• Attend class on Monday and Wednesday — Check
• Pass written exam — Check
• Cobble together all appropriate safety gear — Check
• Pack a small cooler with water and snacks — Check
• Spend 10 hours on the range and actually learn to ride a motorcycle  — _______
• Pass range skills test — _____

I had at least an idea of what to expect on the range, but it didn’t make me any less nervous. Here’s the thing about nervousness, it manifests in your riding. That was the one thing that RiderCoach Phil was constantly mentioning to me. (By the way, my writing in no way captures the personality of RiderCoach Phil. His passion for safe motorcycling came across on the range. Dare I say it was infectious? All of the RiderCoaches were enthusiastic teachers and riders. I have a great respect for them and their dedication, especially considering they give so many of their spring/summer weekends to the cause.) Throughout the morning, Phil’s comments to me went something like this:

You need to loosen up, you are riding really stiff.

Remember to turn your head all the waythrough the turn, and relax.

You are doing well for never riding before, but  you need to relax.

My nervousness faded as we progressed through the exercises. I became more comfortable with using the friction zone, shifting, sudden stopping, swerving to avoid obstacles and weaving between cones the more I had to practice them. (And how do I get to Carnegie Hall?) Sometime around the exercise where we shifted between 2^nd and 3^rd gears and hit a max speed of 18 miles an hour, I loosened up, smiled and realized why people could really enjoy riding a motorcycle. Perhaps home on the (motorcycle) range is fun.

My next post will be a video one, so I bet you can’t wait for that.

Stay safe on the road and on your motorcycle. Your safety is number one to us. And if you’re in the market for insurance, contact a Foremost agency to talk about a motorcycle policy.

Needless to say…I won on all fronts except the curfew, understandably.  My parents did sit me down and set out a couple rules, I was the only person allowed to drive the car…period.  Another was that I had to be home by 12:30am.  Now that I look back on it, I wonder why they didn’t explain to me the dangers of being on the road past 12:30am in a small town, why other kids couldn’t drive my dad’s car and that regardless of what I thought at the time, Prom would not be the biggest day of my life.

Prom night came and there I was driving three other people in my dad’s shiny black convertible, it felt great.  What happened after prom?  Long story short…I let my date drive, I let all my friends drive, I broke my curfew, and to this day have not told my parents.  (Until now that is.)  What could have happened…I don’t even want to imagine.

I have a two year old daughter and when Prom time comes around for her, I hope that we have flying cars that people don’t operate…that is the only way I will be able to rest at night.  Would I have listened if my parents told me that the reason no one else could drive the car is because I was the only teen on the insurance, or that there are a lot of drunk drivers on the road and chances of coming in contact with them, especially in a small town are pretty great, even greater late at night…maybe I would have listened, maybe they did tell me that night and I didn’t listen.  Most important thing…Talk to your teens.  Tell them about your prom, your mistakes or triumphs and what you learned from them.  Maybe, just maybe, they will take your word for it.

Stay safe wherever you choose to go on the road. Your safety is number one to us. For peace of mind on the road, contact a Foremost agency to talk about an auto insurance policy.

One problem with this spontaneity and my overall lack of motorcycle experience: I had no gear. The Motorcycle Safety Course teaches that safe motorcyclists wear all their personal protective gear all the time, including:

• A Department of Transportation (DOT) approved helmet
• Sturdy, over-the-ankle boots
• Shatterproof eye protection
• Full-fingered leather gloves
• A riding suit, or jacket and pants

Of the above, I had none. Well, I have a pair of wellies that I love, but it actually didn’t want to run the risk of ruining them. Fortunately I found some boots for a decent price at a discount shoe store. Since we were riding at low speeds (under 20 mph); in a parking lot; in a supervised, learning environment; students without such gear were allowed to substitute any full-fingered gloves (I went with gardening gloves), sunglasses, a long-sleeved shirt and jeans. (It was stressed those substitutions were not acceptable outside of this course.) As for the helmet, one of the people I sat next to in class worked at a motorcycle dealership and was able to hook me up with a pink one on clearance. Well this was more of a matte dusty mauve in color, but beggars can’t be choosers.

I’m guessing you’ve got quite an image of one stylish motorcycle diva in your head, but one nagging question remains, were there little flowers on my gardening gloves? I hate to disappoint, but they were my husband’s, so they were blue and plain (and dirty). Just think what I would have looked like had I thrown caution to the wind and donned by purple rain boots. Needless to say, I’m pretty easy to spot in videos.

(Can you identify me? I know, it’s like Where’s Waldo )

Next up, I’ll talk about what we learned during the classroom portion of the class. Stay tuned.

*As I mentioned above, Motorcycle Safety Courses fill quickly in my area. You basically have to sign up by March. That’s because in Michigan, the program is one of the best paths to earn a Cycle Endorsement and there’s a finite number of resources (read: motorcycles, places to hold courses and spring/summer weekends). I can’t speak to how it works elsewhere. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s website can help identify a course near you.

