TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 4, 2008 - Local teenagers are getting a chance to participate in the Safe Teen Accident Reduction Training (START) program as part of GEICO's sponsorship and continued dedication to keep teenage drivers safe. START, which teaches five accident avoidance techniques including off-road recovery, anti-lock brake system (ABS) familiarization, skid recovery, evasive steering, and controlled braking, is a local program designed by the Tucson Police Department to give students real-life practice for real-life situations.
"Too many teenagers have died in driving accidents in our Tucson community," said Martha Furnas, assistant vice president of GEICO's Tucson office. "Driving inexperience is to blame for many of these accidents because new drivers lack the preparation or training necessary to be safe on the road. GEICO is proud to support the START program to provide instruction for teen drivers on how to react to various driving situations."
Sgt. Steve Culbertson, creator of the START program, said, "I am very pleased once again to have GEICO partner with the Tucson Police Department's Safe Teen Accident Reduction Training program in an effort to save teen's lives. By providing teens in southern Arizona with accident avoidance skills that they most likely would not get otherwise, GEICO and the START program are taking one step in trying to prevent teen deaths and reduce the number of injury accidents involving teen drivers. This is a community wide problem that police departments cannot tackle alone. GEICO is again demonstrating its commitment to the community by sponsoring teens for the upcoming classes."
Furnas continued, "Auto accidents are the number one killer of teen drivers age 16 to 20 and we recognize and appreciate the opportunity to be active in the community educating young drivers on the importance of safe driving habits."
GEICO has partnered with the Tucson Police Department and Tucson Police Foundation to offer the five-hour class for Tucson area licensed drivers during the following times and dates:
These classes are offered at no cost to the students. One hour of classroom instruction is followed by four hours in the car with the same TPD instructors that teach safe-driving techniques to area law enforcement officers.
If you are interested in having your student participate in this unique opportunity, spaces are limited so please contact Capin Garden at (520) 546-2526 or cgarden@geico.com.
GEICO has extensive materials on teen safe driving, including a DVD, "Real Teen Driving," showing real teens in real driving situations. For more information, or to order teen safe driving brochures and DVDs online, please visit GEICO's online Auto Safety library at www.geico.com/information/safety/auto/safety-library.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 8 million policyholders and insures more than 13 million vehicles. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available. As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to www.geico.com.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for nearly 8.5 million policyholders and insures more than 14.4 million vehicles.
In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available.
As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to www.geico.com.
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