Texting while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving!

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Since 1964

www.sav-on.com February 2021

INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER

A Winning AttitudeDanny Hamilton, our CSR in White Center,goes the distance for our clients. 2 5

Don’t Text and Drive!Hazards to watch out for while driving this spring.

Driving Hazards

4

One of the most sce-nic drives in the United States is right here in our backyard! The North Cascades Highway is approximately 75 miles of the most rugged beauty in the lower 48 states and leads to North Cascades National Park.

Completed in 1964, Highway 20 follows a covered-wagon route established in 1896 and is one of the oldest roads in Washington.

Unfortunately, during the winter

months the snow accumu-lation makes the access road to the park impos-sible. But it’s not too early to plan for May or June trip. It’s best to go earlier in the season, as mid-summer can get crowded with cars and pedestrians.

Just remember to bring warm clothes with you, since the weather at that altitude can be very chilly.

Almost 40,000 visitors descended on the park in 2019, and much of the park

Continued on page 3

Northwest Get-AwAys

Exploring the North Cascades

CONSUMER AWARENESS NEWSLETTER

It’s been a year since the pan-demic invaded our country – and the world – and began infecting and killing people. There are now have been 3 million U.S. citizens in-fected, and the death toll will soon exceed 500,000.

But, help is on the way. Two vac-cines have been approved and have begun to be administered into the arms of Americans.

Soon, Johnson & Johnson hopes to have emergency approval of their vaccine, joining Pfizer and Moderna in the race to vaccinate the world.

But, this progress is complicated by the emerging variants of the virus that have begun to appear in the U.S. The UK, South African, and Brazilian mutations are surging

The rugged beauty of the North Cascades National Park is unsurpassed.

Vaccines Are On Their Way, But So Are the Variants

Continued on page 4

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We’re on Facebook!Visit our Facebook page. Go to www.sav-on.com and click on the Face-book logo!

Our newest Customer Service Rep comes to SAV-ON with a unique background that

includes, among other things, work-ing on political campaigns, training in mixed martial arts (MMA), and even an assignment as a bodyguard dur-ing a Seattle concert!

Danny Hamilton, who was born and raised in White Center, has come full circle and now works in the SAV-ON Seattle/White Center office, which is walking distance from his home. Hired last October, he brings a variety of job experiences to the company. Al-though all of it is in professions other than insurance, the life lessons he has learned have prepared him well for this line of work.

What he lacks in insurance experi-ence he makes up for in enthusiasm and attitude. The discipline and con-trol he learned in MMA have served him well when dealing with stress of the fast-paced insurance business, and he relishes the satisfaction he gets when helping a customer or be-ing able to assist a co-worker com-plete her work.

After dropping out of high school, Danny went back and got his GED, then enrolled in college at South Seattle Community College where he worked on his Associate of Arts degree. Then, when his financial aid ran out, he decided it was time to find a job.

A student of the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu, Danny was able to find employ-ment as a security guard, then a casi-no guard, and even one time as the aforementioned bodyguard. It was a Key Arena concert, and he worked the barricade by the stage, making

sure that no one got on stage.“It turned out to be uneventful,” he

recalls. “No one even attempted to get on the stage, but I was ready if they had tried!”

He also did some work on a couple of state campaigns for a state repre-

sentative and a state sena-tor, too, but decided politics weren’t right for him.

While he was between jobs due to the pandemic, he saw an online advertise-ment for a customer ser-vice job in SAV-ON’s White Center office. Since it was in his backyard, he thought

it would be a good opportunity. He applied, was soon interviewed, and started last October.

He enjoys his new job, especially interacting with customers and meet-ing new people. He likes helping them and feels it is a rewarding part of his job.

“It’s work first when I get to the of-fice, “ he stresses. “I am determined to give the best possible customer service to all my customers and am able to adapt to whatever situation that presents itself to satisfy the cli-ent.”

Danny considers himself a sports nut. He loves to watch any sport that’s on TV. His favorites are boxing, martial arts, football, and basketball, but he’ll watch just about any sport that’s on.

One of his more memorable experi-ences led him to participate in an-other sport. When he was only seven years old he went to a lake with his stepfather. He walked backward off a dock and almost drowned. When his stepfather jumped in to save him, he almost caused his stepfather to

Danny Hamilton: Bringing a Winning Attitude

Independent agents and brokers offer products from many different insurance companies. That means more opportunities to find the best coverage and service at the right price. PEMCO Insurance offers preferred auto, home and umbrella insurance.  You can also save with our multi-policy discount.

SAV-ON Insurance is an independent insurance agency that is proud to represent PEMCO Insurance.

Danny Hamilton

In January, 15 ‘Smart Driver’ GradsSaved an Average of $450*

31%!

