RICHMOND, Va. 5/2/2010 2:09:53 PM
Farm Bureau Insurance Rewards Va. Safe Teen Drivers
Contribution to after-prom party promotes keeping a clean record
As part of its ongoing effort to reduce the number of auto accidents involving teens, Farm Bureau Insurance will award its 5,000th U.S. Savings Bond through its Teen Driver Safety Education Program. Each $1,000 bond issued rewards Virginia teens for making a commitment to safety behind the wheel.
Since the program's inception in 1996, Farm Bureau Insurance has invested $5 million by awarding bonds to young drivers in each of Virginia's 95 counties.
The 5,000th recipient is Matoaca High School graduate Kimberly Dabney, now a student at Longwood University. Farm Bureau Insurance also will make a $1,000 contribution to Matoaca's after-prom party (May 1) to promote safe driving and educate about the perils of drinking and driving.
Spring is one of the most dangerous times for teen drivers as the number of alcohol-related fatalities spike, largely because of the activities surrounding high school proms. In 2007, 113 teenagers (aged 15 to 19) died in car crashes in Virginia, according to Partners for Safe Teen Driving. And 36 of those teens were killed in alcohol-related crashes.
As the height of prom season approaches, Jimmy Maas, Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance's Safety Coordinator, outlines some tips for parents:
* Be absolutely sure where your teens are going and what they are doing.
* Encourage teens to go to an after party sponsored by the school, where you know there will be no alcohol.
* You can't possibly hover over your teen at all times, so do as much as possible to encourage your kids not to drink and drive and to be safe when driving.
To be eligible for a U.S. Savings Bond through the Teen Driver Safety Program, teen drivers must meet the conditions of the program, including completion of a driver-safety education course before the driver's 18th birthday; no traffic convictions or accidents during a three-year period following the completion of the course; the maintenance of a continuous valid Virginia driver's license during the three-year period; and being continuously rated on a private passenger type vehicle providing liability coverage with Farm Bureau Insurance for the three-year period.
For more reports on teen safety incentive programs, visit School Safety Partners at www.SchoolSafetyPartners.org.
