Nation's Teens Take on No. 1 Killer at The Allstate Foundation "Keep the Drive U.S.A." Summit

CHICAGO--Teens are desperate to save their friends from motor vehicle crashes, the No. 1 killer of U.S. teens. Nearly 50 teen leaders from across the country joined ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” star, Shawn Pyfrom (Andrew Van De Kamp, Bree’s teenage son), in Chicago from Sept. 28 to Sept. 30 to reduce the number of teens killed in car crashes through a teen-led movement called “Keep the Drive,” funded by The Allstate Foundation.

Nearly 6,000 teens die each year in car crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Crashes cause more teen deaths each year than drugs, violence or suicide. With the exception of the summer (May through August), October is the deadliest month for teen drivers.

The national teen leaders participated in “Keep the Drive U.S.A.,” an interactive summit aimed at educating and empowering teens to make an impact in reducing the number of teen-related car crashes. The leaders discussed ways to tackle the teen driving problem on their own terms with online and on-the-ground activities. In addition, Pyfrom participated in discussions regarding teen driving attitudes and behaviors as well as peer-to-peer grassroots activism.

"Keep the Drive is about encouraging teens to drive smart to protect everything that’s important to them: their freedom, futures, friends, cars, and, most importantly, their lives,” said Pyfrom. “Teens are the driving force behind this movement. Messages about smart driving are more effective and more meaningful when teens hear them from their friends or peers.”

The teens and Pyfrom created a 10-foot key featuring smart teen driving messages in graffiti art with help from Hugo Garcia a Chicago street artist. Garcia helped teens understand how public art can be an effective tool in social activism. The teens also talked to teens on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue to raise awareness about the teen driving issue, recruit members to the movement and remind teens they hold the key to their future.

“I was really impressed with the great ideas these teens shared,” said Pyfrom. “They are motivated to go back home and spread the message about Keep the Drive online, through activism projects at places they hangout as well as local events. These teens have a passion to make a difference. I’m honored to help their movement grow.”

In 2005, The Allstate Foundation conducted a national survey of teen driving attitudes and behaviors. In the survey, 47 percent of teens said their friends are a big influence on how they drive. Key findings also included:

• Fifty-six percent of teens make and answer phone calls while driving.
• Thirteen percent write and/or read text messages (with 12.5 million teen drivers in the U.S., that’s 1.72 million teens writing/reading text messages while driving).
• Nearly one out of four self-identified aggressive teen drivers (26 percent) speed by more than 20 miles an hour above the limit.

The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. The Allstate Foundation sponsors community initiatives to promote safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. Teen driving has been a priority issue for the Foundation since 2005. For more information on the program visit www.KeeptheDrive.com and www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com.