5.8 K Investment to Reduce the Leading Cause of Death of Teens
Since 2012, an average of 2,800 teens have died each year in car crashes — that’s the equivalent of a school bus loaded with teenagers crashing once every week for an entire school year. On a per-mile driven basis, teens are eight times more likely to die in their first six months of driving than adults, and for every American teen killed in a car crash, about 100 more are injured. In 2017, half of teen passenger deaths happened when another teenager is driving. Besides the human tragedy of teen deaths, the U.S. societal costs of these crashes amount to $30 billion per year.
State Farm® values the importance of keeping our neighbors safe and has directly invested $5,821.80 into the Teens in the Driver Seat program for the state of Michigan.
Founded in 2002, Teens in the Driver Seat® (TDS) leverages peer pressure in a positive way to motivate teens to drive more safely by making them aware of the five most dangerous teen driving habits: driving at night; speeding and street racing; distractions, such as cell phones and teen passengers; not wearing a seat belt; and alcohol/drug use.
Educational materials — developed by TDS staff and focus-group tested with youth advisory boards – are provided free of charge to participating schools. Safety experts recruit, educate and inspire young drivers to engage their peers with safety messages and interactive programs that promote positive behavioral change.
“Teen drivers today face more challenges behind the wheel than ever before,” explains TDS founder Russell Henk. “Smartphones, parties in the back seat, the glamourized ‘need for speed,’ and peer pressure to drive while under the influence are just a handful of dangers they face. But they can also make good decisions with the right information. Giving them that information and rewarding responsible behavior is what TDS is all about.”
The program will have various digital engagement and education opportunities starting in the Fall. If you’re interested in bringing this free program to your high-school campus, reach out to Teens in the Driver Seat on their contact us page.
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Started in 2002, Teens in the Driver Seat® is a peer-to-peer traffic safety program that educates teens about the top five dangers of teen driving – distractions, such as cell phones and teen passengers; driving at night; speeding and street racing; not wearing a seat belt; and alcohol/drug use. Thanks to funding from State Farm, program resources and technical support are available at no cost to schools in Michigan. For more information, please visit http://t-driver.com.