When you’re a teenager, getting your driver’s license is a bona fide rite of passage. When you’re a parent, your teenager getting their driver’s license is a heart attack waiting to happen. You stress about everything that could happen out there, if they’re prepared as well as you hope them to be.
That’s where someone like Derek Vannelli comes in and gives those teenagers a booster in how to navigate the realities of driving. Derek is a State Farm agent based in Butler who visits local school driver’s ed classes to share with them how much of an adult world they’re about to accelerate into.
“My goal in doing this is to have a safe community of good youthful drivers who don’t cause accidents and respect the road,” Derek shares. “I’ve had several parents find out that I did this class and they wanted to bring their other children who didn’t have the class come to my office to sit down and review the program with them, to teach them the rules of the road and discounts they can qualify for for doing the right thing – and the ramifications for not following the rules.”
It's all part of State Farm’s “Steer Clear” program, where agents go to high schools to teach young drivers the perils of reckless driving (drinking and driving, speeding, etc.), he says. “The video we show is very hardcore and realistic, interviewing drivers on their experiences, kind of a ‘scared straight’ video. I just wanted to expand on this program.”
Since teenagers tend to have a bit of an immortality complex, they often overlook the risks they run while on the road from both a safety and financial perspective. This program serves as a wake up call to remind them of their responsibilities to be a safe driver, and what to do even if others aren’t.
“We go through the main reasons accidents occur with youthful drivers: distracted driving (cell phones), speeding, not being aware of the road conditions (ice, snow, wet leaves) and how to navigate them,” Derek explains.
The reaction to this program is quite remarkable. “Most kids really perk up after they see the graphic video of the accidents and then we usually have a very good conversation. They are so much smarter than we were growing up and really ask some interesting questions,” he says. “The schools love it because it’s helping educate the children to keep them alive and safe, so most teachers really love the way I handle the discussion by opening it up to them and let them voice their concerns.”
They also take this opportunity to go over something that most driver’s ed programs don’t cover – what auto insurance entails. “I teach kids the basics of insurance. Terms they should know such as deductible, liability, premium, etc., so they know what to expect in the future. I also go through an accident example and ask them what should you do. It’s great hands-on learning that prepares them for the real world. I also show them how much insurance costs for youthful drivers and how they can save money with certain student discounts, like the Good Student Grades Driver Training Program Discount which can reduce their premiums a lot and save them - or their parents - money.”
But the biggest reason that Derek enjoys doing this is what it means for his community, and the impact it can have on the kids.
“My customers are not only clients, they are an extension of my family. When clients come into my office, I treat them as if they were coming to my house. Growing up in the small town of Wanaque and having my dad as the local State Farm Agent was awesome. He always sponsored my baseball little league and basketball teams and that made me so proud. To see my kid’s faces now when I sponsor their teams is priceless. That’s why I continue to sponsor all the local Butler, Kinnelon, and Bloomingdale kids’ programs to give them the support they need to thrive. All the local businesses I grew up with meant everything to our town. That’s why I think being the local State Farm Agent in Butler is a truly important job, showing the parents I genuinely care about their children and that goes a long way in building and keeping relationships, which is what my job is all about.”
Derek’s State Farm office is at 1212 Route 23 North Suite 2, in Butler. He can be reached at 973-838-0220 for more information about the Steer Clear program or any of your insurance needs.