100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers Starts This Weekend
National Safety Council and The Allstate Foundation bring the Drive it Home program to Texas to help parents keep their teens safe on the road
Itasca, IL, May 27, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Today, the National Safety Council (NSC) and The Allstate Foundation announced the launch of a new program called Drive it Home to educate parents with new teen drivers in Texas. The announcement comes just days before the start of a period commonly known as the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers. According to the most recent data available, from Memorial Day through Labor Day in 2012, 84 people in Texas died in crashes involving teen drivers. During that same year, 333 people died on Texas roads in crashes involving a teen driver.
The Drive it Home program will help parents understand the importance of their involvement during the first year of their teens’ licensure. Car crashes continue to be the No. 1 killer of teens in the U.S. and in Texas, killing more teens each year than suicide and homicide combined.
Recent research from The Allstate Foundation shows 43 percent of Texas parents don’t know car crashes are the No.1 cause of teen deaths. The survey also showed only 17 percent of Texas parents correctly identified inexperience as the primary cause of teen crashes. Most parents mistakenly identified risk-taking as the primary cause of teen crashes.
NSC and The Allstate Foundation selected Texas for its pilot program because the state’s crash rates are among the highest in the country. From 2007 to 2012, 2,176 Texas drivers ages 13 to 19 were involved in fatal crashes.
“Too many parents do not know that car crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths,” said Kathy Bernstein, senior manager of Teen Driving Initiatives at NSC. “This is a troubling disconnect. Through grassroots research, we’ve found that parents want to know how to protect their teens but do not know where to find the resources and information. We intend to change that through this new program.”
NSC and The Allstate Foundation have been working in Texas for four years through the Texas Teen Safe Driving Coalition, an organization comprised of parents, teens, community members, educators, law enforcement officers, traffic safety professionals and public health professionals. The Drive it Home program will be an extension of the coalition focused on parents and providing them with resources.
“Texas parents are actively looking for information that can help keep their teens safe,” said Larry Sedillo, Allstate Texas senior vice president. “In fact, in a recent Allstate Foundation survey, 75 percent of parents reported actively looking for resources. By providing important resources, we are giving the tools for parents to play an active role in coaching their teens when they are learning to drive.”
The Drive it Home program will include school and community-based initiatives. Tools and resources will be available for all Texas parents, and specific activities will be focused in Dallas/Fort Worth, Hidalgo County, El Paso, Lubbock and San Antonio.
About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, nsc.org, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and Safe Communities.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.allstatefoundation.org.
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