Here are some safety and planning tips for parents and teens to help make this prom a memorable one, for the right reasons.

Before Prom:

Practice! Has your teen ever driven the route from home to their date’s house, to the restaurant, to the school (or prom location), and back? Have they driven it at night? If the Prom is being held in a downtown area, have they driven to or tried to park there before?

There’s a big difference between driving a route after school in the daylight, and driving it at night.

Take a test drive with them in advance. Make sure it’s around the same time of day that they’ll be driving to and from the dance, so they’ll be comfortable with the route and the road and lighting conditions.

Coded Emergency Plan. Often, teens are afraid to look like a ‘tattle tail’ or a ‘buzz kill’ and may not take action, even when they don’t feel safe. It’s a good idea to establish a code word that they can text or use in a phone call to alert you that they need to be picked up right away. Take the time before prom to work out the details, so that both you and your teen know the plan before you need it.

A suggestion from one of our Claims Managers here at MAIF is to have a family friend available if your teen needs a ride. If they’re hesitant to call Mom and Dad for fear of getting in trouble, having someone else who they can trust may help make your teen more likely to do the right thing.

Make sure to account for a dead cell phone battery. Teens should take their car charger with them. Parents should also have the cell phone numbers of everyone their teen will be with before and after prom, so they can be reached through their friends’ phones. Teens should also know before they head out to the dance that if their phone dies, they need to check in with you at regular intervals.

Curfew. Make sure that your teen and their date know what time each are expected home. Since most teens are still on provisional driver’s licenses, the curfew built into the rules of the license make it easy to set that time.

When you take the test drive of the route, make sure they understand the timing of the drive and how much time they need to allow to drop off their date and to get home safely before curfew. (And remind them to allow extra travel time if it’s raining…or for that awkward ‘good night’ moment).

Buckle Up. “The seat belt is wrinkling my dress.” “…it’s crushing my corsage!” These aren’t excuses to skip the seat belt. If you are involved in an accident on the way to dinner or prom, that seat belt can mean the difference between getting there late and never getting there at all. Also, it’s the law. Click it or ticket.

No Texting and Driving! 40% of teens admit that they’ve been in a car with a teen driver who has used a cell phone in a way that has put them in danger. Make sure that your teen knows to put the phone away whenever they’re driving. Or if they’re the passenger, to say something to the driver or offer to send the text for them. (And just a hint for the guys: your date doesn’t want to compete with your cell phone for your attention…not in the car, at dinner, or at prom. So do yourself a favor and leave the phone in your pocket…Unless your parents are calling. Then, definitely answer it. Just not while you’re driving).

After Prom:

No Alcohol or Drugs! It goes without saying that anyone attending a high school prom is too young to drink…and regardless of your age, it’s illegal to drink or use drugs and drive. Nevertheless, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 22% of the young drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2010 had been drinking. Make sure your teen knows not to get into a car with anyone who has been drinking or is otherwise impaired, under any circumstances.

They may feel pressure to get in the car with their date or whoever drove them to the dance or party, especially if it’s getting close to curfew. Remind them that this is exactly the scenario that the Emergency Plan is intended for, and to call or text.

This also goes for parents! If you’re playing chauffeur and will be shuttling teens to and from the dance, make sure you don’t have a glass or two of wine or a beer while you’re waiting for that call to come pick them up.

After Party? It’s important to know where your teens and their dates are going after the dance. Is there a party? Will there be adult supervision? Make sure to touch base with the parents of the party host to make sure that there will be no alcohol available.

Know your teen’s plans and timeline for the night, and make sure they stick to it. It’s always a good idea to talk with the parents of your teen’s date (or the group of friends they’re going to the dance with) to make sure that the plans and timeline you’ve been given mesh with what the other parents have heard. 

