The writing is on the wall: If your city or county hasn’t banned the use of cellular devices while driving yet, they will soon. Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents, especially among teens and young adults. While these measures are welcome changes to road regulations, we understand it can be hard to comply when you receive an urgent text or phone call. But you don’t have to buy a new car to comply with the laws and ordinances of your city and stay connected. You can outfit your car with one or more hands-free devices available at your local Alta Mere. Bluetooth Cell System To stay connected hands-free, you can always set up a Bluetooth cell system that connects to your phone. These can be voice-controlled or placed on your steering wheel for quick and easy access to your cell’s functions without the distraction of picking up your p ... read more

With new technology comes new vehicle safety measures, and we’re really liking this one. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requiring all new light vehicles — that’s cars, SUVs, trucks and vans to the layman — to be equipped with rear backup cameras starting May 1, 2018. Safety First This is exciting news for parents and anyone else who cares about children’s safety, as rear backup cameras have been shown to significantly reduce the rate of tragic backup accidents, especially involving children who may not be tall enough to be visible in rearview mirrors alone. In fact, this new law is expected to save anywhere from 50 to 70 lives per year, most of them children and seniors. The NHTSA reports that each year there are ... read more

While texting and driving is a relatively new phenomenon, many of us already know how dangerous it can be. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average driver will take his or her eyes off the road for about five seconds while reading or answering a text message. At 55 miles per hour, that’s enough to drive the length of a football field. A lot can happen in that span of time, which is why, in America, nearly 450,000 people are injured or killed each year as a result of distracted-driving accidents. Inexperienced drivers under age 20 are the most at-risk, with over 16 percent of fatal crashes among this group being caused by distracted driving. At Alta Mere, we know th ... read more

Greg DeFever is one of Alta Mere’s most successful and longest tenured franchisees, having owned his store in Lubbock for the past 22 years. Greg’s 23-year-old twin sons, Carson and Cody, have worked at the Alta Mere store the last four years. Carson works there on a full-time basis, while Cody works there part-time while also attending Texas Tech. What did you do before opening an Alta Mere store? I have a degree in finance and accounting, and worked as a tax accountant for four years. That background prepared me for the administrative side of the business and balancing the finances of the company. What drew you to Alta Mere as an attractive franchise opportunity? In my initial meetings with franchisees representatives, I was impressed by their energy, organization and vision they had for the company. I liked the products Alta Mere offered and coul ... read more