A Public Health Call to Action

Celebrate My Drive™ Program Background

A Public Health Call to Action  Nearly twice as likely to wear a seat belt as a driver or passenger as teens who According to the Centers for Disease say their parents are uninvolved Control, car crashes are the #1 killer of  Almost half as likely to speed as teens teens in the U.S. For teens, the first year on who view their parents as permissive or the road is the most dangerous. uninvolved

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has Scare Tactics… or Share Tactics? found that teens behind the wheel and their peer passengers account for one in every At one time, researchers believed that five deaths among 15 to 19-year olds in negative messaging was more influential America. Today, car crashes kill nearly five than positive messaging. But according to a times as many teens as compared to cancer 2008 analysis of nearly 30 different studies or poisoning deaths. on this topic, it found that positive or gain- framed messages are more engaging long The reasons for teen crashes are numerous term to the message recipient. – from technology and other distractions to poor parental role-modeling and teens that According to another study focused on the are newly licensed yet still lacking the perceptions of adolescent drivers, essential driving experience to be out on the emphasizing positive practices – what teens road. can do – holds powerful promise in breaking through with today’s young motorists. Over the years, progress has been made but car crashes remain the leading public A National Gathering of Teen Drivers health risk for today’s teens. Can anything more be done? As a result of nearly a decade of research, State Farm is partnering with national and Changing the Conversation local safety leaders to debut a new and more positive approach to engaging young For decades, lawmakers, industry leaders people around the topic of teen driver and safety advocates have relied heavily on safety. spotlighting the dangers of poor driving practices. But in today’s world, hyper- On September 15, 2012, thousands of connected teens can easily tune out such teens in hundreds of communities messages. everywhere will gather as one to celebrate the milestone of getting a driver’s license What if there was another way? and committing to staying safe. Increasingly, researchers say a more positive approach may hold the key to This new approach is grounded in a simple breaking through with today’s teen drivers. notion that sharing can be more powerful than scaring when it comes to engaging According to research by State Farm® and today’s teen drivers. Celebrate My Drive the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, encourages teens to take time to consider teens who say their parents set rules, the excitement of the road ahead and where monitor, and are helpful and supportive are: it will take them – all with the aim of reducing teen crashes and saving more  Half as likely to be in a car crash as lives. teens who describe their parents as less involved Celebrate My Drive™ Program Background

Make Safe Driving Fun Celebrate My Drive™ is one special day, Saturday, September 15, 2012, for the community to rally around and support teens everywhere as they learn to drive and get ready for the road ahead. Learning to drive is a big first step in life's journey. State Farm® is proud to celebrate this milestone with teen drivers while making sure they stay safe on the road.

Win Cash for Your High School As part of Celebrate My Drive, State Farm is giving away 14 $100,000 grants to high schools across the U.S. and Canada. Helping your school win is easy! Vote for your school online each day starting September 10 through September 15. Be sure to come to a Celebrate My Drive event on September 15, too, for another opportunity to support your school! Find the official rules here.

Win a Brand New Car State Farm is also giving away 14 brand new cars. Entering to win is easy, too! If you're between the ages of 15-18, you can register to win each time you vote online for your high school. You can also register to win at any of the 13 marquee events on September 15th. Find the official rules here.

Get Involved Visit us at one of the following malls or check back in early September for a list of additional events that will be hosted by State Farm agents in communities across the U.S. and Canada.  Arizona: Scottsdale Fashion Square  Ohio: Westfield SouthPark Mall,  California: Westfield Culver City Mall Strongsville  Florida: The Florida Mall, Orlando  Ontario, Canada: Sherway Gardens Mall,  Georgia: Mall of Georgia, Buford Toronto  Illinois: Yorktown Center Mall, Lombard  Pennsylvania: King of Prussia Mall  Kansas/Missouri: Oak Park Mall,  Texas: Stonebriar Centre, Frisco Kansas City  Washington: Southcenter Mall, Tukwila  Minnesota: Ridgedale Center,  Washington D.C.: Tysons Corner Minnetonka Center, McLean, VA

By turning out and getting others to attend, By attending with their new driver, parents teens can: can:  Have fun and win prizes  Learn about new teen driving safety  Learn about safe driving in a celebratory tools from your State Farm agent and way teendriving.statefarm.com  Help their school compete for a  Be a role model for safe driving for your $100,000 grant teen and their friends  Join other teens online to share  Help develop your teen’s driving skills experiences, receive support and have by being committed to supporting new fun on the Celebrate My Drive Facebook drivers page

By getting involved, the community can:  Join State Farm in planning a Sept.15 Celebrate My Drive event  Share your tools, expertise and resources  Celebrate and support new drivers in your community during and after the event