No Heavy Eyelids. Many schools host official After Prom Parties. Though these keep the attendees from drinking and driving, they can create a different hazard. If the driver has been up all night at Prom and then the after party, and tries to drive home at 5:00am, they risk falling asleep at the wheel. Make sure your teen knows not to drive if they feel too sleepy, or to allow their date to drive if they think he or she is too tired. That is just as dangerous as texting or drinking and driving!

Operation: Safe Prom: You may also want to share these MAIF Operation: Safe Prom videos with your teen. These short films were made by Maryland student filmmakers, to encourage their fellow students to make good decisions in regard to texting and driving and drunk driving, this prom season.

Sometimes, in trying to make sure our teens have a special and memorable prom night, we miss the most important details. Too many teens never make it home from prom.

However, with good communication, a little planning, firm expectations and guidelines, and lots of cooperation, parents and teens can both have a fun, memorable, and safe prom night.

We’d like to give a very big thank you to Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Jack Gerbes, Director of the Maryland Film Office; and Kent Krabbe, Executive Director of MAIF, for participating in the Operation: Safe Prom video contest as our judging panel.

The panel ranked each of the final five films from #1 to #5. We then converted the ranking into a score (5 points for a first place ranking, 4 points for a second place ranking, 3 points for third, 2 points for fourth, and 1 point for fifth), and the points were totaled up to give us the final rankings for this contest.

The results were very close.

Your 2013 Operation: Safe Prom winner is:

Winter’s Mill High School – “Prom Safety”

2nd Place Winner is Kent Island High School’s “You Don’t Always Get a Second Chance”

3rd Place Winner is Wicomico High School’s “A Sad Truth”

4th Place goes to Northern High School’s “Watch Where You Text”

and 5th place goes to Augusta Fells Savage Institute for Visual Arts’ “Watch The Road”

Again, we thank all of the students who submitted films. We hope that all of these schools (and many more) will return to compete in 2014!

Five Maryland High Schools. Seven films. Three hundred and eleven votes cast over ten days.

Now that the public voting period is closed, the five films with the most votes will move on to be judged by our Operation: Safe Prom judging panel, who will select the first, second, and third place winners for the contest.

The panel is made up of industry professionals and experts in the fields of film-making,  insurance, and public safety. MAIF Executive Director Kent Krabbe is joined by Jack Gerbes, head of the Maryland Film Office, and Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

These are the five films advancing to the final round of judging:

Wicomico High School – A Sad Truth

Winter’s Mill High School – Safe Prom

Kent Island High School – You Don’t Always get a Second Chance

Northern High School – Watch Where You Text

Augusta Fells Savage Institute for Visual Arts – Watch the Road

Thank you to all of our filmmakers for helping to spread awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and drunk driving. Congratulations to all of you for completing and submitting your films, and good luck to the finalists.

Results of the final round of judging will be announced here on our blog as well as on MAIF’s Facebook page on Friday afternoon, May 10, 2013.

On the last night of the 2013 Legislative Session, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 930, giving MAIF the ability to offer its customers an installment payment plan for the first time in our forty-year history.

“This legislation is a victory for all Marylanders,” said MAIF Executive Director, Kent Krabbe. “Those who need MAIF policies will now have a more convenient and less expensive option for purchasing their policies, making the choice to drive insured an easier one.”

The benefits of this legislation aren’t just limited to MAIF policy holders. “Those who are insured by other carriers will ultimately find themselves on safer roads in our state, alongside fewer uninsured vehicles,” Krabbe said.

A proposed MAIF Installment Plan is something the General Assembly has debated over the course of the last eight years. With the support of Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton of Charles County and sponsorship of Senator Catherine Pugh of Baltimore City, the 2013 version of the bill finally made it across the finish line, a development that is being lauded by The Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition as well as the Baltimore Sun and Frederick News Post.

“We would also like to thank Governor O’Malley for his steadfast and constant support for this important reform,” Krabbe said.

Senate Bill 930 awaits Governor O’Malley’s signature. Once signed, the law will take effect on July 1, 2013.

For more details on MAIF’s Installment Plan, please read the SB930 Press Release.

