"Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic on America's roadways, and our youngest drivers are often the most at risk," said Administrator Strickland. "When you're driving, your attention should always be on the road not on a phone. Allstate's Family Driving Challenge is a great way to demonstrate just how dangerous distractions can be behind the wheel."
Today's event at the Walt Disney World Speedway was a hands-on experience where parents and teens learned how distractions can affect a driver behind the wheel. Strickland and Wilson interacted with professional driving instructors who took parent-teen teams through a special advanced driving course that included distractions like phone calls, texting, and rowdy passengers. With each added distraction, the course became more difficult and both teens and parents hit cones and veered off course.
"Allstate's goal is to help protect teens from their number one enemy auto accidents. We applaud Secretary LaHood and DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for championing this cause and proudly stand with him," said Wilson. "Instilling a behavior of safe driving requires awareness, education and enforcement. Lawmakers can also help by enacting graduated licensing laws so driving privileges are consistent with capabilities."
After completing the Family Driving Challenge course, parents and teens joined Strickland and Wilson in a substantive discussion on safe driving issues. This roundtable conversation focused on the need to take the lessons learned on the course and turn them into real solutions to better protect Americans on the road through public awareness, improved education and strong enforcement of safe driving laws. To show their own personal commitment to end distracted driving, participants added their support for Allstate's X the TXT campaign. Those in attendance placed their thumbprint on a large banner, symbolizing their pledge to keep their thumbs off their phones and their eyes on the road.
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Allstate Newsroom
This release was originally posted to the Allstate Newsroom on May 5th, 2011
Meri A is an advocate for the Allstate Newsroom
