NJM Brings “Share the Keys” Parent/Teen Driver Safety Program to Pennsylvania

Announces Partnership with the PA DUI Association and the Philadelphia 76ers during National Teen Driver Safety Week

WEST TRENTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NJM Insurance Group (NJM), one of the Mid-Atlantic Region’s leading teen driver safety advocates, announced today that it is expanding its nationally recognized, award-winning Teen Driver Safety Program to Pennsylvania. Included in the Program is “Share the Keys,” a research-based driver education program designed to provide parents and their teen drivers with the tools and resources they need to build and reinforce safe driving habits. The program is available at no cost to high schools through a partnership with the Pennsylvania DUI Association (PA DUI). The announcement was made during a launch event in partnership with the Philadelphia 76ers during National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 21-27, 2018), which is dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to prevent teen injuries and deaths on the road.

“For over 100 years, NJM has had an enduring commitment to safety and support of the communities we are privileged to serve,” said Tracy McManimon, SVP & Chief Underwriting Officer of NJM. “Our expansion into Pennsylvania allows us to bring this nationally recognized teen driver safety program to students and parents in the Keystone State and encourages them to take a more active role in their teens’ driving habits.”

In Pennsylvania, an average of 229 fatal teen driver crashes occurs each year. Moreover, teens are the largest age group reported as distracted at the time of fatal crashes. NJM’s Teen Driver Safety Program has been proven to effectively reduce teen driver crash risks by encouraging active parental involvement. In fact, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Injury Research and Prevention, parents can reduce their teen’s crash risks by as much as 50 percent when they set rules, offer support and monitor their teen’s driving.

“We are proud to partner with NJM to introduce and expand Share the Keys to students and parents across the state,” said Felicity DeBacco Erni, Project Director at the PA DUI Association. “It has been a long-standing goal of ours to keep teens safe on the roadways, and we are confident that this partnership will provide the parents of teen drivers with the tools and resources they need to reinforce safe driving habits.”

The PA DUI Association and NJM also announced a safe driving public service announcement (PSA) contest for high school students. The school that comes in first place will receive either a driving simulator or $15,000 to go toward a post-prom, post-graduation or safe driving program in the school. The runner-up will receive $10,000, and the third-place finisher will receive $5,000. Entries will be accepted through Feb. 15, 2019. To learn more about the PSA contest, please visit www.njm.com/JustDrivePSA.

At today’s launch event, NJM partnered with the Philadelphia 76ers to launch “Share the Keys” and hold a press conference where Pennsylvania high school students and their parents participated in the first “Share the Keys” presentation in the state. The partnership with the Philadelphia 76ers also includes the “Just Drive” Pledge that will offer 76ers fans the opportunity to take a pledge against distracted driving. The pledge will automatically register them to win 76ers-themed prizes this basketball season, including game tickets, 76ers merchandise, suite nights and VIP game experiences. To take the pledge, please visit: https://try.njm.com/sixers.

“We're excited to see NJM Insurance Group expand into Pennsylvania,” said Chris Heck, President of the Philadelphia 76ers. “Together, the 76ers and NJM will increase awareness of safe teen driving habits in our communities and empower fans to take a pledge to ‘Just Drive.’”

NJM’s Teen Driver Safety Program was launched in honor of the Company’s 100^th anniversary in 2013. The complimentary Teen Driver Safety Program has already reached more than 150,000 students in New Jersey. In 2016, the National Safety Council recognized the program with its Teen Driver Safety Leadership Award. This coveted honor recognizes organizations that work to improve teen driver safety and save lives through dedicated community outreach and innovative educational programming.

“Car crashes are the number one killer for Pennsylvania teens,” said Kenneth M. McClain, District Executive – District 6 at PennDOT. “Bringing this program to Pennsylvania gives parents, teachers and school administrators a unique opportunity to help our most inexperienced drivers learn the rules of the road while maintaining both safety and mobility.”

For more information about NJM’s Teen Driver Safety Program and to learn more about scheduling a presentation at your school, visit https://www.njm.com/teen-driver-safety.

About NJM Insurance Group

NJM is among the Mid-Atlantic’s largest property and casualty insurers. Founded in 1913, NJM's mission is to provide value-based personal and commercial insurance solutions with the highest levels of service, integrity and financial stewardship. The Company’s enduring commitment to safety can be traced back to its earliest days, starting with improving conditions in the manufacturing facilities that were once prevalent in New Jersey and expanding to keeping drivers safe on our roadways. More information is available at NJM.com.

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NJM Insurance Group:

Linda Coles, 609-883-1300 ext. 7280

[email protected]

or

Brownstein Group on behalf of NJM:

Lauren Mayer, 215-735-3470 ext. 131

[email protected]

Source: NJM Insurance Group