AAA Colorado ~ EnCompass Magazine

Know AAA

ADVOCACY

Talking to your teen about driving

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. The combination of lack of experience with overconfidence can be catastrophic.

Today, every state has some form of graduated driver licensing (GDL) law. As useful as graduated licensing is, however, few things safeguard young drivers better than attentive parents. Overseeing and restricting your teen's driving privileges can be contentious, especially if your household rules go beyond state laws. But the stakes are high, and setting rules about car use for your teenage children can be a lifesaving decision.

AAA has developed a discussion guide for parents to help facilitate conversations about teen driving. A copy of the guide and other resources for parents can be downloaded at www.aaa.com/publicaffairs.

For a better understanding of Colorado's GDL laws, go to www.aaa.com/teens.

Insurance

Beware of uninsured drivers

The possibility of an uninsured motorist hitting you is greater than you may realize. Reportedly, 15-30% of drivers in Colorado may be driving without insurance.

You can protect yourself from the high cost of an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. The first way is with uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This type of policy pays for your medical expenses, lost wages and other damages if you or your passengers are injured in an accident caused by a driver without car insurance. The other policy alternative is underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. It works similarly to UM coverage, but usually pays only the difference between the coverage limit you select and the other driver's bodily injury coverage limit.

Both UM and UIM coverage provide benefits for you and your family members' injuries whether they occur in your own car, in a car you don't own, or as pedestrians.

Jim Rookard, Director of Insurance Services for AAA Colorado, says: "While the decision to buy uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is one for individuals to make based on their unique circumstances, it is certainly a cost-effective way to provide coverage against the very real possibility of being injured by a driver who is not carrying adequate insurance coverage."

For more information, contact a AAA Insurance agent at 800-251-7189 or visit www.aaa.com and click on Insurance/ Financial.

WEBSITE

Requesting road service online

It's a hectic morning and you're running late. You grab your keys and hurry out to your car — and find it won't start! Or perhaps it's the end of a long day at the office and you want to head home, only to find one of your tires has gone flat.

Nearly 35% of all road service calls received by AAA are made from the member's home or office. With this in mind, in addition to phone calls, AAA now also takes requests online at www.aaa.com.

Simply click on "Roadside Assistance" and then "Place a Request." Shortly after your request is sent, you will receive a confirmation email with an estimated time of arrival for the road service provider.

Requests made online go directly to the dispatcher, so this method can be considerably faster than using the phone. This is particularly true in the winter months or during adverse weather conditions, when call volume is at its highest.

MEMBER SAVINGS

Savings on holiday shopping

Some things just go together during the holidays: hot chocolate and marshmallows; driveways and snow shovels...gift shopping and AAA's Show Your Card & Save program.

AAA has partnered with numerous merchants to minimize your holiday hassles and maximize your time and budget. Savings range from 5-35%.

Save on gifts for your favorite skier or snowboarder at Breeze Ski Rentals, with 10% off all retail items in-store when showing your AAA card. You can also save 25% on rentals and ski/snowboard tuning. Call 866-464-4431 for locations.

Online merchants also have savings available. AAA member discounts are available at Target.com, Office Max.com, FTD.com and Barnes & Noble.com. Hickory Farms offers holiday food items from specialty meats and cheeses to chocolates and fresh fruit. AAA members receive 15% off all purchases when shopping online at www.aaa.com/hickoryfarms or by phone at 800-222-GIFT.

Your easiest out? According to an independent retail spending survey, gift cards are one of the most popular items on almost everybody's wish list. Gift cards from 40 retailers and restaurants are available through www.aaa.com at a 5% discount.

For more gift ideas, visit www.aaa.com and click on "Member Savings," or call 877-244-9790 for a complete list of savings partners.

TRAVEL

A Colorado GEM

Garden of the Gods
AAA TourBooks include a listing of points of interest around the state that offer a Great Experience for Members: exceptional places for your list of "things to do." GEMs are chosen solely on merit — an attraction or destination can't apply for GEM status.

Colorado has 28 GEMs and a different one will be featured in each issue.

