“The company’s financial strength is allowing us to pass along rate savings to our Washington customers," said State Farm Senior Vice President Tom Conley. “We continually evaluate how we can best serve our customers and are very pleased to be able to offer this rate decrease in Washington.”

Overall changes in premiums for individual motorists will vary depending on the specific details of an individual customer’s policy and chosen coverages. The average Washington customer savings will be approximately $24 per year. The effective date for new and renewal business is July 30, 2018. Washington customers with questions can contact their local State Farm agent to discuss their individual situation.

In addition to this rate reduction, State Farm agents are able to review with new and existing customers the many opportunities for additional discounts that may apply to an individual’s unique circumstances. A rate decrease combined with discounts offers an exceptional long-term value to State Farm customers.

Teen drivers are still learning, and often mistakes on the roadway happen. These mistakes can result in traffic violations or worse, fatalities.

At any age, getting pulled over by an officer can be a scary experience. But, even scarier for a teen, is navigating the legal system.

The Seattle Youth Traffic Court (SYTC) provides an alternative for teens. They can appear before a group of their peers, who serve as judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court staff, and jurors. The court meets once a month and usually hears approximately eight cases.

National studies show teens sentenced in youth courts are less than half as likely to make the same driving mistake in the future. There are 1,600 youth courts in the U.S. and approximately 20 in Washington State.

SYTC, funded in part by State Farm, is based on the concept of restoring justice. As part of their youth court sentence, the teen defendants may have to:

• complete community service hours,

• interview a police officer,

• write an essay, or

• write a letter of apology to the other motorist(s) involved in a fender bender.

All teen drivers who take part in this program must act as a juror at least once.

“There are so many benefits to youth courts - the public is safer by having more awareness of the dangers of inattentive or problem driving behaviors,” shared Margaret Fisher, one of the founders of SYTC from the Seattle University School of Law. “They have a chance to give back to the community for the harm they caused. They become better drivers themselves as they learn from the mistakes made by their peers.”

What about Sarah the speeder?

In February 2017, she took the stand, under oath, and shared her story. She underwent a cross examination as the peer jury listened intently. They asked questions about her grades, after-school activities, and questions about the speeding incident.

The prosecutor called an expert witness, Sgt. Ashley Price. She spoke about these types of infractions and ways to avoid them. Price is one of two officers assigned by the Seattle PD to serve as youth court expert witnesses.

Sgt. Price shared a story of a fatality crash she saw where speed was at fault. The assigned officers’ role is to offer a depth of impact and consequences of risky driving behaviors. Price concluded, "In their first year on the road, teens are almost 10 times more likely to be in a crash, so be safe out there."

Then the defense attorney questioned Sarah, "Who pays your insurance? Were there consequences at home?"

"My parents pay my monthly insurance bill and car payment," Sarah said. After a brief pause she continued, "My parents yelled a little bit. That was then followed by a sentence of a month of washing the dinner dishes, and being grounded from use of my car. I never want to get a ticket again."

In Sarah’s closing statement she explained she thinks she learned the behavior from her father. "Mom is always saying my dad has a lead foot, and he needs to not be in such a hurry everywhere," said the teen. "I asked my dad for tips how I can drive safer, so we both can be better drivers."

Did you know teens who say their parents set rules and pay attention to their activities in a helpful, supportive way are half as likely to be in a crash.

It was time for the jury to deliberate. After ten minutes, the jury had come to a consensus. The sentence:

• four hours community service,

• a one page single-spaced essay on the dangers of speeding, and

• participation in two future youth court juries.

"The students gain an unparalleled education and understanding of the legal system. They develop critical thinking, observation, and questioning skills in a meaningful way,” says Terri Cooper, Commissioner Cheney Municipal Court “These are real cases that effect real people their own age. More communities in Washington need Teen Traffic Courts.”

For their participation in youth court, Sarah completed her sentence and now has a clean driving record. The high school volunteers who heard her case received community service credits toward their graduation and are better drivers for their experience!

Every second counts when first responders race to their destination. But what happens when they arrive at the scene and find someone trapped inside tons of snarled steel? How do they get the people out safely? Extrication.

