GHSA and State Farm® Team Up to Help Parents Raise Distraction-Free Kids

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2024

CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930, 202-365-8971 (cell)

GenerationDistractionFree.org provides information and resources to build safe road habits in children of all ages

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous - but common - activities on the road. To help change the culture and create a new social norm, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and State Farm® have partnered to develop a new website to help parents and guardians raise a generation of distraction-free, safe road users. Teaching children to stay focused on their surroundings - whether they're driving, biking, walking or scooting - can help protect them and everyone else on the road.

The new website, GenerationDistractionFree.org, contains detailed tips for families with kids of all ages as well as downloadable and printable resources, including a spot the distraction game for children riding as a passenger in a vehicle, a distraction-free pledge for all family members to sign, and a parent-teen driver agreement that addresses distraction and other risky behaviors.

"Ending something so entrenched as distracted driving means we have to create a new social norm where distraction is entirely unacceptable," said GHSA Chief Executive Office Jonathan Adkins. "Giving families the information and tools to have these important conversations with their kids can help reduce distraction and make our roads safer for everyone using them."

The GenerationDistractionFree.org website offers tips for kids from newborns to teens. This helps parents and caregivers start the distraction conversation at an early age, since children are walking, biking and scooting years before they're driving. For example, the website suggests that parents be a positive role model and not only refrain from using their cell phones while driving, but also explain to their young children why they're doing this. For school age kids, parents are encouraged to explain that driving takes concentration and skill and to set rules about what behavior is or is not acceptable in the car.

Once children reach their teenage years, the website calls on parents and caregivers to review their state's driving laws and set higher family standards, such as no cell phone use or transporting peer passengers (a significant form of teen driver distraction). Being a calm and supportive driving supervisor and refraining from calling or texting when parents know their teen is behind the wheel are also critical. The website also explains how state Graduated Driver License (GDL) programs, which have helped reduce fatal novice driver crashes by as much as 50%, work by slowly phasing in driving responsibilities. Parents can search for their state's law on the GHSA website.

"State Farm and GHSA are committed to the safety of our roadways, including the prevention of distracted driving," said Laurel Straub, Assistant Vice President of Enterprise Research at State Farm. "This website is a valuable resource for parents and guardians of children of all ages. By setting a good example and normalizing positive behavior, we can positively influence the next generation of drivers to make the right choices and stay distraction free regardless of their mode of travel."

Crashes caused by distracted driving killed more than 3,300 people and injured another 289,000 in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, distraction is difficult to prove at the scene of a crash, so the actual number of deaths and injuries is likely higher than reported.

For more information and to download the printable resources, visit GenerationDistractionFree.org.

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About GHSA
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Visit ghsa.org for more information or find us on Facebook and X/Twitter.

About State Farm

For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts - including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 39 on the 2024 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit www.statefarm.com

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