Impact Teen Drivers Presented by: Tanya Rigsby California Casualty

What Do You Think? What do you consider lethal or deadly? What is the number one killer of teens in America?

How many of you agree with the “no cell phone usage while driving” law? How many of you eat or drink with driving? How many of you think it’s ok to drive 10 mph over the speed limit if your running late? How many of you get ready for a test while driving? What Do You Think?

Important Facts A teenager is killed in a traffic accident every 70 minutes nationwide. Less than a third of these deaths will be caused by drugs or alcohol. More than 5,200 teen deaths could be prevented by eliminating unsafe driving behaviors and distractions such as texting, eating, or horseplay with friends in the car. You can make an IMPACT!

Leading Causes of Teenage Deaths

National Young Driver Survey 80 percent of teen drivers own a cell phone Nine out of 10 have witnessed teen drivers talking on a cell phone; seven out of 10 sometimes see emotionally upset teens drive while talking on a cell phone 53 percent have seen teens use another kind of handheld device (text messaging, MP3 player, or game) while driving 48 percent reported talking on the phone while driving

1. Sixteen-year-olds are three times more likely to die in a car crash than other drivers. 2. Simple driver error is a factor in two-thirds of fatal teen crashes. 3. Two-thirds of teen occupants killed in crashes are not wearing seat belts 4. In 2005, 12 percent of high school males reported driving after drinking. 5. Two or more teen passengers make fatal teen crash risk five times more likely. 6. Two-thirds of teens who die in car crashes are passengers of teen drivers. 7. Speeding is a factor in 40 percent of all teen driver fatalities. 8. Being awake for 18 hours equals a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08, which is legally drunk. 9. Inexperience combined with distractions is lethal. 10. The distractions proven to kill teens: teen passengers and cell phones. Troubling Teen Driving Statistics

A car can't run without fuel and you can't live without lattes, right? We totally get it. But there's nothing worse than dumping a hot cup of joe on your lap while trying to parallel park your brand new hybrid.. Simple Solution: Instead, sip at home and avoid the really nasty rush of an accident. Don't drink hot, or any, beverages in your car. x

Trust us, you are beautiful. And the more time you spend applying lip-gloss as you look into the rear-view mirror hanging in your car is the more you raise your chances of being in a fatal accident. Simple Solution: Wouldn't it be better if you put on your makeup before or after you got in the car? We think so too. Don't put on makeup in your car x

Some of the most important words you will see while driving are STOP, YIELD, and LEFT TURN LANE. Do you think any of these words will be in your text messages? They won't. And your text messages won't make you a safer driver either. Simple Solution: Take a break from texting when you're driving, and pay attention to the words that matter. No texting in the car. Period. x

There's nothing like hanging with your peeps, going for a slice after school or the movies. But don't bring it in the car. Your friends may be able to hold their own, but as the driver, at least one of your hands will be in full pizza- support. Simple Solution: Chill out and have a snack, but take the time to finish it before you are back inside of your. Don't eat and drive x

Find your favorite radio station before you start to drive around town, or put in a cd if you are a station surfer. We hate commercials too, but not enough to take our hands off the wheel, reach for the radio knob, and fumble with it until we land on something decent. Slamming into the back of a garbage truck isn't worth finding the perfect station. Simple Solution: Don't change to different radio stations while you are behind the wheel. x

The Contest Four Simple Steps: Fill out the on-line entry form (download the contest details) or Complete your entry by the cut-off date of January 18th. Upload your fantastic work of genius to the website starting December 11th. Have every single person you know (and even ones you don’t) start voting online for your entry February 1st.

DON’T WAIT! Start today. Go to the

Thank you…… Tanya Rigsby California Casualty…We serve the people who serve our communities. Make an IMPACT