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is a National Natural Landmark. Nearly 1,400 acres are dominated by towering red sandstone formations with such names as Kissing Camels, Balanced Rock and Three Graces. Rock climbing with proper equipment is allowed in certain locations — all climbers must register at the visitors center. A network of paths make for great hikes, even on a sunny winter day. It's not unusual for hikers, cyclists, horseback riders and even motorists to spot wildlife ranging from ground squirrels to mountain lions.

The park was a gift to the city from philanthropist Charles Perkins, and admission is free. The visitors center just outside the park entrance offers educational exhibits and displays, a film, and an interesting and well-stocked gift shop. Food and more merchandise are sold at the Trading Post.

For more information, click on "TourBook" at www.aaa.com, visit www.springsgov.com or call 719-634-6666.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership dues and benefits

Surveys of AAA members consistently show that the primary reason members join is because of roadside assistance.

When it comes to their annual renewal, however, members cite a wide variety of AAA benefits for why they renew-travel agency services, travel merchandise, automobile purchasing and leasing, insurance, financial products, TourBooks and TripTiks, the Show Your Card & Save program, EnCompass magazine and the www.aaa.com website.

As with all businesses, the offering and maintaining of these services come at a price. An example is roadside assistance. Behind those calls is a professional staff ready to take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, a fleet of AAA Colorado service vehicles and a broad network of service providers. For roadside assistance alone, many members believe there is great value and peace of mind.

That value increases substantially when other AAA benefits are added in. (For a detailed explanation of all member benefits and services, go to www.aaa.com and click on "Membership," then "Benefits Summary," or call 303-753-8800, ext. 8123, and request a membership handbook.)

Additionally, AAA Colorado has heard from numerous members who have asked to be acknowledged for rarely, or never, calling for roadside assistance.

Taking all this together — member input and the economics of maintaining member benefits- AAA Colorado is initiating a dues structure based on how often members use certain services, such as roadside assistance, travel and insurance products.

This will provide most members with a savings on their dues over what new members will pay.

AAA Colorado believes the new dues structure will ensure that AAA Colorado continues to provide quality member benefits, programs and services to all members.

Your Roadside Assistance Benefits

Outlined on these two pages are the benefits of AAA Colorado's Roadside Assistance service-the most frequently requested member benefit. It's important to understand this service so in the event of an auto breakdown you'll know just what to do and what your coverage does and does not include.

Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is designed to assist you when the eligible vehicle you are either driving or riding in becomes disabled. A key point is that the benefits of Roadside Assistance go with the member, not the car-meaning you are covered in an eligible vehicle you are riding in even if it's not yours. AAA Colorado membership entitles you to up to four service events each membership year.

The member must be with the vehicle at the time of disablement. For identification purposes, it is recommended that the member be with the vehicle when the service vehicle arrives. A valid membership card and identification will be required, and benefits are nontransferable.

If fees are necessary, your personal check for up to $250 will be accepted by any independent contract facility providing Roadside Assistance or repairs for AAA members. A valid membership card and identification must be presented at the time of payment. The name on the check must match the member name.

Scope of service

As part of your membership, AAA Roadside Assistance will be provided from the nearest AAA contract facility. Your service call will include a trip to the disabled vehicle, where the service operator will attempt to make your vehicle operable. Your vehicle must be safely reachable from a normally traveled road or established thoroughfare, such as a county-maintained road.

When your vehicle cannot be made operable upon providing the services covered by your membership, AAA Colorado will help you find the nearest open place of repair. If a repair facility cannot be located, we will assist you in obtaining lodging or alternative transportation.

Charges for services that exceed the benefits listed will be at the prevailing hourly or mileage rate of the region where service is provided.

Roadside Assistance facilities are independent businesses and are not employees of AAA. Responsibility for loss, damage or unsatisfactory workmanship remains with the Roadside Assistance facility providing the service. AAA Colorado will assist by mediating unresolved issues.

