Tallahassee, FL, October 16, 2010…Car crashes remain the number one killer of American teens and in observance of National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 17-23), State Farm and the Florida Sheriffs Association announce a partnership to help teens stay safe on the road. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company has provided the Florida Sheriffs Association with a grant to help expand its Teen Driver Challenge program. The Teen Driver Challenge is a free two-day training session for 16-to-19 year olds in counties all across Florida that combines classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.

“We are hopeful this partnership will help change risky teen driving behaviors and save lives,” said State Farm Public Affairs Specialist John Pisula.

Phil Rivers from the Florida Sheriffs Association said, “The Teen Driver Challenge has improved the driving habits of thousands of teens across Florida. With State Farm’s support, we will offer the program to even more teens and save even more lives.”

State Farm, the Florida Sheriffs Association, and SADD will also be supporting the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) campaign to White Out Teen Crashes. The White Out Teen Crashes campaign encourages high school students, faculty and staff (as well as DHSMV employees, partners and stakeholders statewide) to simply wear a white shirt on October 19 to draw attention to this important initiative. DHSMV is sponsoring 11 press conferences on Oct. 19 at high schools throughout Florida. The press conferences are being organized by the Florida Highway Patrol’s Public Affairs Officers. The events will bring together student organizations, school administrators, law enforcement organizations and various safety advocates to highlight the things that can be done to reduce teen crashes.

Additionally, during National Teen Driver Safety Week, State Farm agents will be speaking to driver’s education classes in high schools all across Florida about ways for teens to stay safe on the road.

About National Teen Driver Safety Week

Given the prevalence of teen car crashes in October, beginning in 2007, State Farm and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia worked with Congress to designate the third week of October as National Teen Driver Safety Week. Having a dedicated week provides a unique opportunity to focus attention on this national problem. The week serves as a time set aside for parents, teens, educators and legislators to shine a spotlight on teen driver safety and ramp up conversations about solutions for the high rate of car crashes involving teens.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

State Farm and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have produced a social media announcement (SMA), “Not Now, I’m Driving” to help spread the world about teen driver safety and the importance of refraining from texting while driving.

For more information about teen driver safety, visit State Farm's Teen Driver site.

For more information about the Teen Driver Challenge visit the TDC website or contact your local Sheriff’s Office.

For safe driving tips for parents and teens, please visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles site.

MEDIA CONTACTS

State Farm: John Pisula, 954-205-3961

Florida Sheriffs Association: Phil Rivers, 850-877-2165