Duluth, GA, March 8, 2011 As schools across the state let out for spring break, our young travelers should keep a few things in mind as they hit the road:
Distracted Driving Is Dangerous Though many states have banned teenagers from texting while driving, many continue to do so. Driving requires the full attention of the teen behind the wheel and through some positive peer pressure, teens can encourage their friends to focus on the road and stay alive.
Never Drive Under The Influence Of Alcohol According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 10,839 people are expected to die this year in drunk-driving accidents. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and one out of three of those are alcohol related. Do not be one of these statistics and never get in a car driven by someone who has been drinking.
Stay Alert. Stay Alive. The long trips many drivers make over the holiday can be tiring. Drivers and passengers need to make sure the driver is fully alert and not feeling drowsy. Drivers should stop periodically in a safe location, get out of their car and walk around. Passengers should check on the driver and make sure they are fully alert. It is better to pull over and rest for a while than to push on and risk falling asleep behind the wheel.
Watch Your Valuables Spring break is a prime time for car thieves to break into vehicles and steal what is inside. Keep your valuables on your person as much as possible and do not leave high-value items inside the car in plain sight. Laptops, iPods and cell phones are prime targets and should be hidden, secured or carried with you at all times.
Spring break can be a great time; just use caution to make sure your vacation is a good one!
Justin Tomczak State Farm Insurance, (770) 418-5562
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. Our 17,800 agents and more than 66,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts more than 79 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.