to your policy. This coverage provides you with personal auto liability protection at a discounted rate over standard auto coverage. It includes Medical Payments in case you’re injured in a car accident. It also provides Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist coverage, which protects you from individuals who drive without auto insurance or who have low limits.

Named–Non-Owner coverage not only protects you as the vehicle driver, you’re also protected if you’re a passenger in a vehicle, like that Uber ride, and when you’re a pedestrian.

You select the desired auto liability limits and add the coverage to your insurance policy. Since West Bend’s Home and Highway is a package policy, this coverage takes the place of typical auto coverage so you can easily bundle it with your homeowner’s coverage.

SOURCE:  WEST BEND, Posted by Scott Stueber on Aug 15, 2017 4:14:44 PM

It seems like just yesterday we moved our daughter into her dorm for the start of her freshman year. In a few short weeks, she’ll be starting her junior year.

I’ve learned that each year brings new ideas and challenges. As college students search for independence, a new challenge for this school year could be renting an apartment.

If you’ve been down this road before, you know renting an apartment for a college student can be stressful. If this is your first time, there are many things to keep in mind.

Unfortunately, when it comes to renting an apartment in your student’s college town, you’ll notice that rent prices can be through the roof and places may be in poor condition.

Here are some tips to help you and your college student through the process.

1.  Do your homework. Before scheduling an appointment to view the apartment, do your research. Some items to think about are:

• Is there public transportation nearby?
• Is it a residential area or business district?
• If it is a business district, what type of work is performed there?
• Are retail stores and restaurants within walking distance?

Use the power of the internet to your advantage.

• Look for online reviews from previous renters.
• Compare and contrast different properties.
• Use tools such as Google Earth to look at the neighborhood as well as the condition of the property.
• If something looks too good to be true, it may be a scam; proceed with caution.

2. Pay a personal visit. Once you have selected apartments of interest, visit each one. Make sure the pictures online accurately reflect the condition of the property. The last thing you want to do is rent an apartment without seeing it. A visit allows you the opportunity to:

• See the actual size. This is a nice opportunity to see if their furniture will fit.
• Check out the quality of the appliances.
• Look in cupboards and closets. Keep an eye out for mouse droppings.
• Identify preexisting damages such as holes in the walls or carpet stains.
• Run the water in sinks and showers and flush the toilet.

3. Coach your kids. This is an opportunity for your kids to enter the realm of adulthood. Discuss with them what to look for and questions to ask. Lights burned out in the hallway or empty beer cans may not seem like a big deal, but can provide a glimpse of poor maintenance schedules or rowdy neighbors. While these things may not be a big deal at the time, they could be after signing a 12-month lease.

4. Discuss your expectations. Property owners may not be comfortable renting to your college student due to lack of income. Therefore, you may be asked to co-sign the lease. Before you sign on the dotted line, discuss your expectations with your student. It may not even be a bad idea to create a contract between the two of you. Once you co-sign, any damages that occur are your responsibility.

5. Make sure the lease is in writing. Signing a lease with a large apartment complex often leads to paperwork that is more thorough. Individual property owners may not follow a structured approach. If they don’t have the appropriate paperwork in place, consider renting somewhere else.

6. Test their smartphone. Depending on the construction of the building or their phone company, your student’s smartphone may not work. Have them walk through each room to make sure it works. I’m sure you’ll want to get a hold of them from time to time.

7. Understand the pet policy. Simply having a pet may cause you to forfeit your security deposit even if your pet doesn’t cause any damages.

8. Don’t forget to purchase renters insurance. Most landlords’ insurance policies cover only the building, not what’s in it. Many students think because they’re in college, they don’t have anything valuable to insure. Imagine if they lost everything in a fire. The cost to replace necessities adds up quickly. To learn more about renters insurance, check out the blogs below.

Renters Coverage? Why do I need that?

Renter’s insurance. A smart choice for college students

BUY VS RENT? Either way homeowners (aka renters) insurance is needed!

9. Make multiple visits. Visiting at night or during poor weather conditions can paint an even better picture for the both of you. No one wants to rent a place with roof that leaks or one that has poor insulation. Poor insulation can lead to increased heating costs.

10. Pros and cons. After each visit, identify the pros and cons while they’re fresh in your mind.

SOURCE, West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Aug 8, 2017 9:06:52 AM

When warm weather is here, many look for ways to enjoy our time outside. One of those ways is to get on a bicycle and go for a ride. With school a few weeks away, a bicycle can also turn into the main mode of transportation.

There are many benefits to riding bicycles, whether it’s for recreation, getting around town, or going to work. Besides the benefit of getting exercise, in many cities it’s easier to find parking for a bicycle than a vehicle. Now it’s also easier to get around, since access to roads, bike paths, and rural trails has increased. In addition, the increased use of bicycles helps reduce air and noise pollution, consumption of fossil fuel, and traffic congestion.

There are many different bicycles to choose; what’s best for you depends on your use and the distance you plan to ride. Options range from the traditional bicycle, to tricycle, quadracycle, recumbent, and human-powered vehicles (HPV) such as pedal assist, electric, or motorized bicycles. The HPV bicycles help the rider go farther or faster with less effort due to their design with pedal assist technology.

The traditional bicycle is covered for physical damage as contents under personal property on the homeowners’ policy. If a motor is attached to a bicycle, as in the pedal assist-type bicycles, these now become motorized vehicles. The standard homeowners’ policy does not provide coverage for motorized vehicles.

When making the decision to purchase a new bicycle, check with your insurance agent to see if it will automatically be covered or, in the case of a motorized bicycle, it should be scheduled in order to provide liability and physical damage coverages. This will help protect your investment.

SOURCE:  West Bend, Posted by Scott Stueber on Aug 1, 2017 9:00:00 AM