Often, local fire departments and rescue squads have limited budgets. This means limited opportunities to receive vitally important, hands-on extrication training. State Farm is here to help first responders learn the intricacies of extrication from coast to coast.

Salvage Value in Virginia

In collaboration with the National Auto Body Council (NABC) and Holmatro, State Farm helps provide free extrication training for first responders. This is through NABC’s First Responders Emergency Extrication (FREE) program. The insurance company also provides salvage donations for use at training events. This no-cost training is a rare opportunity for hands-on practice on newer vehicles equipped with sophisticated new materials and technologies.

Two training events took place at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Vehicle Research Center in Ruckersville Virginia. First responders were first trained to cut and extricate passengers properly and safely. This was done in vehicles equipped with new technology. The new technology included high strength steels, sophisticated electronics and multiple airbags. This training is vital to protect not only the lives of crash victims, but also the lives of first responders.

“It’s impossible to measure the true impact when State Farm and our industry participate in programs like FREE. It is a very real way we are able to show our true commitment to building safer, stronger, and better educated communities,” shared Elizabeth Clark, a NABC Executive Board member and State Farm leader.

Crunch Time on the West Coast

Crunch Time is a two day extrication training class every September in Gig Harbor, WA. The training program enhances first responders’ skills at emergencies. This includes events such as vehicle collisions, machinery entanglements, parking garage or bridge collapses, and natural disasters.

Participants rotate through 12 different scenarios. They include ones such as school bus extrication, car vs. semi-truck, and vehicles which have plunged into an irrigation canal. Besides patient extrication, participants experience heavy lift scenarios, learn proper use and handling of hydraulic tools, and stabilization techniques.

Working around air bags, cutting through different metal alloys, and computerized panels found in hybrid vehicles pose different safety challenges than just 10 to 15 years ago. Many safety features drivers expect in their vehicles today add safety risks to rescuers.

That’s why fire departments and responder units from Alaska, California and states as far away as Florida send their personnel to the largest training of its kind – Crunch Time.

More than eighty cars were used in September 2016 training. State Farm is one of a handful of sponsors that provide annual grants to keep the program current with the most up-to-date equipment. Since 2003, State Farm has donated more than 85 vehicles to Crunch Time. This includes a hybrid vehicle that was cut open to display the internal components.

“Crunch Time helps students become safer in their rescue attempts. It also teaches them to be more effective at handling emergencies. And even better at handling traumatic events,” shared Lt. TJ Teeple, Technical Rescue Lieutenant at Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One and Incident Commander for Crunch Time.

Lt. Teeple sums up the benefits of extrication training when he says, “The best measurement of success for the program is when firefighters tell us this training has saved lives.”

The scariest night of the year for pedestrians and drivers alike is October 31. Aside from the costumes and haunted houses, the thought of a child darting in front of a car can cause anxiety for any driver and parent.

Sometimes local tragedies serve as unfortunate reminders about the need to keep trick-or-treaters safe. There are an average of 5.5 fatalities each year on Halloween night. This is more than two times the average of fatalities for other days. Statistics show 23% of fatalities occur with children between the ages of five and eight; and 70% of accidents occur away from an intersection or crosswalk.

So what can you do to keep your little princesses, pirates, police officers and witches safe this Halloween? One alternative is block parties.

Every year, a block party is organized in the Magnolia community of Seattle, WA. An entire block is sectioned off so residents can bring Trick-or-Treaters of all ages for an evening of fun and safety. Booths are set up and kids and parents are able to go to booths for treats.

Take Winter by Storm, a safety coalition in Seattle, WA, looks for block parties to help spread safety messages in a fun environment. At previous block parties, the coalition provided goodie bags with reflectors, flashlights, safety flashers, safety coloring books, and parent brochures.

State Farm agent Brian Chambers participates with his own booth and brings along a special treat for the kids, the Good NeighBear. "We participate because we love getting to celebrate with our community and it’s a great opportunity to get to know more of our neighbors."