“This legislation is a victory for all Marylanders. Those who need MAIF policies will now have a more convenient and less expensive option for purchasing their policies, making the choice to drive insured an easier one. Those who are insured by other carriers will ultimately find themselves on safer roads in our state, alongside fewer uninsured vehicles,” said MAIF Executive Director M. Kent Krabbe.

Previously, MAIF policyholders were required, by statute, to pay their entire premium at the time of purchase. A MAIF customer who was not able to afford the full premium payment was required to finance the policy through one of Maryland’s approved Premium Finance Companies, subjecting the policyholder to additional fees and interest rates.

According to the fiscal note for SB 930, prepared by the Department of Legislative Services, MAIF’s Installment Plan will save policyholders between $200 and $400 per year.

Over the last eight years, this bill has been proposed and debated in several iterations. In 2013, the political landscape and the level of consumer advocacy awareness aligned, allowing sponsors and supporters to get SB930 through committee, passed by both houses of the General Assembly, and on to the Governor for signature.

“We thank all of the sponsors of Senate Bill 930. In particular, we would like to thank Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton of Charles County and Senator Catherine Pugh of Baltimore City for their leadership and support of this bill as well as their advocacy for Maryland drivers in need of a more affordable alternative for their insurance premiums. We would also like to thank Governor O’Malley for his steadfast and constant support for this important reform,” said Krabbe.

This law will take effect on July 1, 2013.

For policies with an annual premium under $3,000, policyholders are required to make an initial payment of 25% at the time of purchase, and are then able to pay the remaining premium in up to six (6) payments, over the course of the yearlong policy.

For policies with an annual premium of $3,000 or more, policyholders are required to make an initial payment of 20% at the time of purchase, and are then able to pay the remaining premium in up to eight (8) payments, over the course of the yearlong policy.

MAIF will not charge interest rates on installment plans. However, it may charge a small administrative fee of up to $8 per installment payment.

About MAIF:

MAIF was created by the Maryland State Legislature in 1972 for the purpose of providing automobile liability insurance for those residents of the State of Maryland who are unable to obtain it elsewhere in the private insurance market. MAIF receives its operating funds from insurance premiums paid by policyholders, and receives no funding from taxpayers via the Maryland General Fund.

To learn more about MAIF, please visit www.maif.net. You can also find MAIF on Facebook (facebook.com/MDAutoInsFund) and Twitter (@MDAutoInsFund).

Contact Information:

MAIF Communications Specialist

Dan Franko

410-269-8551

dfranko@emaif.com

MAIF is sponsoring its first Operation: Safe Prom video contest, calling for high school students in Maryland to produce and submit videos between sixty and ninety seconds, encouraging teens not to text and drive or drink and drive.

The contest will run through MAIF’s Facebook page. (Contest page will go live on April 15, 2013). Videos must be submitted by 5pm on Friday, April 26, 2013.

Voting will be open between Monday April 29, 2013 through Wednesday May 8, 2013. After the initial round of voting, the ten highest rated films will be judged by a panel which will include MAIF’s Executive Director Kent Krabbe and members of the Maryland Public Safety and Film Production communities. From that final group, a Grand Prize winner and two runner-up winners will be named. (If fewer than fifteen films are submitted, only five finalists will make it to the final judging panel).

Winning entries will be announced on Friday, May 10, 2013. In addition to the contribution to the after prom party, the winning schools will also have the option to have the MAIF Distracted and Impaired Driving Simulator at their prom and/or after prom party.

Students, be sure to let your Principal know if you would like to participate. Good luck. Please be careful making your videos, and most of all, have fun!

