NORTHBROOK, Ill., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Allstate
Foundation License to Save Report, developed in conjunction with
the National Safety Council, shows that if all states implemented
comprehensive graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws, an estimated
2,000 lives could be saved. Further, if all 50 states were to enact
comprehensive GDL laws, it could generate savings of $13.6 billion per year.
The report findings are timely, as Congress readies to consider
reauthorization of highway and infrastructure spending –
legislation that historically has included bold public health and
safety measures.
Novice teenage drivers are the most likely drivers on the road
to have car accidents. In fact, 16-year-old drivers have crash
rates two times greater than 18-to-19-year-old drivers and four
times that of older drivers.
GDL helps new drivers gain experience under supervised and less
risky conditions. The most comprehensive GDL laws include nighttime
driving restrictions, passenger limits, cell phone and texting
bans, mandatory behind-the-wheel driving time, minimum entry age
for learner's permit (16), and age 18 before full licensure. In
some states that have enacted strong GDL laws, the incidence of
teenage driving related deaths have dropped by as much as 40
percent.
"Teen driving deaths are a real public health crisis," explained
Vicky Dinges, vice president of
public social responsibility, Allstate. "What's worse is that these
deaths are avoidable. We can take very simple, common sense steps
that would protect young drivers across the country. Our Allstate
agents see firsthand the dangers for young drivers on the road and
as a company we are committed to putting an end to this
epidemic."
More than 81,000 people were killed in crashes involving drivers
ages 15 to 20 in the decade from 2000 to 2009, making teen driving
crashes the leading cause of teen deaths nationwide.
In addition to the lives lost, the total cost to the nation of
crashes involving teen drivers in 2009 was estimated at
$38.3 billion. These costs include
wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative
expenses for public and private insurance, police and legal costs,
motor vehicle damage, employers' uninsured costs and fire losses.
These costs were paid by employers, state and local governments and
by citizens through taxes, fees and insurance premiums.
"Over the last 20 years, graduated driver licensing laws have
saved an estimated 15,000 lives. These laws can save thousands of
American lives and save billions of dollars for consumers,
businesses and state and local governments," said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the
National Safety Council. "Our elected officials do not have many
opportunities during their careers to take action that will save
thousands of lives and billions of dollars in one legislative
action. This is one of those times."
To review the complete report and related content, visit
www.allstatenewsroom.com.
Coming to Agreement
GDL laws are minimum standards that can help keep teens
safer on the road; however, the more that parents are involved in
their teen's driving experience, the more likely they will be a
safer driver and passenger. To help educate parents and teens about
the safety measures that keep drivers protected, The Allstate
Foundation created a new free Parent-Teen Driving Agreement.
The agreement can help parents and their teens make safer decisions
when they get behind the wheel and when they ride as passengers
with their friends.
"The Parent-Teen Driving Agreement helps open the door for a
conversation about safe driving with your teen," said Dinges. "The
agreement works best when it is followed by actions demonstrating
those safe driving behaviors you want your teens to engage in, and
reinforcing those behaviors with continued, evolving discussion as
your teen is exposed to new driving situations."
The new agreement provides the opportunity for parents to
discuss their teen's responsibilities when driving or riding as a
passenger in a car driven by another teen, and to decide together
on the consequences when those responsibilities aren't met. The
agreement encourages discussion about several different issues that
affect safe driving behavior, including:
- No texting or cell phone use while driving - Cell
phone calls and texting increase crash risk significantly, and
teens are particularly affected.
- Wearing a seatbelt - Using lap/shoulder belts can
reduce the risk of dying in a car crash by 45%.
- Stopping distractions - In 2009, 16 percent of
all fatal crashes for people under the age of 20 were reported to
involve distracted driving.
- Slowing down - In 2009, speed-related crashes
accounted for 34% of fatalities among 16-to-19-year-olds.
- Driving during the day - Nearly half the teens
that died in car crashes in 2009 were killed between 3 p.m. and midnight.
- Limiting the number of passengers - The presence
of one passenger increases the chance of a fatal crash; the
presence of one male passenger nearly doubles those odds.
- Being a safe passenger – Being a responsible
passenger can help other drivers be safer. In addition to not
having more people in the car with a teen driver than is allowed
under law, responsible passengers can offer to make a call or send
a text for the driver, refuse to get into the car when the driver
is drunk or drugged, and avoid risky situations.
- No drinking or drugs - Thirteen percent of high
school seniors reported driving under the influence of marijuana, a
number nearly equivalent to those who reported driving under the
influence of alcohol.
- Getting good grades - Good grades aren't
just important for your teen's future career, they are also
indicative of safe driving behavior. Studies have shown a strong
correlation between getting good grades and being safe on the
road.
Parents can get tailored agreements for their particular state
that includes information on the GDL laws applicable to their teen
by visiting www.allstatefoundation.org/parent-teen-agreement.
Methodology
The Allstate Foundation License to Save Report estimates
of lives saved were generated using a 2007 study which analyzed the
effect of graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs to produce
percentage reduction estimates compared to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) estimate of the number of
young driver-related fatalities in each state. In addition, two
additional elements of GDL laws which were not examined in the 2007
study, were given a conservative value of 7 percent fatal crash
reduction, and teen cell phone bans were given a 14 percent fatal
crash reduction factor, based on estimates from NHTSA and the
National Safety Council. The License to Save Report's dollars saved
estimates were calculated by applying NHTSA's estimate of the
number of fatalities in crashes involving young drivers to the
average cost of motor vehicle crashes. For a detailed
accounting of the estimates made in The Allstate Foundation License
to Save Report, please visit
www.allstatenewsroom.com.
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 teen safe driving and
building financial independence for domestic violence survivors,
The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities;
tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For
more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by
preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities,
and on the roads through leadership, research, education and
advocacy.
SOURCE The Allstate Foundation