Stay safe on your motorcycle. Your safety is important to us. And if you’re in the market for motorcycle insurance, contact a Foremost agency to talk about a motorcycle insurance policy.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), fires set by children are responsible for more than 100 fire-related deaths, nearly 1,000 burn injuries, and hundreds of millions of dollars in property losses each year. Children are often the victims in these fires. It’s scary because curiosity about fire is natural for children, but the fires they set are usually the most dangerous!

The Dress, The Date,

Driving is usually not an important component in a teen’s mind, but for parents it can be a big worry. Many parents often overlook the need to have honest discussions with their teens about safe driving and avoiding alcohol and drugs.  Statistics show that prom and graduation season – the months of April, May and June – are the most dangerous time for teens. One-third of the alcohol-related traffic fatalities involving teens each year occur during those months.

Here’s an honest and teen-friendly guide to sharing concerns with your teen for one of the most important nights of their adolescent career.

• Have a good time. Explain to your teen that you want them to have fun and enjoy themselves.  Just don’t drink.  Years from now, they will laugh when looking back at prom, but not if they don’t remember the night.
• Relate it to your prom. Explain to them what you did right or wrong and what the consequences were.  Don’t be afraid to tell them the truth if you made some bad judgment calls.  This can only help them to feel that you are human and that you regret those decisions and don’t want them to make the same.
• Remind them of their future. High school is a great time, but they have their whole future ahead of them.  Don’t ruin that by drinking or doing drugs on Prom night or any night.
• Immature vs. Mature. Your teen may think that drinking or doing drugs and driving is what the grown up thing is to do.  Explain to them that is the most immature and irresponsible decision they could make.  Being mature is about making the right decision and keeping your future in your sight.
• Drive safe! If they are driving, make sure that they understand the responsibility of driving on Prom night.  Share these six tips with your teen:

1. Wear seatbelts.
2. Don’t speed.
3. Be a defensive driver.  Not everyone on the road is going to be as safe as you, watch out for other unsafe drivers.
4. Don’t drink or do drugs.  This impairs judgment for driving and could potentially end in a fatality. If you do make a mistake, or find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, call your parents immediately.  They will respect you for being mature enough to see the danger and making the right call.
5. Don’t ride with anyone who has been drinking or doing drugs.  This takes your life out of your hands.
6. Pay attention to the road while driving.  Don’t get distracted with cell phones, radio, or passengers.  Driving is a very important responsibility and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Teenage drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group and it’s largely due to driver error.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’, one in four crash fatalities involve someone 16 to 24 years old, nearly twice as high as other age groups.  Don’t let your teenager be a statistic.  Talk with your teen and communicate the importance of safe driving on Prom night and every night.

Stay safe wherever you choose to go on the road. Your safety is number one to us. For peace of mind on the road, contact a Foremost agency to talk about an auto insurance policy.

Driving while talking or texting on a cell phone can be a divisive topic. It’s not safe, yet people still do it. Restrictions vary, so anyone driving across state lines better have an excellent memory or err completely on the side of caution to abide all of the laws. Automakers and wireless companies have even backed a national ban on using hand-held devices while driving. It’s good to discuss distracted driving and how dangerous it can be.

I’ll be honest, the closest I’ve ever come to getting into an accident with another vehicle happened while I was talking on my cell phone. That was enough for me to realize that the only time I should be holding a phone and talking in a car is when I am a passenger. My car is now equipped with a hands-free system that pipes my phone through my stereo and allows me to answer or place a call by pushing a single button on the wheel. I have used this system while driving, but not regularly because it’s still a distraction.

If you look at the definition provided by distraction.gov, distracted driving involves any of the three main types of distraction:

• Visual — taking your eyes off the road
• Manual —taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive — taking your mind off your driving

This means plenty of things are distractions while driving:  talking with passengers, eating, using a map, changing the radio, etc. We’ve all seen people doing this while driving and we’ve probably done them ourselves. Let’s consider the distracted driving statistics:

• According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 20% of injury crashes in 2009 involved distracted driving and 18% of distracted driving fatalities involved cell phones.
• According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a driver using a hand-held device is four times as likely to get into a crash causing injury to him or herself.
• According to a University of Utah study, using a cell phone while driving, either hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol content of .08 percent.

That last statistic is most alarming. I would never drive drunk or buzzed and I won’t let my friends drive drunk or buzzed. But if I or they are talking on a cell phone, the impairment is similar. That train of thought should be enough to make anyone think twice before picking up a phone while behind the wheel, so we can all get to our destinations safe and sound. And that’s what we want for you, because your safety is important to us. Please hang up and focus on the road.

If you’re in the market, consider contacting a Foremost agency to talk about an auto insurance policy.

It’s a family tradition to go to my aunt and uncle’s house a couple of times during the summer (including the 4^th of July) for a cookout and a day on the water. Not only do my parents have a boat, my aunt and uncle live on a lake with all the vessels such a residence would have.

