Ben L. Smith High School Plans Teen Safe Driving Activities

Dec. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- Contact:  Patty O’Brien, Communications Mgr.
E-mail:  pobrien@nationalsave.org
Phone:  919-661-7800

John Heid, Sr. Communications Consultant
E-mail:  john.heid@allstate.com
Phone:  678-589-6102

Ben L. Smith High School Plans Teen Safe Driving Activities

RALEIGH, N.C., (December 17, 2010) –– Thanks to the Allstate Foundation, Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), Inc. presented a grant to Ben L. Smith High School (Greensboro, NC) to increase youth safety and promote teen safe driving.  Teen safe driving awareness campaigns are being conducted during key times of the year including holidays, Teen Safe Driving Month (May), prom, and graduation.

The Ben L. Smith High School SAVE Chapter's plans for the 2010-2011 school year consist of promoting SAVE awareness in their school and community.  In conjunction with Mentoring Eagles Together, their school's mentoring program, they seek to accomplish goals including building relationships to help improve student behavior and academic performance; promoting positive self esteem; and improving/changing the culture of their school.  Their Teen Safe Driving activity plans include promoting a Safe and Sober Prom through having students pledge not to drink and drive, and setting up a car crash scene on campus to show students the consequences.  The chapter will also hold a seminar with a presentation from the health department including statistical data on drinking and driving.  The SAVE Advisor at Ben L. Smith High School is Clinton Wilson.

With support from Allstate agents and employee volunteers, SAVE chapters will be able to provide leadership in their schools and communities to ensure that all students will be encouraged and empowered with healthy life skills while engaging in educational activities and opportunities to promote teen safe driving and youth safety.

SAVE is a peer-to-peer organization that focuses on the power of positive peer influences.  According to a recent Allstate Foundation survey, Shifting Teen Attitudes: The State of Teen Driving 2009, peers are a major influence on teens – both positive and negative.  Some of the concerning statistics that SAVE chapters will address include:

•   Eighty-two percent of teens reported using cell phones while driving.
•   Nearly half (48 percent) of girls admit they are likely to speed more than 10 mph over the limit, versus 36 percent of boys.
•   Seventy-seven percent of teens admit they have felt unsafe with another teen's driving.

“This generous grant from The Allstate Foundation will assist students in finding real solutions to the issues of teen safe driving that they face each day,” stated SAVE’s executive director, Carleen Wray.  

Previous assistance from The Allstate Foundation has benefited SAVE schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Nevada, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin, California, Colorado, and Ohio.  

“By empowering teens to become smart driving activists in their schools and communities, we hope to reverse the staggering statistics,” said Allstate representative Thomas Walters of Walters Insurance
Agency, Inc.  “Through The Allstate Foundation, we seek to develop innovative, teen-focused approaches to raise awareness of the issue and, ultimately, to help save lives and reduce injuries.”

About the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere:
SAVE started at West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, N.C. in 1989 following the tragic death of a student who was trying to break up a fight at an off-campus party.  Students met first to console each other, then as an organization to promote violence prevention and to work together to prevent future incidents from occurring.  SAVE provides education about the effects and consequences of violence and helps provide safe activities for students, parents and communities.  For more information on SAVE or starting a SAVE chapter, visit www.nationalsave.org, or contact SAVE at (866) 343-SAVE to receive free start-up materials and guidance.

About The Allstate Foundation:
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation .  Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment.  The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America's families achieve their American dream.