*Cumulative average savings over 6 months

TOP 10 Savers in January:Smart Driver City Savingsu Peter A. Seattle $1,193u Jose V. Burien $938u Javier M. Seattle $905u Fanny L. Lopez $434u Leonard W. Tacoma $418u Cipriano A. Tacoma $407u Harvey J. Tacoma $402u Rachidi A. Seattle $364u Leia C. Seattle $357u Soon J. Everett $274

NovemberJose Cendejas, Gig Harbor

DecemberRoman Martinez, Tacoma

JanuaryGiovani Lucas, University Place

3 Chances to Win!Referral Rewards!

Joelle Mbuyamba from Tukwila was our lucky 2019 Grand Prize Winner! She won a 50” 4K Smart TV!

It’s Simple to Win: Just referral a friend or family member and you receive 2 Lotto tickets. You’re also entered in a monthly drawing for a gift cer-tificate and our annual Grand Prize TV drawing.

SAV-ONSAV-ON

That’s anaverage savings of

2,047

Base 2 SpaceCancer FundraiserWe’ve

Our Monthly Winners:

Continued on page 3

was closed in 2020 due to COVID-19. After the pandemic subsides people will want to get away even more than usual, so going early will avoid the rush.

A pleasant surprise is that there are no en-trance fees to visit North Cascades National Park! There aren’t many places left that don’t charge fees to enjoy. This is one of them!

How to Get There

Once you get to Everett, the Cascade loop begins at the Highway 2 exit off of Interstate 5. While the entire loop is 440 miles of scenic road that includes Highway 2, Highway 97, and Highway 20, it’s not necessary to drive that far to get the national park and see some amazing nature.

Your ultimate destination is the North Cascades National Park, which features incredible, unspoiled scen-ery and nature. Wildlife is abundant throughout the park, with black-tailed deer, mule deer, bobcats, cougars, black bears, and even some grizzly bears! All told, there are 75 different mammals that inhabit the park.

The scenery is very dif-

ferent from place to place

on your trip. There are

dense forests and rugged

mountains on the west

side, contrasted with pine

forests and grasslands on

the east side of the moun-

tains. There are pristine al-

pine lakes and an impres-

sive dam on Diablo Lake.

Make sure to have plenty

of gas in the tank, as there

are no gas stations for

most of the route. Also,

you’ll probably need to

leave Fido at home. Dogs

are not allowed in the

national park except on the Pacific

Crest Trail and within 50 feet of roads.

This is to protect both the wildlife and

your dog.

It’s an amazing trip, but it’s impor-

tant to call and make sure the road

and park are open before heading out

on your road trip.

3

North Cascades: Plenty of Unspoiled Scenery Throughout ParkContinued from page 1

drowned, too. He vowed to never let that happen again, so he joined his school’s swim team and is now an excellent swimmer!

Determination has carried him throughout his life. When he was nine or ten, he was chosen to throw out the first pitch at a college baseball game. He practiced for a long time to throw the best pitch he could in what was to be a quick event. When it was time for the pitch, it didn’t go well, but it wasn’t because he hadn’t tried.

He brings that same dedication to his job at SAV-ON Insurance. He likes to use his positive attitude and sense

of humor to make clients feel comfort-able. He enjoys getting to know them and helping them with their problems or questions. When they leave satis-fied he feels a sense of accomplish-ment.

He really likes his new job at SAV-ON. He enjoys working with his co-workers and appreciates the family-like atmosphere at SAV-ON.

Eventually, he wants to resume his mixed martial arts training and would like someday to train at-risk kids in MMA and boxing. He feels that teach-ing them the discipline and control necessary in those sports keeps them interested and off the streets.

With his determination and enthusi-asm, it will undoubtedly happen!

Continued from page 2

Danny Hamilton: Combining a Positive Attitude with a Sense of Humor

Ken Carlton from Seattle was the first reader to find the word on Sam’s hat hidden in our November newsletter. He was rewarded with two movie tickets.

You could be our next winner!

Just be the first to text the word on the hat to 206-592-6007 or email us at info@sav-on.com and win a gift card!

Hats Off to Our Referral RewardsWinner!

See incredible vistas of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park.

4

Many breathe a sigh of relief know-ing that hazardous winter driving is coming to an end, but driving in the Northwest in spring can pose a differ-ent set of problems to be aware of.

Spring around here can bring lots of rain and the flooding that comes with it, making roads treacherous.

Here Are Some Things to Watch Out For When Driving in Spring

Potholes

Winter weather and cold tempera-tures combined with rain and the occasional snow can break down the road’s surface and cause potholes to form. Some can get big after repeated pounding by traffic and the result is a serious hazard. When they fill up with heavy rain they are difficult to see – until it’s too late.

The result can be flat tires, bent rims, alignment damage, or even damaged suspension.

Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you so in case they swerve or brake in an attempt to avoid the pothole, you can react in time.

If you see a pothole, never swerve. Gently brake and change lanes if possible. Slowing down will help you navigate the pothole with less of a chance of damage.

Spring Rainstorms

Spring can bring with it torrential down-pours which can not only make streets slick, but also reduce vis-ibility.

First rains can mix with oil and grease that is on the road and make for a very slippery surface. Curves that nor-mally can be navigated can turn into a slick surface and your tires can lose their grip on the road!

Windshield wipers can struggle to keep the windshield clear in times of heavy rain. Make sure your wipers are not worn out before heading out, keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you and slow down!

Watch for Pedestrians

As the weather improves and the days get longer, more people are out and about. Walkers, joggers, and bicyclists are out on the roads and at crosswalks. Pay extra attention at

crosswalks and give bicyclists plenty of room.

Remember that pedestrians have the right of way in cross-walks and at walk signals.

Check Your Tires

During the winter, tires lose air due to the

colder temperatures, causing them to be underinflated. This can cause han-dling problems and excess wear on your tires. Make sure they’re properly inflated.

Worn tires can also lose gripping power on streets slick with rain. Make sure your tires have adequate tread to maintain traction on the road. If they need to be replaced, don’t just get the cheapest tire, research what the best tire for your vehicle is. Tires are impor-tant for keeping you safe on the road, so you don’t want to compromise!

Construction Zones

With spring weather comes in-creased road construction and repair. Road crews are out in force during the spring repairing all the damage that the winter has caused to the pavement.

Be aware of construction zones, slow down, and obey are reduced speed zones. Washington has laws that increase fines considerably in construction zones due to speeding drivers causing accidents – and even

Impending Arrival of Spring Presents a New Set of Driving Hazards

Smart Driving tipS

Continued on page 5Colder winter temperatures can cause tires to lose air.

COLD

5

deaths – in these congested areas. Remember, they’re trying to keep the roads safe for you to drive on. Give them a brake!

Share the Road

Both bicyclists and motorcyclists have a right to use the roads.

Bicyclists are generally slower than vehicular traffic, and when approach-ing them they are difficult to see due to their narrow width. Be alert for them and, when possible, give them a wide berth.

Motorcyclists, on the other hand, can come up on cars very quickly, due to their quick acceleration. Make sure you look in your rear view mirror and check your blind spots before chang-ing lanes, as motorcycles are difficult to spot due to their smaller size.

Spring Driving: Sharethe Road with CyclistsContinued from page 4

throughout the world and have now begun showing up in cases in the United States.

Studies have found these variants are more easily transmitted, mean-ing that there’s a greater chance of it spreading, meaning more hospi-talizations and more deaths.

Adding to the problem are recent reports that seem to indicate both vaccines are less effective in pre-venting infection by these variants, possibly requiring a booster shot to be added to the immunization plan.

The Biden administration has pri-oritized the response to the vacci-nation effort, pledging to vaccinate at least 100 million people in the first 100 days of his administration,

but it’s a race against time as the virus keeps mutating and becoming resilient to the current vaccines.

Recently, the National Football League has said that all NFL foot-ball teams are willing to have their stadiums used for mass inoculations for COVID-19. That means that, con-ceivably, Lumen Field could soon be turned into a mass-vaccination site.

Time will tell, but in the meantime the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is stressing that it’s im-portant to wear a mask in public, socially distance, don’t gather in large groups, and wash your hands frequently.

Sources: Center for Disease Control, State of Washington

Vaccines: A Race Against the Variant Strains of the COVID Virus

Texting While Driving: As Dangerous as Drunk DrivingEveryone knows about the dangers

of drinking and driving. People are killed frequently by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

There are severe penalties for Driving While Under the Influence (DUI), and insurance rates for those convicted go sky high. Many orga-nizations, such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, devote their time to pushing for severe penalties for these violators.

But, most people aren’t aware that texting or talking on the phone, called distracted driving, is as deadly as drunk driving.

Drivers who use their cell phone to talk or text are tempting fate. Cell-phone use shifts the driver’s attention

away from the road. The National Highway Safety Ad-ministration has found that approximately 28% of all accidents are caused by drivers texting or talking on their cell phones.

In 2013, distracted drivers killed more than 3,000 people and injured 424,000 more. Fatal crashes involv-ing teenagers increase by 15% dur-ing the summer months.

If you are texting while driving, you are 23 times more likely to get in an accident than an undistracted driver. This statistic falls at about the same rate as if you were driving under the influence of alcohol.

Texting while driving impairs your response time in several ways. Each time you text, you aren’t aware of your surroundings for approximately five seconds. That’s the same as closing your eyes and driving over 400 feet at 55 miles per hour.

Next time you’re driving, please put your phone away. The life you save may be your own.

Continued from page 1