In an effort to make Arkansas roads safer for teens, students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts are teaming up with State Farm insurance company to Celebrate My Drive by making a commitment to safe driving.
Through the Celebrate My Drive program, State Farm is promoting safe driving practices such as 2N2 — 2 eyes on the road, 2 hands on the wheel — among teens nationwide. State Farm is using Celebrate My Drive to engage teens while they learn to drive in a supportive and positive way with a community celebration of safe driving habits that emphasizes the benefits of safe choices.
Car crashes have been the leading cause of death of teens ages 14 to 18 for more than 30 years, said Clayre Messenger, State Farm sales leader for Southwest Arkansas, during an assembly Tuesday at ASMSA. That is why it’s important for teens to take part in the campaign.
“The major reason for them to get involved is to increase their awareness of safe driving habits, especially when they’re in a car with their friends,” Messenger said.
Heather Powell, a State Farm agent in Hot Springs and the mother of ASMSA senior Darbe Powell, said it’s especially important that ASMSA students have safe driving habits as they return home for visits and breaks. This year, students from 53 Arkansas counties are attending ASMSA.
“I think as a residential school there are moms all over the state that worry about their kids getting home safely every weekend that they come home,” Powell said. “Getting to drive is a privilege and an opportunity to show they are growing up. It’s part of the growing-up experience.”
ASMSA Community Developer Stacey Perry echoed those thoughts as well.
“It’s important for any teenager to remember and to be encouraged to have safe driving habits because they’re from all over the state. Some might only on be driving 10 minutes down the road but other students will be driving four hours one way. Whether it’s listening to music or Snapchatting or texting, the temptation is there for them to multitask. We need to encourage, as State Farm puts it, 2N2 — their eyes are on the road, their hands are on the wheel — they’re not fidgeting or being sidetracked and looking elsewhere,” she said.
ASMSA students as well as their parents, family members, friends, alumni and community members are encouraged to commit to safe driving, once a day, each day from Oct. 15-24. As an incentive to participate in the Celebrate My Drive campaign, their daily commitment will serve as a vote for ASMSA in the Celebrate My Drive contest. State Farm will award 10 $100,000 grants and 90 $25,000 grants to the schools getting the most online safe driving commitments. There are also two grand prizes that include a concert by country music performer The Band Perry.
To make your commitment and to vote for ASMSA, visit asmsa.me/mydrive14. An email address is required to make your safe driving commitment. Only one commitment per email address is allowed each day.
The registered high schools are broken into two categories — small (fewer than 750 students) and large (more than 750 students). The top 50 in each category will receive at least a $25,000 grant. A list of the top schools in each category and more information about the campaign may be found at celebratemydrive.com.
Perry said ASMSA students will be encouraged each day to take a few minutes to make a commitment. There will be prize giveaways for students throughout the 10-day period as well.
“Really we will just be spreading the word within our community that this is important and it is a fun way to try to win some money for our school,” she said.
Powell said it is a great opportunity for schools to win a grant that can provide additional funds for programs.
“I love the opportunity that State Farm contributes to our communities on a local level,” she said. “This is an opportunity for any high school to win these grants and do amazing work with the money. I was a college professor for 10 years so I know how hard it is for schools to find money to do the things that support these kids. That’s a perk to me.”