NJM Partners with MVC to Broaden Reach of Teen Driver Safety Program

On Aug 17, 2017

NJM Insurance Company announced the expansion of its Teen Driver Safety Program to include “Share the Keys,” a research-based driver education program designed to provide the parents of teen drivers with the tools and resources they need to build and reinforce safe driving habits.  Share the Keys includes a facilitator-led interactive presentation for parents and teens that focuses on the benefits of parental involvement when teens are preparing or actively learning to drive. The in-person program is supported by a comprehensive resource guide and companion website. It is being offered at no cost to New Jersey high schools through a partnership with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

“Research has shown that increased parental involvement substantially reduces the risk of motor vehicle crashes among inexperienced drivers,” said Raymond P. Martinez, Chairman and Chief Administrator of the MVC. “We are proud to partner with NJM to present Share the Keys to students across New Jersey, and we are confident that these efforts will help teen drivers develop safe habits during their formative years.”

According to the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, parents can reduce their teen’s crash risk by as much as 50 percent when they set rules, offer support and monitor their driving. Share the Keys provides the resources, instruction and guidance to help facilitate this greater parental involvement.

“Supporting our students with tools that will help keep them safe as they enter this exciting part of their lives is essential,” said Mike Sandor, Supervisor of Driver Education at Summit High School. “We appreciate NJM’s commitment to safety and willingness to provide this type of public service. Bringing parents together with their teen drivers in a fun, informative setting helps emphasize the important role they play in helping their teens cultivate conscientious driving behaviors.”

NJM’s Teen Driver Safety Program was launched in 2013 in honor of the Company’s 100th anniversary. The core of the program is a classroom-based presentation, which covers topics such as distracted, fatigued and impaired driving, and Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws.

“As a society we have come a long way in improving safety on our roads, but car accidents remain a leading cause of death among teenagers,” said Violet Marrero, NJM’s Safety Director. “Our safety program is designed to complement the education that is already being offered in the classroom, and we’re elated that after only four years, more than 200 schools and over 100,000 students have taken advantage of it. The level of participation is a credit to the dedication of the principals, administrators and teachers with whom we have the pleasure of working.  Share the Keys, which will serve to enlist greater parental support in the education of youthful drivers, is the next logical step in our program.”

To schedule a presentation or learn more visit about NJM’s teen driver safety initiatives, visit NJM.com.

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