For more information:

Contest Guidelines

Letter to Principals

Modernization of MAIF’s core policy administration and billing operation with MajescoMastek is designed to reduce costs, streamline processes, and allow for expansion of services

New York, NY, March 13, 2013 - MajescoMastek, the provider of Insurance Software + IT Services to over 100 carriers, and the U.S. subsidiary  of global technology solutions provider Mastek Limited (NSE: MASTEK), today announced The Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF), an independent agency of the State of Maryland providing automobile liability insurance for Maryland residents  has selected MajescoMastek’s STG Policy Administration and STG Billing solutions for legacy replacement and core processing modernization.  MajescoMastek’s experience in core processing, proven solutions and services, focus on personal and commercial auto market, and track record were the key reasons that MAIF chose MajescoMastek’s products.   

In addition to the policy administration and billing solutions, MajescoMastek’s STG Insurance Content Designer (ICD) and STG Insurance Content Manager (ICM) will empower MAIF’s business and IT users to manage content, including: business rules, rates and forms. The content is accessed through a modern architecture built on open standards, offering an intuitive, web-based user experience, along with built-in industry best practices.

MAIF will also extend the reach of the new operating environment through the deployment of MajescoMastek’s Mobile Application to provide easy access to services and consumer support. 

Faced with the technological limitations and process inefficiencies of the legacy environment, MAIF sought to replace the current systems and leverage modern technologies to enhance and expand its service model and lines of business offered.

Anticipated MAIF benefits from the implementation of the MajescoMastek solutions include:

• Reduced costs with improved efficiencies in billing and policy administration processes;
• Streamlined workflows, reporting, metrics;
• Enhanced customer experience and services; and
• Ease in creation, modification, and management of business rules, resulting in an agile operating environment.

Diane Williams, MAIF’s CIO, said, “MajescoMastek has a proven wealth of experience in policy administration in the automobile line of business, and their great reputation in billing is very well known in the industry.  This experience and reputation, combined with MajescoMastek’s functionality, technology, and services made for the ideal combination to meet MAIF’s needs.  We are confident in MajescoMastek as a valued business partner and we look forward to working closely with their team during our implementation project.”

Anil Chitale, P&C Practice Leader, MajescoMastek, added, “When insurers are looking to replace the legacy core system environment with modern technology, they are looking for more than just good systems.  They want to be assured they are working with a technology partner who has the solutions as well as the services and history of experience that are needed to deliver a successful implementation.  We are happy that MAIF recognizes our core strength – a combination of our software, our services, our experience, and, just as important, our sense of project responsibility and ownership from start to finish. We are proud to be selected by MAIF as a partner on their transformation initiative.”

As a provider of insurance software + IT Services to over 100 carriers, MajescoMastek uniquely combines its wide intellectual property base, domain expertise, mission-critical program management abilities, and complex solutions capabilities to help insurance carriers unlock business value. MajescoMastek delivers proven solutions in core insurance areas, including: policy administration, product modeling, new business processing, billing, claims and distribution management.

About MAIF

MAIF was created by the Maryland State Legislature in 1972 for the purpose of providing automobile liability insurance for those residents of the State of Maryland who are unable to obtain it elsewhere in the private insurance market. MAIF is an independent agency of the State of Maryland, and as such, reports directly to the Governor and is responsible to the Maryland State Legislature. MAIF receives its operating funds from insurance premiums paid by policyholders and receives no State funding.

To learn more about MAIF, please visit www.maif.net.

Contact:

Dan Franko

MAIF Communications Specialist

410-269-8551

dfranko@emaif.com

About MajescoMastek

MajescoMastek is an established provider of Insurance Software + IT Services to over 100 carriers.  MajescoMastek uniquely combines its wide intellectual property base, domain expertise, mission-critical program management abilities and complex solutions capabilities to help insurance carriers unlock business value. MajescoMastek delivers proven solutions and IT services in core insurance areas including policy administration, product modeling, new business processing, billing, claims, producer lifecycle management and incentive compensation. MajescoMastek is part of Mastek (NSE: MASTEK) with over 3200 employees operating in 8 countries across the globe.

For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.majescomastek.com, or call 1-800-249-9540. 

