ERIE, Pa., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, but thanks to Erie Insurance and its Lookin' Out program, and local Erie Insurance agents facilitating the program, students at 65 high schools are spreading the word about safe driving among their peers. "Car crashes claim far too many lives year after year," said John J. Brinling, Jr., Erie Insurance president and CEO. "Lookin' Out empowers teens to reach out to other teens about the importance of being safe and responsible behind the wheel." Lookin' Out is different from other safe driving programs, as it is rooted in a student-driven approach of positive peer influence. Through Lookin' Out, teens create a series of events and activities addressing risk factors such as lack of seatbelt use, speeding and other reckless behavior, driving under the influence and distractions such as loud music and cell phone use. At Calvert and Huntingtown High Schools in Prince Frederick, Md., Criminal Justice students are doing Lookin' Out as a community service project. At Galway High School in Galway, Ny., local first-graders are writing letters to seniors, imploring them to stay safe. And at NorthWood High School in Elkhart, Ind., students applied for a grant because, "We are known around the area as the school that loses students to car crashes...the stories of victims and survivors go on and on." Other participating schools have planned activities throughout the school year, such as:
-- PA DUI Lookin' Out Safety Bug (which simulates driving under the
influence).
-- Poster contests.
-- Speakers.
-- Mock crashes.
-- "Grim Reaper" days.
Students also can enter a public service announcement (PSA) contest each year. The winning PSA is professionally produced by ERIE's media services team and aired throughout ERIE's territories. "The Lookin' Out program is really making a difference in the schools," said Matt Bresee, Lookin' Out program coordinator. "And the students should be commended for their proactive efforts." One of those students is Jessica King, a senior at Ravenswood High School in Ravenswood, West Virginia. A Miss West Virginia pageant contestant using Lookin' Out at her platform, Jessica educates her classmates about risks and encourages them to be safer drivers. "As teenagers we feel like we are invincible, but the reality is life can change in a split second," said Jessica. "The responsibility that comes with getting a driver's license is something that many kids don't take seriously." Since its 2001 inception, Lookin' Out has been launched in more than 85 high schools and awarded more than $300,000 in grants. Lookin' Out applications are accepted at any time. For more information visit the Lookin' Out Web site at http://www.erieinsurance.com/lookinout. To see photos, video and more, check out the Lookin' Out multimedia news release (http://www.shareholder.com/erie/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=284732). According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 16th largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 22nd largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has over 3.8 million policies in force and operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Erie Insurance Group ranked 463 on the FORTUNE 500 and Erie Indemnity Company is included in Forbes Magazine's PLATINUM 400 list of the best-managed companies in America. To learn more, visit http://www.erieinsurance.com.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041112/ERIELOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
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