State Farm Applauds Passage of Surface Transportation Legislation

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., June 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- State Farm applauds members of Congress for passing The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II (H.R. 4348) and including a grant program to encourage states to adopt comprehensive Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws.

Graduated Driver Licensing laws help strengthen the driving skills of eligible teenagers across the U.S. GDL laws introduce driving privileges to young novice drivers over time, providing opportunities to gain valuable behind-the-wheel experience and develop important driving skills in lower-risk conditions.

Because auto crashes are the number one killer of teens, State Farm is dedicated to helping create safer and better-prepared drivers. "Research demonstrates inexperienced teen drivers are much more likely to crash than other drivers," said Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm.  "Strong GDL laws gradually and systematically expose teens to more complex driving situations, ultimately reducing their crash risk. Studies show that crashes among teen drivers have decreased by up to 38 percent in states with strong graduated licensing systems." 

As the number one auto insurer in the U.S., State Farm has demonstrated its commitment to auto and highway safety dating back to the company's founding in the 1920s. As part of its current efforts to develop safe drivers, State Farm provides a variety of tips and resources for teen drivers and their parents at TeenDriving.StateFarm.com. 

About State Farm®:
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and are a leading provider of car insurance in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank 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. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canadahttp://www.statefarm.ca.

Statement
State Farm applauds the passage of The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II (H.R. 4348), which includes a grant program to encourage states to adopt comprehensive Graduated Driver's Licensing Laws. We believe these types of laws in all 50 states will help create safer roadways and better teen drivers. We thank Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Tim Bishop, and Congressman Randy Hultgren for their long-time support and leadership on this issue.

SOURCE State Farm