Contact:                                                             

MajescoMastek

Ashwin Rodrigues

646-731-1078

ashwin.rodrigues@majescomastek.com

Here are some things you should have in your car:

Windshield Washer Fluid – When snow or a wintry mix are in the forecast, our friends at the State Highway Administration do a great job of anticipating conditions, mobilizing trucks, and getting salt on the roads. However, all of that salt and road-spray usually results in a thick, visibility-blocking film on your windshield, which will require you to use your washer fluid much more frequently. Instead of waiting until you’re out of fluid, and trying to see through a salty windshield to get to a gas station (and hoping they haven’t sold out), keep a gallon in the trunk so that you have it when you need it.

Salt – If you get stuck on a slick patch and can’t get traction, having a container of salt can help you get back on your way. Sprinkle some in front and behind each tire, give it a few minutes, and you may be able to get right back on your way.

Shovels (large and small) – You might want to pick up a cheap snow shovel to keep in your trunk, just in case you need to clear snow out from around your car. In conjunction with salt, a small metal shovel (the kind you might use for camping) can be a great tool for getting loose from an icy patch of road. Sprinkle salt in front and behind the tires to loosen the ice, then chip it away with the shovel. This gives your tires a place to grab the road and get out. (Just be careful not to puncture your tire with the shovel.)

Kitty Litter or Sand – In some situations, sprinkling kitty litter or sand around your tires can also work. These abrasive materials will give your tires something to grab onto for traction. (In a bind, your car’s floor mat can also work to give your tires traction. Put the rubber side down against the ground, as close to the tire as you can get it, and slowly pull forward. Just make sure not to get stuck again when you go back to get your floor mat).

Snow Gear – If you find yourself stuck…or even worse, stranded…you may want to keep boots, gloves, and a good winter coat in the car. What you wore to work or school today might not be what you want to wear to try to dig your car out of the snow, or walk an extended distance through a storm. You should also keep a spare blanket in the car. If you have to wait for an emergency crew, you may want to bundle up to save gas. Whether you’re waiting for assistance or walking to find shelter, it’s not a bad idea to have some water and energy bars in the car.

Emergency Indicators – If visibility is an issue, you should place an emergency triangle or a flare from your emergency kit (we all have one of those in the trunk, right?) well behind your car to give approaching drivers warning to look out for you.

And the most important thing to bring with you for winter weather travel…good judgment. – Please be safe. If your car is stuck on a highway or high-traffic area, you may not want to attempt to dig out. The same patch of slick road that stranded your car could easily send another car to the same spot. You don’t want to be chipping away at ice near your tires if there’s a chance another car could lose control and come your way. Our friends at the Maryland Transportation Authority advise you to remain in your car and dial #77 to call for assistance.

On days where weather is a concern, make an extra effort to keep your phone fully charged. If you don’t have a car charger, bring your wall charger with you and make sure that it has enough battery for an emergency call before you get on the road. There’s nothing worse than being stuck and having a dead cell phone.

Of course, the best bet in serious weather is to stay off the roads. Unless it’s an emergency, let the storm pass and the road crews do their work before you head out.

In a bulletin to the insurance providers responsible for writing MAIF policies, the Fund stated that, “In keeping with the legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly, as well as the residents of Maryland via referendum, and signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley on December 6, 2012, married rates for MAIF policies now apply to all valid marriages including civil unions.”  

Questions regarding MAIF policies or insurance rates can be directed to MAIF’s Policy Services Unit at 800-445-1117.

About MAIF:

MAIF was created by the Maryland State Legislature in 1972 for the purpose of providing automobile liability insurance for those residents of the State of Maryland who are unable to obtain it elsewhere in the private insurance market. MAIF receives its operating funds from insurance premiums paid by policyholders, and receives no funding from taxpayers via the Maryland General Fund.

To learn more about MAIF, please visit www.maif.net. You can find MAIF on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact Information:

MAIF Communications Specialist

Dan Franko

410-269-8551

dfranko@emaif.com