It’s important to know that boating rules and regulations are different in every State and can vary depending on your age and the type of watercraft you are operating. This website, created by the United States Power Squadrons, gives a good high-level overview of State laws, but you’ll need to check out your individual State website for specific guidelines.

There are a couple of companies that offer an online boater’s safety course. The one I used, Boat-ed.com, currently offers a test for 42 states. You can complete the online course at your own pace and you don’t pay until you pass the test. What you do from there depends on your State. In Michigan, the certificate of course completion served as my entry into a proctored exam at my local Sheriff’s Department. After passing that test (which was quite hard) I got my boater’s safety certificate, which is now laminated and inside a waterproof wallet, ready for my next lakeside adventure. Man does it feel good to know I’m compliant.

Even if your state doesn’t require it, a boater’s safety course is a smart idea for any operator. The more certified people we have behind the controls of boats or PWCs, the safer the waterways. According to 2010 United States Coast Guard data, 84% of boating accidents causing a death occurred with operators who hadn’t taken a safety course. Passing a certified safety course may also make you eligible for a discount on your boater’s insurance policy premium. Your insurance agency will be able to check if the safety course you took qualifies.

And if you don’t have a standalone boat or PWC policy, consider talking to a Foremost Agency about the importance of a specialized policy that offers the coverages that fit your boat and lifestyle.

We’re heading into boating season; make sure you’re equipped with the knowledge to stay safe on the water. Know the laws before you launch.

Ask about life changes

Marriage, divorce, new job, retirement, babies, college – it all adds up to big life changes that can affect rates, discounts or coverages. A change in relationship status can mean a change in coverage needs, or simply a reduction or increase of possessions that needs to be covered. If your customer’s new job or recent retirement means a change in annual miles driven, that can easily affect their auto policy. Being of retirement age could also qualify them for certain discounts which are reserved for senior citizens. Some Auto policies also offer discounts for families that have a child away at college.

A recent move or renovation can also affect your customers’ insurance needs. A new or upgraded room in your customer’s home can increase the overall value, which is great, but it could easily result in them being underinsured. Even something like a new shed could result in a need for expanded coverage – not all policies include coverage for other structures. Moving time is also a great time for your customers to create or update a home inventory – which is invaluable in the case of a loss.

As insurance agents we know that we can’t write a ton of new business each day, but we can serve the customers we have each day to the best of our abilities. Start going through your list of customers today and offer to show them how to audit their insurance coverage and needs. You’ll both be glad you did.

• An adult needs to supervise and be present while kids are playing.
• No roughhousing! Never push others on the equipment.
• Use the equipment how it’s intended and choose age-appropriate equipment. (No standing on swings or sliding down face-first.)
• Dress appropriate for play. Wear clothes that don’t have drawstring or cords that could get caught on the equipment. Tennis shoes will support little feet best, and don’t forget sunscreen.
• Don’t use playground equipment when it’s wet. Slippery surfaces can lead to falls and injuries.
• In warm weather, playground equipment can become dangerously hot to the touch. If it’s too hot, it’s not safe to play on.

Play is an important part of kids’ physical, social and intellectual development. Teach your kids how to play safe and join in the fun!

Our social media team has been on the ground at numerous Superbike and Supercross races, the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the Daytona Beach Bike Week Event. Most recently, we attended the 70^th Annual Daytona Beach Bike Week in March 2013. The team hit the streets for the ten day event to talk to bikers about motorcycle safety, racing and the true biker experience. The goal of these social media campaigns is to bring the rally to enthusiasts who can’t attend and provide our agents with exclusive content that they can share on their social sites. We strive to bring on-the-street action to ourFacebook page, Twitter feed and this blog during these events and this past March was no exception. We posted pictures of cool rides, contests for viewers to choose the best bike, bikers on Main Street and interviews with racers!

During the Daytona Beach Bike Week event, the Daytona International Speedway also hosted the AMA Supercross race and the AMA Pro Superbike Race. We were in attendance for both and covered the professional teams we sponsor. For 2013, we’re sponsoring the Red Bull KTM Factory Supercross (SX) team and we were excited to talk with SX racers Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin before their big race during the first weekend. We also sponsor family run Superbike team Pegram Racing, featuring veteran racer Larry Pegram. Both teams made it to the podium for their respective races and we were there to capture all the action.

Along with the social media coverage, we are featured on the Pegram Racing reality show, Superbike Family. Superbike Family ran on SPEED TV Jan-March 2013. The show features the Pegram family and their commitment to racing and is already began taping for next year! We are proud to sponsor the show and are looking forward to a winning year on Pegram’s new ride, the Yamaha R1.

Foremost is constantly looking for ways to bring the action to you and will be at numerous races and bike events throughout the year. Watch out for live coverage from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this August too! Start following all the Foremost action today by visiting the Foremost Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/ForemostInsurance. And, if you’re in the market for insurance give a Foremost Agency a call.