Bloomington, Illinois (October 21, 2016) – State Farm is introducing a new coverage endorsement in several states to help fill insurance gaps for its policyholders who use their personal cars to provide rides for a Transportation Network Company (TNC), like Uber and Lyft. The TNC industry is rapidly changing the livery/taxi industry by using the latest mobile technology to facilitate rides for hire. With these new transportation services in the marketplace, drivers are exposed to new risks.

Insurance provided by TNCs may be limited in scope and coverage. Personal auto policies generally do not extend coverage to the use of personal cars as taxis or livery vehicles, including their use in TNC services.

To adapt to changing customer needs, beginning Monday, October 21, 2016, State Farm will offer a Transportation Network Company Driver Coverage endorsement in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia.

The effective date for new and renewal for all states except GA: October 21, 2016. The effective date for new and renewal for GA: November 21, 2016

Ten jurisdictions obtained the endorsement earlier this year: Alabama, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin .

"Adapting and innovating to our customers' changing needs is critical," said Vicki Harper, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist. "This new product is an example of our commitment to our customers and provides them coverage, and peace of mind, when they use their personal cars to provide TNC services."

TNCs may provide high liability coverage limits while a paying passenger occupies the driver's vehicle or when the driver has been connected with a passenger and is on the way to pick that person up. But TNCs tend to provide a much lower limit of liability coverage when drivers are just available for hire and may not provide the drivers with any medical payments, comprehensive, or collision coverages at all. The TNCs may not be providing coverage for injuries to the driver or coverage for any damage to the driver's personal car.

The new, optional State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement enables a policyholder to have his/her personal auto policy fill in the coverage gaps left by TNC-provided insurance. This cost-effective endorsement provides the driver with the full liability coverage limits carried on his/her auto policy during the period of time when the driver is available for hire, and provides the driver with all other coverages applicable to his/her auto policy during all periods of TNC driving.

Customers in these states who drive for a TNC should contact their local State Farm agent to learn more about the new State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement.

Clinton Taylor was a typical teen until his single mom lost her job. Then, he made choices that put him on a path to self-destruction. Luckily, his mom and other adults stepped up. They helped him make better choices and to take a brighter path.

The oldest of three children, Clinton was raised in a single parent home by his mother. His childhood was spent in some of the poorest, gang-infested neighborhoods in north and northeast Portland, Oregon. This was during the height of the crack epidemic in the early 1980’s.

For years, Clinton managed to avoid joining neighborhood gangs. The one thing he couldn’t avoid, was the heavy influence of street life.

After graduating from high school, Clinton found himself falling into a life of drugs and crime. At the urging of his mother, 19-year-old Clinton joined the United States Army. A few years later, he was in Iraq serving on the front lines in Operation Desert Storm.

Honorably discharged from the military, after five years serving his country, Clinton soon found himself back on the same streets in the same neighborhoods.

“I struggled for years to overcome my battles with drugs, alcohol, and crime,” Clinton shared. “The life I chose caught up with me; I was sent to prison for seven years.”

Once released, Clinton decided to turn his life around. He enrolled in college. He now has three degrees: an Associate’s Degree in General Studies, a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies, and a Masters of Art Degree in Organizational Leadership.

In 2006, Clinton started his own motivational speaking and training business. Right State of Mind is an organization dedicated to helping others overcome barriers and obstacles in their personal and professional life. Clinton has led training sessions and presentations at all levels of education, drug/alcohol facilities, correctional institutions, and Fortune 500 companies across the country.

Clinton has also written successful training curriculums for life skills programs and workforce development programs. His programs have helped thousands of young people and adults enter education, employment and job programs. These programs, in turn, are putting young adults on the path to economic stability and positive contributions to their communities.

Currently, Clinton is the Program Manager in Tacoma and Seattle, WA, for Financial Beginnings, a nonprofit that empowers Pacific Northwest youth and adults to take control of their financial futures with State Farm support.

Clinton has successfully re-integrated himself into society. He has proven anyone can turn their life’s stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

“I believe the greatest tragedy in life is not the mistakes you make or how many times life knocks you down.” Clinton adds, “I believe the great travesty is to live your entire life and get to the end not knowing why you lived, and never discovering your purpose in life.”