Liberty Mutual Insurance, a proud member of the Chamber, partnered with two local high schools to send a powerful message to students and the community: drinking and driving is a deadly combination, especially during prom season. To heighten awareness about the threat of drinking and driving in Mableton and Austell and throughout the entire country, Liberty Mutual provided South Cobb High School and Pebblebrook High School with a crashed vehicle for a safety demonstration for juniors and seniors earlier this month.
The Boston-based insurance company understands the important role schools play in curbing dangerous behaviors on prom night. According to a 2011 survey conducted by Liberty Mutual and SADD of more than 2,200 high school students, 89 percent of teens reported their schools have programs and policies in place to prevent students from engaging in dangerous behaviors, such as under-age drinking at school-related functions. The study found that only six percent of high school students say they have driven under the influence on prom night. This is a contrast to the perception of this behavior among their peers in a study conducted in 2009, which found that 90 percent of teens felt their peers would be more likely to drink and drive after prom than any other times of the year.
The recent partnership with the two local Cobb high schools is part of an ongoing campaign aimed at promoting prom driving safety among teens in the community. To help teens and parents navigate the early driving years, Liberty Mutual provides helpful resources and easy-to-navigate tools online at LibertyMutual.com/TeenDriving, including a Parent/Teen Driving Contract designed for families to discuss responsible driving habits, and to customize mutually agreed consequences and rewards for behaviors such as text messaging, speeding, seat belts and alcohol and other drug use. Additionally, the website provides state-by-state driving laws, practice permit tests and video demonstrations of safety driving techniques.
After learning about safety driving, and with prom season just around the corner, teens and parents at South Cobb High School and Pebblebrook High School are prepared to rule the road.
