West Bend Provides a Silver Lining.

Keep your princesses and superheroes safe this Halloween

Like many other things this year, celebrating Halloween in 2020 may be different than in the past for some people. Many kids and adults alike, look forward to visiting pumpkin farms, trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, and other family-favorite activities. While some of these traditions may need to be modified or put on hold this year due to COVID-19, there are still plenty of ways you can scare up a little fun.

Here are some recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for fun ways to celebrate while also minimizing the risk of being exposed to the virus.

Also, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Holiday Celebrations page. They provide information on higher-risk Halloween activities, as well as some lower- and moderate-risk alternatives.

While COVID-19 may put a damper on your usual Halloween activities, this may be the perfect time to start a new family tradition!

National Teen Driver Safety Week

October 18 – 24 is National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW). Observed annually during the third full week in October since 2007, this campaign emphasizes the importance of following the rules of the road. It urges parents to talk to their teens about the greatest dangers for teen drivers: alcohol, inconsistent or no seatbelt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding, and number of passengers.

As motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, the statistics are sobering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017 there were 3,255 teen drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes, resulting in 3,542 fatalities.

NHTSA’s Teen Driving site is a great resource for parents looking for information on the biggest risks for teen drivers and advice on how to talk to their children about them.

While parental guidance, influence, and training are key to keeping teen drivers and others around them safe, parents may want additional help. West Bend is committed to helping teenagers develop the knowledge, skills, and responsibility needed to operate a motor vehicle safely. We proudly sponsor Road America’s Teen Driving School. West Bend policyholders receive a significantly reduced rate for this program which goes beyond typical drivers’ education by putting participants in common emergency situations while in a safe, controlled, off-street environment. Participants practice collision avoidance techniques that include emergency lane changes, braking, skid control, and a variety of other fundamental car control drills. Click here to learn more about this program and our other resources for parents with teen drivers.

The derecho that swept through the Midwest  was another “unprecedented” event in a year filled with unprecedented events. What’s not unprecedented is the way West Bend associates stepped up to help our customers in need. Find out what some of them had to say.