Lookin' Out: Erie Insurance Teen Driving Program

News Facts

• Year after year, auto crashes are the number one killer of U.S. teens. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, young drivers are involved in fatal traffic crashes at more than twice the rate as the rest of the population.
• Many of these deaths, caused by driver error due to inexperience behind the wheel, are preventable.
• One way Erie Insurance helps keep teens safe is through Lookin' Out, a teen driving awareness program created to reduce auto crashes and promote safe driving habits. Lookin' Out is rooted in a student-created and student-driven approach of positive peer influence that empowers teens to customize a series of events/activities appropriate for their school. Erie Insurance provides grants of up to $2,000 per school year for schools taking part in the program.
• In addition to adhering to local laws, Erie Insurance recommends setting the following five ground rules for teen drivers:

1. Insist on seatbelts – It's been proven time and again: Seatbelts save lives. A recent Erie Insurance survey of nearly 1,400 teen drivers revealed good news: 94 percent report wearing seatbelts on a regular basis. Drivers should insist that all passengers buckle up, too.
2. Limit teen passengers – More teens means more conversation, more activity and potentially more chaos. Limit the number of teen passengers that ride with a new driver, and increase the number only as he or she proves ready.
3. Eliminate distractions – Cell phone calls, text messages, mp3 players, food, loud music, friends...the list of distractions goes on and on. Keep a young driver's attention focused on the road by eliminating all possible distractions.
4. Obey the speed limit – Whether running late for school in the morning or rushing to get home afterward, teens have a tendency to step on the pedal to make up for lost time. Discuss the dangers of speeding with your teen and revoke driving privileges if he or she receives a citation.
5. Prohibit impaired driving – Ten percent of respondents in the recent Erie Insurance survey admit to having driven at least once while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. One time is one too many.

QUOTES

• "It's important that parents take time to talk to their teens about the potential consequences of their actions while driving or riding with a friend who is driving. In addition to following local laws, parents should establish their own ground rules for how the teenager is expected to act - as a driver or a passenger."  -- Terry Cavanaugh, Erie Insurance president & CEO"
• "As young drivers become comfortable with the rules of the road they begin taking risks and need to constantly be reminded of how risky behavior behind the wheel can have serious consequences." -- Megan Euston, Lookin' Out program administrator

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