State Farm Awards $90,000 to SCNSC to Promote Safe Teen Driving

March 31, 2021—State Farm awards $90,000 to the National Safety Council Southeastern Chapter to support teen safe driving awareness in South Carolina and Georgia communities.

April 1 begins Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a four-week awareness campaign from the National Safety Council. Every 1.4 hours a South Carolina teen driver crashes behind the wheel, according to the 2019 Traffic Collision Fact Book. SCNSC is working to end this epidemic in our communities through innovative educational programs like Alive at 25 and the Distracted Driving Simulator.

Alive at 25 is a classroom course instructed by law enforcement officers and offered in 131 SC high schools. Alive at 25 continues to reach students across the state through an adapted virtual classroom platform during the COVID-19 pandemic, training more than 12,000 students in 2020. The program is making a huge impact with teens:

“I really enjoyed the class and am glad I took it! I am definitely more aware now of the consequences of reckless driving and the actions I can do each time I drive to prevent more accidents.” – Riley Dozier, June 2020

“Protecting and educating young drivers is a significant focus for State Farm,” said State Farm Vice President-Agency Kelli Taylor. “Almost 60% of teen crashes are caused by distracted driving, and we want to end this epidemic. State Farm is proud to support the Safety Council and their educational programs, and we look forward to continuing our partnership during Distracted Driving Awareness Month and throughout the year.”

State Farm’s grant will provide scholarships for students to complete the course, train additional law enforcement instructors, and expand the program into new South Carolina and Georgia high schools. State Farm’s support will also help relaunch the Distracted Driving Simulator program in 2021 for community events in South Carolina and Georgia.

“State Farm’s generous grant, and their active engagement in our communities, is vital for the growth and expansion of Alive at 25 across the Southeast,” said Todd Buehrig, Executive Director SCNSC. “The first year of driving is the most dangerous time in a young person’s life, and programs like Alive at 25 are helping decrease teen crash statistics and saving lives. We are deeply grateful for State Farm’s support.”

To learn more about the dangers and consequences of distracted driving, and download FREE educational resources, visit www.scnsc.org. Connect with us on social media by using #justdrive or follow us on Facebook @scnsc, Instagram @nscsouth, Twitter @scnsc.