Katie Reed

CAR SEAT INSTALLATION

You might think that anyone who can read an instruction manual and follow directions could install a car seat. In reality, though, it's not so easy. And accordin to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as many as 85 percent of all car seats are improperly installed.

THE LOWDOWN ON CAR SAFETY SEATS

Unless you plan to walk home from the hospital, you'll need a car seat to take your baby home. By law in all 50 states your child up to 18 months of age must be properly restrained in a car seat, most states have laws requiring car seats until a child is a least 3 years old.

HELP IS HERE

Your local Shawnee, KS State Farm Agent, Nick Reed is a certified child passenger safety technician. Nick can inspect your child safety seat and show you how to correctly use and install it. Swing by the office to have your car seat inspected. 6632 Monticello Rd, Shawnee KS 66226.

WWWW.NICKREEDAGENCY.COM

According to Safe Kids USA, over a recent five-year period, twice as many child pedestrians have been killed on Halloween as have been killed on average throughout the rest of the year in the United States. With the days getting shorter, children are likely to be trick-or-treating in the dark when it is harder to see them and the excitement of the holiday can make everyone less cautious.

Remember to drive safe on Halloween Night!

* Nick Reed State Farm * (913) 422-0123 * 6632 Monticello Rd, Shawnee KS 66226*

When people get ready to walk across a public road, they usually look both ways first to see if any motor vehicles are coming. Unfortunately, this isn't the case with animals, including certain large ones.

Too often, the result is a motorist's nightmare: a collision with a deer! The animal usually comes out second-best in the type of close encounter, but the toll on vehicles and their occupants can also be substantial.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 150 people die in animal-vehicle collisions each year. The Insurance Information Institute estimates some 1.5 million such collisions cause about over $1 billion in damage annually.

While animal-vehicle collisions can happen any time of year, fall is the peak season for deer-car crashes. That's mainly because autumn is both mating season and hunting season, so deer are more active and more likely to roam beyond their normal territory.

No foolproof way has been found to keep deer off highways and away from vehicles. Deer whistles have their advocates, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says there's no scientific evidence to support claims they work as intended. Some studies suggest roadside reflectors- designed to reflect light from vehicle headlamps and cause deer to "freeze" rather than cross the road- reducing crash frequency to some extent.

There are ways you can lessen an unplanned meeting with a deer.......

Here's How

• Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to "deer crossings" signs. Look well down the road and far off to each side. At night, use your high beams if possible to illuminate the road edges. Be especially watchful in areas near woods and water. If you see one deer, there may be several others nearby.
• Be particularly alert at dusk and dawn, when these animals venture out to feed.
• If you see a deer near the roadway and think you have time to avoid hitting it, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers and sound your horn. Deer tend to fixate on headlights, so flashing them may cause the animal to move. If there's no vehicle close behind you, brake hard.
• If a collision seems inevitable, don't swerve to avoid the animal; your risk of injury may be greater if you do. Hit it, but control the vehicle. Report the crash to police.
• Always obey the speed limit and wear safety belts.

Being alert at all times while driving is your best defense against any type of accident.

Katie Reed

Nick Reed State Farm: 913-422-0123 6632 Monticello Rd, Shawnee KS 66226

Whether it's the work of an elaborate theft rings or random individual crime, auto theft is big business. On average, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III) a vehicle is stolen every 29 seconds in the United States at a cost of about $7.4 billion a year in 2007. Insurance for theft is included in the comprehensive part of your auto insurance policy that also covers fire, vandalism and weather related damage.

The number of insured cars stolen and their cost directly affect insurance premiums. By taking a few precautions you can reduce the chances of having your vehicle stolen.

• Always remove your keys from your parked vehicle.
• Park with your front wheels turned sharply to the right or left and apply the emergency brake. This will make it difficult for a thief to tow your car.
• Consider installing an antitheft device or buying a car with an immobilizer system that prevents a thief from driving off with the car.
• Park in a locked garage, patrolled or well-lit area whenever possible.

Unfortunately, carjacking has become a more common method of vehicle theft. Carjacking is the attempted or completed robbery of a vehicle by a stranger that includes the use of a threat or force. You can protect yourself from this crime.

• Don't roll down your car window to a suspicious person.
• Keep your car doors locked and windows rolled up
• If a suspicious person is near your parked car, don't approach it. Keep walking and contact area security or policy.

Insurance companies work together with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to crack down on criminal operations. If you suspect vehicle theft activity, notify your local police, call the NICB anonymously at 1-800-TEL- NICB (800-835-6422) or report a crime at www.nicb.org.

For more information contact Katie Reed at 913-422-0123

Nick Reed State Farm * 6632 Monticello Rd, Shawnee KS 66226

Many of our dreams are dependent upon the choices we make throughout our lives. That's why planning carefully and making smart choices will help ensure you realize your financial dreams and goals.

Are you saving for a child's college eduction or a new house? Dreaming about starting a new business or hoping to retire by age 55?

Whatever your financial goals and dreams may be, you need a road map-an action plan-to help reach your destination. If you have a road map outlining how you'll achieve your financial goals, how long has it been since you reviewed it? As your family circumstances and finances change, the plans you have in place may need to be adjusted- to make sure you're still headed in the right direction.

If you don't have an action plan in place, you may be asking yourself, "Where do I start?"

Consider enlisting the help of your insurance agent or a qualified financial services specialist. Today, several companies offer personalized services designed to help you come up with practical solutions for achieving your financial goals.

The important thing is to get started today. The sooner you clarify and prioritize your goals and create a road map for how you'll get there, the greater success you'll have at achieving what's most important to you.

-Katie Reed, Registered Rep www.nickreedagency.com * (913) 422-0123