Safety Center's Peer-to-Peer, Teen Safe Driving Campaigns Receives Funding from the Allstate Foundation Good Starts Young Program
Empowering Students to Create Real Change, Lead, Impact, and Reach Youth Making a Difference in Teen Safe Driving Decisions
Sacramento, CA, September 14, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Safety Center received funding for the fifth consecutive year from The Allstate Foundation Good Starts Young Program to raise awareness around teen safe driving issues for the California Teen-to-Teen Safe Driving Campaigns. Distracted driving issues are believed under-reported and this dangerous behavior will continue to increase with new in-vehicle technology and the prevalent use of personal electronic devices. The grant will support high school contests for the 2016/2017 school year, where student leaders create a positive teen safe driving message and activities to engage their peers, parents, and the community in a month-long teen safe driving campaign.
“We see firsthand the distracted driving opportunities and challenges facing our area,” Freddy Santos, Corporate Relations Senior Manager, Allstate Insurance said. “Our youngest citizens see it too and they have great ideas on how to encourage teen drivers to practice safe and focused driving habits while on the road. They just need the resources – like the Teen-to-Teen Safe Driving Campaign that Safety Center provides – to take action. We feel very fortunate to be able to facilitate this important project, and proud of the dedicated student leaders that prove good starts young – and youth can do great things.”
During the 2015/2016 school year the Safety Center opened the Peer-To-Peer, Teen Safe Driving Campaign contest to all California schools. Student leaders rallied their peers to get the message of teen safe driving issues out not only to their schools, but to adults and their communities as well; reminding everyone involved that this is not just a teen issue. All drivers need to be aware of distractions and what changes can be made to save lives.
Continued funding has also allowed Safety Center to create the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Participants all over California will use 22nd century skills preparing them to oversee community projects in their area with peers while learning about diversity, politics, goal setting, media, serving society, teambuilding, research, action planning, public speaking, budgeting, event planning, and responsibility. Meetings will include educational curriculums and volunteer experiences to increase the capacity of individual members to develop, lead, and participate in youth empowerment projects.
Distracted driving is reaching epidemic proportions in the US and the goal of this project is to empower youth to launch a movement where they are taking action to prevent pedestrian, bicyclist, passenger and driver distractions. Approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones and electronic devices while driving (Distraction.gov). In 2014, there were 3,179 fatalities and 431,000 injuries involving distracted driving according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Young people use electronic devices more frequently than other age groups and ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported to be distracted at the time of the crash (NHTSA). The focus of this project is to make use of technology and other distractions socially unacceptable when driving motor vehicles. Perceptions about traffic safety are developed by observing the driving behavior of parents, peers and their communities. Using the strong influence of youth to reinforce lessons about focusing attention on the roadway will help to build a foundation of lifelong safe driving skills, attitudes, and behavior.
For more information, contact: Gail Kelly, Safety Center Incorporated at 916-438-3381 or gail@safetycenter.org, www.safetycenter.org
About Safety Center
Safety Center Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1934 whose mission is to reduce injuries and save lives by empowering our community to make positive life changing decisions. For more information, visit www.safetycenter.org.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). 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 building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
“We see firsthand the distracted driving opportunities and challenges facing our area,” Freddy Santos, Corporate Relations Senior Manager, Allstate Insurance said. “Our youngest citizens see it too and they have great ideas on how to encourage teen drivers to practice safe and focused driving habits while on the road. They just need the resources – like the Teen-to-Teen Safe Driving Campaign that Safety Center provides – to take action. We feel very fortunate to be able to facilitate this important project, and proud of the dedicated student leaders that prove good starts young – and youth can do great things.”
During the 2015/2016 school year the Safety Center opened the Peer-To-Peer, Teen Safe Driving Campaign contest to all California schools. Student leaders rallied their peers to get the message of teen safe driving issues out not only to their schools, but to adults and their communities as well; reminding everyone involved that this is not just a teen issue. All drivers need to be aware of distractions and what changes can be made to save lives.
Continued funding has also allowed Safety Center to create the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Participants all over California will use 22nd century skills preparing them to oversee community projects in their area with peers while learning about diversity, politics, goal setting, media, serving society, teambuilding, research, action planning, public speaking, budgeting, event planning, and responsibility. Meetings will include educational curriculums and volunteer experiences to increase the capacity of individual members to develop, lead, and participate in youth empowerment projects.
Distracted driving is reaching epidemic proportions in the US and the goal of this project is to empower youth to launch a movement where they are taking action to prevent pedestrian, bicyclist, passenger and driver distractions. Approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones and electronic devices while driving (Distraction.gov). In 2014, there were 3,179 fatalities and 431,000 injuries involving distracted driving according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Young people use electronic devices more frequently than other age groups and ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported to be distracted at the time of the crash (NHTSA). The focus of this project is to make use of technology and other distractions socially unacceptable when driving motor vehicles. Perceptions about traffic safety are developed by observing the driving behavior of parents, peers and their communities. Using the strong influence of youth to reinforce lessons about focusing attention on the roadway will help to build a foundation of lifelong safe driving skills, attitudes, and behavior.
For more information, contact: Gail Kelly, Safety Center Incorporated at 916-438-3381 or gail@safetycenter.org, www.safetycenter.org
About Safety Center
Safety Center Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1934 whose mission is to reduce injuries and save lives by empowering our community to make positive life changing decisions. For more information, visit www.safetycenter.org.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). 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 building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
Contact
Safety Center
Gail Kelly
916-438-3381
www.safetycenter.org
800-825-7262
Gail Kelly
916-438-3381
www.safetycenter.org
800-825-7262
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