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GEICO Helps Girl Scouts Earn Road Safety Patch

WASHINGTON--There was laughter and leadership, but most importantly there was learning for D.C. area Girl Scouts during the first-ever GEICO DASHBoard patch event held recently at GEICO headquarters.

The all-day event, sponsored by the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital and GEICO, brought together close to 100 Girl Scouts from the greater Washington D.C. area to learn about vehicle maintenance, how to be a safe driver and passenger and tips on bicycle safety.

The event was part of a comprehensive road skills, auto care and driving safety series, designed to help the girls earn the new GEICO Road Safety Patch. Once the classes are completed and the Girl Scouts sign an honor code agreement, they are eligible for the patch which shows they have learned how to make smart decisions on the road.

“Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among teens age 13 – 19,” said Rynthia Rost, GEICO vice president. “GEICO is working hard to educate teens on road and vehicle safety through our teen safe driving program and by partnering with great organizations like the Girl Scouts.”

At the inaugural GEICO kick-off, the girls rotated between interactive sessions, learning auto care techniques like how to change a vehicle tire, bike safety and the dangers of distracted and drunk driving. Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department were able to give the girls a first-hand experience of how alcohol affects driving ability through its Gator-AID demonstration. The girls wore “Fatal Vision Goggles” while operating a specially designed tractor to simulate the dangers of drinking and driving. WJLA news reporter Cynne Simpson also presented WJLA’s Drive to Stay Alive Teen Driving Assembly seminar.

“The real-life experiences that the girls had during these sessions will hopefully make them think twice about the decisions they make before getting behind the wheel,” said Lidia Soto-Harmon, Girl Scout deputy executive director.

The event was the first of its kind for the Council and the Girl Scouts. Upcoming DASHBoard Road Safety events include an Auto Care Day in Fredericksburg, Va., and a Road Safety Fair in Chantilly, Va. The GEICO DASHBoard patch will soon be available in Atlanta and Chicago as part of the Girl Scout’s ongoing effort to empower young women to be car and road savvy.