Proper vehicle maintenance

Roadside Assistance should not be used as a substitute for proper vehicle maintenance. Each member may request Roadside Assistance as often as needed. AAA provides up to four service calls for each primary and associate member during a membership year, except for charges required of the member for certain services (as explained in these guidelines). After four service calls, the member will pay at the scene or, at AAA's discretion, be billed for each additional call. A member who does not pay this bill may become ineligible for benefits and subject his or her membership to nonrenewal or cancellation.

Eligible Vehicles

Basic/Plus membership — Legally registered light passenger vehicles (i.e. sedans, SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks up to one ton capacity). Dual-wheel light passenger vehicles are eligible for all services except inside tire service. Rented passenger and commercial vehicles, within size limits above, except taxis and limousines, are eligible for roadside assistance.

Plus RV/Motorcycle membership — Legally registered motor homes, pickup trucks with campers, travel trailers and motorcycles. Non-travel trailers such as utility, animal, watercraft, lawn equipment, ATV and automobile trailers are not covered.

Roadside Assistance Services

The following services will be provided to place your vehicle in a drivable condition. If these attempts are unsuccessful after a reasonable effort by the service provider, the towing service provision will apply. Snow removal is not included in your membership. Roads that are not maintained by the city, county or state are excluded.

Mechanical Adjustments - An attempt may be made to get your vehicle operational. Please keep in mind that our service providers are not mechanics.

Jump Start - An attempt will be made to jump start the disabled vehicle.

Flat Tire Change - Your spare tire will be installed to enable the vehicle to be driven.

Fuel Delivery - Fuel will be delivered to the vehicle at current pump prices for AAA Basic members, and free of charge for AAA Plus and Plus/RV members. Enough fuel will be delivered to enable the vehicle to reach the nearest open service station. Specific brands or octane ratings cannot be promised. Priming of diesel vehicles is not included.

Lockout Service - If keys are locked inside the vehicle, the service provider will attempt to gain entry to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Locksmith Service - If the operating key to the vehicle is lost or broken, the locksmith will attempt to make a replacement key. Coverage is for the first $50 of locksmith services for AAA Basic members, and the first $100 of locksmith services for AAA Plus and Plus/RV members. Costs beyond this coverage will be at the member's expense and payable at time of service.

Extricating/Winching - Extricating/winching will be provided when the vehicle is within 100 feet of a normally traveled thoroughfare and can be safely reached from the thoroughfare. Coverage for AAA Basic members is for one truck and one operator for up to half an hour; coverage for AAA Plus and Plus/RV members is for up to two trucks and two operators for up to one hour.

Additional costs beyond this coverage will be the responsibility of the member and payable at the time of service.

Towing - The disabled vehicle will be towed to the member's destination of choice. For AAA Basic members, the first four miles of towing are covered; for AAA Plus and Plus/RV members, the first 100 miles of towing are covered. Towing beyond this distance will be at member's expense and payable to the service provider at the time of service. The prevailing contractor mileage of the geographic area will be charged.

Alternate service

If you have followed the procedure to obtain assistance, and AAA assistance is not available, or AAA provider access is restricted (such as on toll roads or limited-access highways), AAA may provide reimbursement for covered services at the prevailing regional commercial rate.

On restricted-access roads, the reimbursement amount may be limited to the cost of towing the vehicle to the nearest exit or responding garage, at your discretion.

If AAA assistance was available but not requested, the assistance may be limited to the amount AAA would normally have paid.

To request reimbursement for Roadside Assistance, submit the original receipt to AAA Colorado within 90 days of service. AAA may adjust or deny reimbursement for service provided by individuals or companies not normally engaged in providing roadside assistance for AAA organizations.

How to Obtain Roadside Assistance

Metro Denver: 303-753-8800
Elsewhere in Colorado and throughout the United States: 800-AAA-HELP (800-222-4357)
Online: www.aaa.com, click on Roadside Assistance
When calling for roadside assistance, please have the following information ready: your name and membership number; the make, model and color of the vehicle; the exact location of your vehicle (street address if available); nature of trouble-flat tire, won't start, in ditch, etc.; and a phone number where you can be reached.